Commonly Confused Words

[zerl]

Gacked off my flist--
http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=14457200288064322170

I found the test difficult and very interesting, until I came to the score analysis:

"Remember, these are commonly confused English words, which means most people don't

Comments

[homasse]

Because people are stupid.

And I have to admit, I commonly goof up "loose" and "lose," since, by the rules of written English, 'lose' should have a long "o," and the way "loose" looks actually fits the way "lose" is spelled. Peope who learned spelling by phoenics--by the sound each letter makes and the rules of letter combinations--will have problems with that one. I know I always type them wrong and the stare at them for a second before I fix it.

And "assure," "ensure" and "insure" being commonly confused just makes me cry.

And yes, reading fanfic is an ordeal, because *god*, these people can't type, spell, or be arsed to use proper English, and they act like you've insulted them and pissed on their mother's grave if you ask them to.

[zerl]

Hee^^ The sad thing is? Right after I posted this I made a mistake in my own doc file, writing "chose" where it had to be "choose."

You know what, the main problem is English is such an irrational language. Especially its rules of writing: to a learner it looks like there's no rhyme or reason how things are spelled -- only, apparently a native speaker feels the same way.

Oh, speaking of native speakers making horrid mistakes... Would you be free tomorrow evening for the Japanese chat? I don't think I can only spare about two to three hours, but I'll try to be there around eight pm.

[homasse]

English spelling made sense...a couple hndred years ago. It got all screwed up thanks to the most unfortunate fact that the printing press was invinted right *before* the Great Vowel Shift in ENglish, and so spelling got standardized, and then right after it did, in a span of 20-30 years, the way English was pronounced completely changed, rendering the newly standardized spellings "bwuh?"

Saturday night? I'm not sure--I'm going to Toyo to see a recital. I *should* be back before 8:00, but I'm not sure. My guess, though, is probably not. Is Sunday OK?

[zerl]

Is Sunday OK?

Sure! We'll make it tomorrow then. Though I can't be there for very long this week. Sorry^^;

[homasse]

Cool. ^_^