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 With the exception of some pretty offensive language used as insults (think outdated medical terms used as put downs) it is pretty good.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!

What a great idea! (P7 teacher here)

I'd be looking for our/are, there/their/they're, where/were

I used that video in a lesson though did skip the s word at the end. I looked it up as it's not a very weird Al thing to be like that
That word is an inoffensive name they use in the US, doesn't mean anything like what it means in this country. So that explains the use, as he's normally family friendly!

Oh and defiantly and definitely!

Someone mentioned previously the 'where' and 'were' confusion.

I have not long finished an access to university course and I was amazed at the amount of my classmates who mix those two up! I had never heard of that mistake before.

I thought that it was obviously wrong to write something like "you where going on holiday"......

But it must be more common than I thought.

(This is my first post on this board, glad I found it! )

Affect vs effect.
Dd2's favourite is spotting starting a sentence with 'and', she spots many when she is reading her school reading books.
One which might be hard to find examples of is saying 'it planned out ok' instead of 'panned out' - came across lots of people using this in essays.

Through vs though vs thou
American spellings:
Doughnut vs Donut
Metre vs Meter
Litre vs Liter
Centre vs Center
Dialing rather than dialling

Controversial one but would use of the US equivalent of UK words count? I mean use of words like math instead of maths, bathroom/restroom instead of loo.

Slang rather than formal language is a common word crime. Eg sick rather than amazing.

3bunnies - must be unbearable for your DD to watch Commonwealth Games when England win a medal - they use Jerusalem for the country's anthem, a poem that starts with "And"!

What was Blake thinking? Perhaps he was thinking that there was nothing wrong with starting a sentence with "And"? I'd have to agree with him.

blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/01/can-i-start-a-sentence-with-a-conjunction/

Tell that to her teacher then, cos it has never bothered me!

And it is not incorrect to start a sentence with "and."

blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/01/can-i-start-a-sentence-with-a-conjunction/

Cross-post!

Aren't there rooms called bathrooms in the UK?

And the preferred American English spelling of the pastry with a hole is doughnut.

Scone- now people are going to guess that the Oxford link is the first one that comes when you search google on starting sentences with and! .

I will point out that I did read the web page that I linked to.

Do two posts 17 hours apart really qualify as cross posts?

No, but I have that link bookmarked because the issue comes up often (in RL as well as on here).

I have taught some very stubborn students who insist 'my primary school teacher told me it was wrong' and won't listen to reason, with regards to the 'and' situation. I wouldn't mind so much, if they didn't start every other sentence with 'but'!

One of the reasons I like that link is that it discusses stylistic reasons a writer might want to begin a sentence with "and" or "but."

With the Commonwealth Games on at the moment, using medal as a verb

its, it's, its'

any sticking in of random apostrophes

phrases such as flown the "coot" - uttered by a HT I used to work for

I seen has went has came I've wrote - all uttered by teachers in my school

When to use younger/youngest etc?

Lie/lay

To/too/two

Did good

Blimming phone.

As i was saying; did good when you mean well also treats me good.

On the same lines less and fewer: learn the difference.

Affect when you mean effect.

Gifted in place of given

HAargWar

Weird spelt wierd. Constantly seen on texts.
Yes yes to due to. I was taught only trains are due to arrive, other uses should be substituted.

Also hate hearing 16 years OF AGE. In sports commentary. Not exactly incorrect maybe but what's wrong with 16 years old?