Okay. Today I have a test for all of you, my brilliant and well spoken friends. Many of you, if not most, use words in a myriad of ways to make a living.
Some of you are journalists, some attorneys, some ministers (or ex-Revs, as in the case of Greg England & Ben Overby), some teachers, some eloquent bloggers, but all are certainly educated enough and literate enough to be good spellers, right. Or, are you?
Let’s see.
According to "BusinessWriting.com," the test is composed of the 25 most commonly misspelled words among American businessmen (and women, of course). Over a good many years, this list hasn’t changed.
I’ll be the first to admit that I – the chief among sinners when it comes to thinking I’m an excellent wordsmith and speller – got only 19 out of 27 (the test added 2 words to see how well you can determine the favored British spelling of those 2 words, which I correctly did), or 70%. And, I’m the one whose every career (I’ve had several in my lifetime, as you know, unlike most people) involved being an expert in the spelling and usage of words. Besides, it really irks me when someone misuses a word or misspells it. In fact, Greg & I have had on-going debates – er, discussions – the past several years about the correct usage of words.
However . . . the test scorer (whoever that guy is sitting online grading the results as you go through the 27 words) told me afterward that 70% was considered a "GOOD" score. And, believe me, after agonizing over some of the words (you get 4 choices for each word, so they help you out), I was happy with that result. Although, after reading the correct spelling of some of the words, I was mad at myself because they were words I know well (or should have known well), but missed.
This is a valid test. No gimmicks. Just spelling. It’s found at here at "businesswriting.com" and I want you to take it to see if you can beat me. After you’ve all taken the test, I’ll share with you which words I missed and why I think I did. You can defend your wrong choices all you want, too. After all, this is a fair competitive battle involving moi, the honest and above-board lawyer, and everybody else.
Actuallly, this is just fun and very interesting to do. I was surprised at the most commonly misspelled words and at my own reaction to trying to spell them correctly. I’ve got doctors appointments lined up every day this week, so need some fun diversions. Y’all he’p me out, ya hear?! See how well you spell.
Y’all have a very blessed day today! Dee
I missed 3, for a score of 89%. There goes my spelling badge. They were the 3 I had to think on, though… so at least they weren’t ones I was positive I knew.
Until today I have prided myself on being a good speller! I missed 8! I was disappointed to see that I have even been pronouncing one word incorrectly! Perogative is actually prerogative!!!!! Who’d a guessed it.
I refuse to admit my score!
I got 22 out of 27 correct for a score of 81%.
I was in a spelling bee in school once and advanced to the distict bee. I had visions of going to D.C.! I cold spell “disadvantageously” but sat down on the spelling of cozy. I spelled it “cosy,” which is actually an alternate spelling!
Dang, all I can say is that I’d be up a creek without spell check! I got 15 right.