Homework idea- Word Crimes

[Littleturkish]

You may have seen Weird Al's new video 'Word Crimes' where he parodies 'Blurred Lines'. With the exception of some pretty offensive language used as insults (think outdated medical terms used as put downs) it is pretty good.

I've been thinking about Word Crimes and would like to have a weekly 'Word Crime' with my top set year eight class next year. Each week I would tackle a different 'Word Crime' and as an ongoing homework, encourage them to photograph word crimes.

So, on your list of ultimate word crimes- what would you add? So far I have: accept/except, pacific/specific, was/were, your/you're.

Apologies for any mistakes in this post and thank you in advance for your contributions!

Leverage is not a verb in British English.

OP, are you teaching British or UK English?
( Seems to me that teaching US English is pretty pointless, as it seems any spelling or grammar is acceptable)

UK!

Actually- it might be worth going through US and UK spellings to iron out misconceptions. I'll hold back on that one until I've started to assess their writing though, it might not be necessary.

Loads of brilliant ideas, thank you, everyone!

Of / have - as in 'would of done this / should of done that'

Done / did

Won / beat ('I won him at Monopoly'. That's nice dear, shall we put him in the trophy cabinet ').

Recommend me a ........

I've finally thought of one! Principle and principal.

More will come to me in due course I'm sure.

Ooh, and 'can I get' rather than 'please may I have'.

And finally for this evening: bought and brought.

There is nothing wrong with "can I get" except that it should be "may I get."

Itinerary/inventory

Unfortunely.
This is something I keep hearing on the BBC - I'm sure people are just skipping the syllable but I fear that it will make its way into written language soon.

Rent and let

Due to v Owing to

free reign v free rein (throw in free rain for a giggle)

Sat/sitting/seated

Tow the line / toe the line

And mourn the dwindling of the nouns invitation and quotation

These are brilliant- I'll be putting together my slides tonight.

Thanks so much, everyone!

There is nothing wrong with "can I get" except that it should be "may I get."

A former colleague of mine loathed the word 'get' and refused to let the children use it. His argument was that there was always a better, more accurate word to use.

Had a similar attitude to the word 'nice'.

infer/imply + inference/implication

expect/anticiapte

infer/imply + inference/implication

expect/anticipate

Tut - spelling (or at least typing) - bad Cat.

Oooh I nearly forgot, "As such" instead of "consequently" or similar. It's rife in this office!

compliment/complement

it's/its

capitol/capital

disinterested/uninterested

Cue / que - as in 'que me shouting at DS' etc (or worse, queue me....)

i think I have always used infer imply properly, but I read up on it just in case.

it's (The cat licked it's bum)

Should of

awesome, epic - can we have more specific adjectives please?

"I won him at..." - seriously? That is depressing.

My DS who's four is currently having an issue with 'what' and 'that' - I have to gently remind him about questions and statements. As in 'I ate some of those beans what we picked the other day.'

After reading another thread title, I'm fairly sure.... who/whom.

Incomplete adverbs (snooker commentators are particularly bad at this)

He potted that nice and slow ...

I can barely sing the 2nd and 3rd verses of Dingle Dangle Scarecrow without adding the ly to "he shouted very loud(LY)/soft(LY)!

Particularly/particulary