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Unrelated, unnecessary goose photo

I don’t mean to be nitpicky. I really don’t.  Call me rigid but there are a few common English mistakes that I find practically intolerable. “It’s “means “it is”. Your cool? Only if  the writer was interrupted before typing…Your cool new bicycle is looking radical. To my horror and dismay, in recent days these errors have reared their fowl noggins in my own work.  It’s time to study up.

Take the quiz below to determine where you stand on a scale of  yikes to yeah.  When you’re done, visit: www.freerice.com for more fun with words.

1.Although Bobby was not adverse/averse to smoking, he know that cigarettes would have an adverse/averse effect on his health.

2. I usually bring/take home all the left over cookies from my uncle’s house when I visit.

3. I will bring/take all my recycling to curb on garbage day.

4. When speaking of these sensitive issues, one must be discreet/discrete.

5. The film was divided into seven discreet/discrete parts.

6. My neighbour had a flare/flair for decorating.

7. She tried to illicit/elicit further comment from her city councillor on the matter.

8. As a Supreme court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor always offers disinterested/uninterested judgements.

9. Winona’s new Vespa goes much farther/further than my old electric scooter.

10. She took his compliment/complement about her chana masala with joyful acceptance.

11. Chauncy emigrated/immigrated from Britain to San Fransisco in 1952.

12. She maintained her principals/principles despite being offered a large sum of money to cover up the affair.

13. This idea will surely effect/affect the changes we would like to see in our city.

Answers

1.      Averse, adverse

2.      Take

3.      Take

4.      Discreet

5.      Discrete

6.      Flair

7.      Elicit

8.      Disinterested

9.      Farther

10.  Compliment

11.  Emigrated

12.  Principles

13.  Effect

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