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Poor proofreading is included in the list of faults that make documents difficult to read. One of the causes of poor proofreading is the inability to spot the difference between the right and wrong spel­lings of some quite common words. This applies particularly when we are proofreading our own work.

Precisely because these words are common, we tend to skip over them quickly, imagining that they must be correctly spelt, whereas we tend to take more care with the spelling of unusual words.

Activity 3f

1 Here are some commonly misspelt words. Tick the correct spel­ling (A or B) from each pair. Give yourself a time limit of, say, one and a half minutes to complete this part of the activity.

	A	B
1	accede	acsede
2	accomodation	accommodation
3	benefited	benefitted
4	preceeding	preceding
5	changable	changeable
6	aplication	application
7	disapoint	disappoint
8	skilful	skillful
9	moveable	movable
10	drownded	drowned
11	differrence	difference
12	maintainance	maintenance
13	liaison	liason
14	comitted	committed
15	consensus	concensus
16	equiped	equipped
17	humorous	humourous
18	superintendent	superintendant
19	supersede	supercede
20	seperate	separate
21	posesses	possesses
22	occurence	occurrence
23	transferral	transferal
24	definate	definite
25	heros	heroes
26	dulness	dullness
27	February	Febuary
28	laid	layed
29	recomend	recommend
30	beleive	believe
31	discribe	describe
32	misspell	mispell
33	umberella	umbrella
34	grammar	grammer
35	referred	refered
36	mishapen	misshapen
37	conscientous	conscientious
38	revelant	relevant
39	eminent	emminent
40	proceedure	procedure
41	occasionally	occassionally
42	advisor	adviser
43	purefy	purify
44	mischievous	mischievious
45	unparallelled	unparalleled
46	noticeable	noticable
47	coronary	coronory
48	mimicking	mimicing
49	intermarrage	intermarriage
50	sieze	seize

2 Ten sentences to be read aloud, to test your spelling, are given below (Solutions 3f, Item 2). If you would like to do this part of the activity, ask a friend to read the sentences to you exactly as printed, repeating the word given in italics (for example, ‘We have a maintenance contract for electronic equipment … maintenance.’) Write down the repeated word.

3 Complete these sentences using the appropriate word from: off, effected, prophecies, of, licence, principal, prophesies, prophesys, principle, license, affected

The repair to the ship cannot be in so short a time.

The director objects not just to the details but to the on which this report is based.

I believe the take- time has been put forward by one hour.

You can get a replacement driving from the motor registry.

The economist, John Wain, that the gross national product will increase by less than 5 per cent this year.

4 Complete these sentences using the correct word from the options given:

Car drivers should take the route to Queenstown. (alternate, alternative)

If you are going shooting, you must be a shooter. (licenced, licensed)

The tickets are , and are for Saturday. (complementary, complimentary)

He is on his parents for pocket money. (dependant, dependent)

We have asked for her on our problem, and we should take notice of it. (council, counsel)

She a limp in order to get sick leave. (effected, affected)

During your tour, you will visit many of the cities of Africa. (principal, principle)

Why have you decided to Jimmy from today’s activities? (accept, except)

Our new building will have twenty . (stories, storeys)

You must that you get to the interview in time. (insure, ensure)

Solutions 3f

1 1A, 2B, 3A, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8A, 9B, 10B, 11B, 12B, 13A, 14B, 15A, 16B, 17A, 18A, 19A, 20B, 21B, 22B, 23A, 24B, 25B, 26B, 27A, 28A, 29B, 30B, 31B, 32A, 33B, 34A, 35A, 36B, 37B, 38B, 39A, 40B, 41A, 42B, 43B, 44A, 45B, 46A, 47A, 48A, 49B, 50B

2 Get a friend to read these sentences to you as printed – the whole sentence followed by a repeat of the word to be written down (shown in italics).

We have a maintenance contract for electronic equipment.

We will start again from the beginning.

I do not usually drink coffee.

Is this the letter you referred to?

My friend receives unemployment benefits.

On her new diet, she is losing about one kilogram a week.

The stain on the carpet is not really noticeable.

I was surprised to hear how well he spoke Japanese.

Are you certain you posted those letters?

The consensus is that we should hold another meeting.

3 effected, principle, off, licence, prophesies

4 alternative, licensed, complimentary, dependent, counsel, affected, principal, except, storeys, ensure