Language Mistakes Test--Hard Even for English Geeks!

In my many years of editing, I've discovered that certain errors are made frequently even among people who pride themselves on their language expertise. I decided I'd compile some of the most common ones that are nevertheless misunderstood by word nerds, and I ended up turning it into a test!

The test can be taken at HelloQuizzy, where you'll be instantly graded.

Want to play?

Be sure to come back and comment!


Any comments left here are PUBLIC. If you are not comfortable with that, mail me directly.

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Comments from others:

Hebi: A great test, really *_* Kudos for creating it!
So, on to my scores, and you can start making fun of me now =):
You scored 2 on Punctuation, higher than 39% of your peers.
You scored 0 on Capitalization, higher than 31% of your peers.
You scored 2 on Pronunciation, higher than 26% of your peers.
You scored 5 on Usage, higher than 62% of your peers.
You scored 1 on Spelling, higher than 44% of your peers.
You scored -1 on Vocabulary, higher than 28% of your peers.
Well, not that bad for someone whose native language isn't English, but I have still way too much to learn ))) (I've seen some of those words for the first time in my life, especially the words in the vocabulary section xD)


John: Which style manual are you using? You should be able to justify all of these rules by reference to APA, MLA, Chicago, the AP Style Book and Libel Manual, or some such manual. Otherwise, just the claim that "this is wrong" doesn't really convince me.


swankivy: Note: Er, yeah, I do quote manuals in my answer key (mainly Chicago) when there's anything debatable, so I'm not sure what the above comment is referencing. Common usage errors didn't need to be justified by a particular cite in my opinion, though. I don't need a grammar reference backing me up to be justified in saying where to use "their" and where to use "there."


Yuoaman: Oh man, I thought I did much worse than I actually did.

*

Punctuation Distribution

You scored 4% on Punctuation, higher than 82% of your peers.
*

Capitalization Distribution

You scored -2% on Capitalization, higher than 5% of your peers.
*

Pronunciation Distribution

You scored 8% on Pronunciation, higher than 97% of your peers. *

Usage Distribution

You scored 7% on Usage, higher than 68% of your peers.
*

Spelling Distribution

You scored 1% on Spelling, higher than 43% of your peers. *

Vocabulary Distribution

You scored -1% on Vocabulary, higher than 27% of your peers.


Bree: 4 on punctuation (4 points possible).

2 on capitalization (2 points possible).

1 on pronunciation (8 points possible).

-2 on word usage (18 points possible).

3 on spelling (5 points possible).

1 on vocabulary (3 points possible).

* hides face in shame* thats just sad... At least I have plenty of time to learn! :D


Mushy:

Here are your scores:

2 on punctuation (4 points possible).
2 on capitalization (2 points possible).
3 on pronunciation (8 points possible).
12 on word usage (18 points possible).
1 on spelling (5 points possible).
3 on vocabulary (3 points possible).

Punctuation Distribution
You scored 2% on Punctuation, higher than 42% of your peers.

Capitalization Distribution
You scored 2% on Capitalization, higher than 73% of your peers.

Pronunciation Distribution
You scored 3% on Pronunciation, higher than 41% of your peers.

Usage Distribution
You scored 12% on Usage, higher than 87% of your peers.

Spelling Distribution
You scored 1% on Spelling, higher than 41% of your peers.

Vocabulary Distribution
You scored 3% on Vocabulary, higher than 93% of your peers.

I also don't speak English as a native tongue, so I guess I'm not that bad at it. (:

I'm loving your videos and I liked the test. I really like how you (at least the way I see) compromise in every thing you do.
xoxo


Soupnazi: 2 on punctuation (4 points possible).

2 on capitalization (2 points possible).

3 on pronunciation (8 points possible).

-3 on word usage (18 points possible).

1 on spelling (5 points possible).

-1 on vocabulary (3 points possible).

Oh, gosh. I really wish I could see what I got wrong.


Elvenria:

I did your test! ^^ These were my results:

4 on punctuation (4 points possible).
2 on capitalization (2 points possible).
5 on pronunciation (8 points possible).
15 on word usage (18 points possible).
5 on spelling (5 points possible).
3 on vocabulary (3 points possible).

My perfectionism/pedantic nature makes me wish I'd done better, but I'm pretty happy anyway =) Thanks for the fun and informative test!


Elizabeth: My scores:

4 on punctuation (4 points possible), higher than 65% of your peers.

2 on capitalization (2 points possible), higher than 74% of your peers.

8 on pronunciation (8 points possible), higher than 94% of your peers.

9 on word usage (18 points possible), higher than 71% of your peers.

5 on spelling (5 points possible), higher than 86% of your peers.

1 on vocabulary (3 points possible), higher than 46% of your peers.

I'm actually rather satisfied with these results, especially when I think about my age. XD


Isaac Blouin:

Here are my scores. Worse than I thought they would be (yes, I am an overconfident language geek, sorry), but not half bad.

4 of 4 on punctuation. Great.
2 of 2 on capitalization. Still great.
3 of 8 on punctuation. Um, can I get a pass on this one? I learned half the words I know from reading, so I don't really know how to talk...
13 of 18 on word usage. Not perfect, but better than 88% of the other losers--excuse me, language geeks--who took this test.
3 of 5 on spelling. I'm normally good at spelling (I hope). This has damaged my ego (not that it is in that good of shape in general).
1 of 3 on vocabulary. *Sigh*.

Well, I guess my grammar is not perfect. Take that, past self from fifteen minutes ago!
P.S. Grate test (snerk).


Anya:

This is great! I know I'm probably super late on the taking of the quiz, but... hey, I always find things to improve my writing super useful.

So, I got...
4 on punctuation (4 points possible). As expected.
2 on capitalization (2 points possible). Also as expected.
7 on pronunciation (8 points possible). Weird, I've only ever heard that word pronounced one way...
10 on word usage (18 points possible). Blarg, a couple of these I spotted immediately once I looked back at the test, without even needing the answer key. I think I may have been going too fast.
3 on spelling (5 points possible). Missed the one about the award. I know next to nothing about children's book awards. The only children's books I've read since actually being a child have been things I was forced to read to my much-younger half-siblings, and my "revisit the Animorphs" impulse reads.
3 on vocabulary (3 points possible). I am an absolute pedant about word definitions, so this did not surprise me.


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