Spelling and Mechanics Introduction

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Spelling and mechanics errors: the easiest way to make you a laughingstock (other than slipping on a literal banana peel).

There are fewer things more cringe-worthy than a misspelled tattoo or more hilarious than when people spell "morons" like "morans" or "no offense" like "no a fence." We love to be smug about that kind of stuff.

Spelling and mechanics fails are the stuff of endless Buzzfeed lists and Tumblr blogs. Life is so much more enjoyable when autocorrect becomes auto-incorrect, isn't it?

It's fun to smirk over. It's horrible to do…especially because you just know that your essay on The Dairy of Anne Frank (um, did she really like milk that much?) or your mistake-ridden college admissions essay is not going to be taken seriously.

So let's get serious.

Correct spelling is insanely important in a paragraph or essay. It helps you get your ideas across clearly. Tools like spellcheck are great but not foolproof, so it's important to develop some stellar spelling awareness. When you encounter a new word, take note of how it's spelled and how it's used, and add it to your writing stash.

A mastery of mechanics is also crucial for composing good papers. When we say mechanics, we don't mean the good people that get your car back on the road after you run over a monstrous, sedan-eating pothole. We mean capitalization, abbreviations, and numbers. Knowing these writing standards helps you become a more effective communicator and polishes your writing skills.

It also helps you to not be this guy.

Quiz Yourself on Spelling and Mechanics

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Choose the grammatically incorrect sentence.

(A) When we were touring San Francisco, I was disappointed to see that the Golden Gate Bridge was actually rusty red, not glittering gold.
(B) I tried to explain to the Canadian fisherman that he should go into the water at Miami Beach since it was actually warm.
(C) The country was slipping into another Depression, so I decided to boost the economy with a major shopping spree at Target.
(D) I hate flying, but I will make an exception if I ever get the opportunity to travel to Antarctica because it's my dream vacation spot.

Can you spot the style faux pas in the following sentence?


Five thousand three hundred fifty-six contestants entered the marathon on Saturday, but due to extreme temperatures and a water main break on part of the route, only 104 completed it.


(A) Five thousand three hundred fifty-six
(B) due to
(C) part of
(D) 104

How would you correct this sentence?


I can assure you that our sausages are made only from premium quality offal. Our buyers hand-select it straight from the factory floor, insuring that only the best intestines make it into our casings.


(A) Change assure to insure
(B) Change assure to insure and insuring to ensuring
(C) Change insuring to assuring
(D) Change insuring to ensuring

Which of the following options are grammatically correct?

I. My sister wanted Mom to lengthen her curfew because the boy she liked called himself a "creature of the night."

II. Is it true that your father just accepted a new job at Disney? More importantly, can he get us discounts on admission?

III. Her Uncle Paddy is one serious dude that you simply do not want to argue with. We hear he has a gun collection back home in Texas.

(A) I
(B) II
(C) I and II
(D) III

Can you spot the style error in this sentence?

1832 was the year my ancestors laid claim to a homestead atop the mountains of northern Wyoming, building a cabin with a view of the Grand Tetons.

(A) 1832
(B) laid claim
(C) Grand Tetons
(D) What are you talking about? This sentence looks just fine!

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