Tuesday, September 20, 2011

dumbass

So I am a dumbass.  My entire life I have been spelling definitely as definately and thinking it was correct.  I am not stupid and I consider myself to be a pretty good speller so this was a shock to me.  Want to know how I found out of my incorrect spelling?  Texting on my phone.  My freakin' blackberry phone told me I was spelling it wrong.  How stupid did I feel.  Not to mention that I actually thought the phone's spell check was wrong.  So I googled it.  (Seriously, what did we ever do without google??)  Yup.  Wrong.  Me, that is.  Not the phone. 

Guess I'm not the only one though, since it is on the 100 most commonly misspelled words list. 

Ok, so here's another dumbass thing I've been doing my whole life that I just found while googling (there it is again!) grammar/spelling mistakes.  Apparently, i.e. does not mean 'for example' like I thought.  That abbreviation is e.g.  The abbreviation i.e. means 'that is' or 'in other words'.  So I have been using that term wrong my whole life as well.  Good God!  Did I learn anything in English class? 

No wonder no one reads my blog--they must all think I am an idiot.

So I will take this blog space to review some common spelling and grammatical errors.  For those of you that are a dumbass like me.  (I know there's something wrong with that sentence as well, but whatever.)

Common Spelling Errors

definitely  not definately
ridiculous this stumped me for many years
a lot  two words not one
affect  verb
effect  noun
accept  don't mix these up--this one is to receive willingly
except  to exclude or leave out
i.e.  means that is or in other words   I am going to the place where I work best, i.e. the bathroom.
e.g.  means for example   I do not know how to spell many words, e.g. definitely and ridiculous.
your, you're  just learn it, for cripes sake
their, they're and there  another one that everyone should just know already
loose  That noose is too loose on your neck.
lose  You will lose your shirt because you suck at poker.
apparently  if you read my unedited original post, you will know that I spelled this word wrong too
This list could go on and on.  I suppose I'll add to it as I come across more words that I do not know how to spell or use properly.  Now on to your regularly scheduled program.



P.S.  I am adding this after posting the original post.  I was informed that I also spelled apparently wrong.  In my post talking about spelling errors!!  Seriously.  I. Am. A. Dumbass.   



10 comments:

Lisa said...

I consider myself a grammar & spelling snob and I did not know the true purpose of "i.e." versus "e.g." so you've enlightened me!

Rachel said...

Many of those bug me as well. Other errors that I notice on people's blogs a lot:

Breathe vs. Breath
Quite vs. Quiet

You are not a dumbass. Sometimes I have to google very simple words because they all of a sudden look wrong to me.

Also - it's nerve wracking to comment on a spelling/grammar blog and hope you aren't making a mistake!

Christine Bigney said...

I still can't spell affidavit...I always spell it affadavit :) I took a test and there were spelling questions. Ughhh one word was harassment and they spelled it four different ways. I thought I knew how to spell it until I saw the choices :) I love spell check.

Tough Chik said...

Convenience...I NEVER get it right. Definitely always gets me too. Sometimes it is do off that spell check can't even figure out what I am trying yo say. I too, am a dumb ass. Maybe we should start a club, Smart women who are dumb asses?

Carrie said...

Is dumbass one word or two? :-) I'll still read your blog, grammatical and/or spelling errors or not!

I've replied to a blog post before that was about spelling errors and in my fast typing hit publish before realizing I spelled a word wrong.

P.S. I just reread this comment five times to make sure it sounded okay!

Teamarcia said...

in your defense (and mine) I think the i.e. vs. e.g. issue is a subtle one.
I'm guilty as charged on the 'a lot' front.
My pet peeve:
anyways

Sarah Grecco said...

This post is HILARIOUS! My problem isn't so much spelling but pronouncing words incorrectly....I am a serious DING DONG! Haha!

xo
Sarah

Get Up & Go

Christy @ My Dirt Road Anthem: A Runner's Blog said...

I can never spell definitely thank God for spell check saves me every time. Although usually I am a great speller! and yay for longer telomeres!

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Anonymous said...

In most places that I've saw it (seen it -or whatever- lol) used it was just one word but occasionally I'll see it with a hypen. (I don't think it really matters if it's actually one word, two words or if it has a hyphen to the person that is being called one....because chances are if they're being called a dumbass, it fits them & they're not going to know or notice if it's wrong or right! Lol)