Tutoring English, a specific question arises: the tutor investigates if hilarity can pluralize to hilarities. In my Feb 14 post I use the word hilarities, which the spell-checker doesn’t like, though it’s happy with hilarity. So, is the word hilarities…
Oracle Tutoring, Campbell River, BC
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Category: spelling
English: is it relatable?
Tutoring English, you never run out of material. The tutor shares an observation – will it be relatable? relatable (adj): 1. sensibly connected to some other event or state; 2. understandable by others. The word relatable is listed by a…
English: numbskull, or numskull?
Tutoring English, some hilarities just present themselves. Numbskull can also be spelled numskull, according to two dictionaries I’ve checked. Who knew? Source: Mish, Frederick C (editor). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004. Gilmour, Lorna (editor). Collins Essential Canadian English Dictionary…
How to spell tambourine
Tutoring English, spelling is always interesting. The tutor mentions the spelling of the word tambourine. tambourine (noun): a hand-held drum with metallic noisemakers attached. The Brits and the Yanks both spell tambourine this way. Source: Gilmour, Lorna (editor). Collins Essential…
English: spelling: is “disfunctional” dysfunctional?
Tutoring English, spelling can hold surprises. The tutor mentions one he got from spelling “disfunctional.” This editor is unhappy with the spelling “disfunctional”, yet Merriam-Webster does allow for it. Given that Merriam-Webster is American, and so I’m sure is this…
Tagged with: correct spelling dysfunctional or disfunctional
English, food: fibre, or fiber?
Food research leads to self-tutoring: the tutor follows a query about spelling. When I type fibre, the screen cautions me I might have it wrong. Really? fibre: Merriam-Webster: British of fiber Oxford Canadian: dietary fibre Oxford Canadian doesn’t list fiber.…
English: spelling variants: connexion vs connection
The tutor mentions another British spelling we might seldom see, though it’s legal. Although I’ve seen connexion, I can’t remember the last time. However, I looked it up today. Webster’s says it’s a Brit. variant of connection. Collins Essential Canadian…
Tagged with: connexion
English: curb or kerb?
The tutor explores another spelling fork. According to Merriam-Webster, kerb is Brit. for curb: the raised boundary along a street. I’ll be covering more spelling curiosities as they emerge:) Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.
English: are we spelling tire (tyre) correctly?
The tutor discusses a spelling he’s long wondered about. Before I had kids, I read a lot of fiction, much of it British. Often, in those books, tyre referred to the rubber around a car’s wheels. Canadian Tire, of course,…
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