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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In which of the following options should the word effect be inserted into the blank?

(A) Joan was in such high spirits after knitting club that even her teenage daughter's moody _____ could not bring her down.
(B) Don't let those puppy-dog eyes _____ you. Remember the fate of her first BMW?
(C) If the player didn't let the referees calls _____ her so greatly then maybe she wouldn't get thrown out of every single game.
(D) That caffeine had the desired ______. I feel like I could stay up studying for days!

Fill in the blanks:


I turn so _______ that my dance instructor says I'll never make it as a professional ballerina. But I don't feel _______ about it, because I'm an excellent knitter.


(A) bad, badly
(B) badly, bad
(C) bad, bad
(D) badly, badly

Choose the option that completes the following sentences correctly:


Just ___________ you and me, I had a really hard time choosing ___________ being a bridesmaid in Allison's wedding and going to Hawaii with my sister. But after Allison forced me to select a bridesmaid dress from __________ three styles I hated, I was ready to head down the airplane aisle.


(A) between, among, between
(B) between, between, between
(C) between, between, among
(D) None of these

Can you spot the error in the following interplanetary passage?


Peter dreams of joining NASA and flying into outer space. Every sq. in. of his bedroom is covered in posters of rockets and far away galaxies. Each morning, he rises at 7:00 a.m. and begins his day with a healthy breakfast of freeze-dried ice cream.


(A) NASA
(B) sq. in.
(C) 7:00 a.m.
(D) freeze-dried

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.

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