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Can The English Language Survive?

Of course it can, but gracefully?

The increase in reliance on electronic media has resulted in rampant proliferation of homophonous (soundalike) misuses of the English language. When people only hear phrases over the phone, on television and radio and in conversation, rather than reading the phrases in (well edited) books or magazines, the phrases can get corrupted. The corruptions wend their way into electronic text, only to be read and perpetuated. Sandy Reed of Infoworld has coined the term Technopropism to identify those misuses which spellcheckers cannot catch because they are real words, just incorrectly used. I've been collecting examples of bastardized cliches and other misuses for some time. I sent Sandy some of my collected examples and she included a few of them in a subsequent column. Some of these garbled perversions (there, that should result in some web search engine hits for this page :-) almost make sense but they're all incorrect. Here is a quiz to test your knowledge of proper usage and phrasing. If you have other examples which you have seen in electronic media (email, Usenet, the web), feel free to mail them to me for possible inclusion in a later quiz. I'd also be happy to receive any and all corrections and comments.

Are you ready? Let's take the quiz. There are over 100 questions, but you should be able to whip right through them. For each question, select the correct phrasing by clicking the accompanying radio button. Currently there is no penalty for guessing. Note that some phrases are American English colloquialisms which may not be familiar to all.


Quiz Contents Copyright © 1997 Wade S. Blomgren - All Rights Reserved
Quiz contents last updated Wed Mar 5 10:12:05 PST 1997
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Key Resource
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Grammar

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1.
the police officer patted him down
the police officer padded him down
2.
he has a full proof method for that
he has a foolproof method for that
3.
in his hay day he was a big star
in his heyday he was a big star
4.
a big effort was put forth by
a big effort was put fourth by
5.
his uncle was a good role model
his uncle was a good roll model
6.
the runner was seated first in his heat
the runner was seeded first in his heat
7.
that's just my two cents' worth
that's just my too sense worth
8.
had a cookie just to tie me over
had a cookie just to tide me over
9.
he was chopping at the bit
he was champing at the bit
10.
give me a brake!
give me a break!
11.
would leave me to expect
would lead me to expect
12.
please visit my web sight
please visit my web site
13.
I dawned my coat and hat
I donned my coat and hat
14.
his concentration never waivered
his concentration never wavered
15.
he was quick; in other words, he was fast
He was quick; another words, he was fast
16.
the crook was on the lam
the crook was on the lamb
17.
the destroyed vehicle was a complete write-off
the destroyed vehicle was a complete right off
18.
wreak havoc
reap havoc
19.
the device has coarse and fine adjustments
the device has course and fine adjustments
20.
sashayed out of the room
sacheted out of the room
21.
he seemed a mite peculiar
he seemed a might peculiar
22.
I waved my rights
I waived my rights
23.
and then, voila!...a rabbit appeared
and then, wah lah!...a rabbit appeared
24.
have an averse reaction to the medicine
have an adverse reaction to the medicine
25.
sew the seeds of discontent
sow the seeds of discontent
26.
the ride was a pseudo-race
the ride was a sudo-race
27.
the plan supposedly provides for that
the plan supposively provides for that
28.
for all intensive purposes
for all intents and purposes
29.
I would just as soon not do that
I would just assume not do that
30.
it's a moot point now, since...
it's a mute point now, since...
31.
with the utmost care
with the upmost care
32.
please bear with me
please bare with me
33.
a prospective candidate
a perspective candidate
34.
it's commonly accepted that grass is green
it's commonly excepted that grass is green
35.
she was just ecstatic about the outcome
she was just estatic about the outcome
36.
the disruptive kids were raising Cain
the disruptive kids were raising cane
37.
he didn't fair as well
he didn't fare as well
38.
the cautious investor was weary of the claims the broker made
the cautious investor was wary of the claims the broker made
39.
I'm not adverse to strenuous exercise
I'm not averse to strenuous exercise
40.
his career is at its peak
his career is at its peek
41.
cut off his nose despite his face
cut off his nose to spite his face
42.
site that as a reason for...
cite that as a reason for...
43.
he waved to me
he waived to me
44.
it's just an optical allusion
it's just an optical illusion
45.
a top finish in this race has always alluded me
a top finish in this race has always eluded me
46.
it just doesn't cut the mustard
it just doesn't cut the muster
47.
hear, hear, I agree!
here, here, I agree!
48.
I would of done it
I would have done it
49.
he must have known it wouldn't work
He must of known it wouldn't work
50.
they are one and the same
they are one in the same
51.
the horse was raring to go
the horse was rearing to go
52.
I tried, but it was all for not
I tried, but it was all for naught
53.
on a pro capita basis
on a per capita basis
54.
he alluded to his connection with the mafia
he eluded to his connection with the mafia
55.
he acted in a manor that indicated
he acted in a manner that indicated
56.
and, in the same vein
and, in the same vain
57.
I was waiting with baited breath
I was waiting with bated breath
58.
he cited this incident as an example
he sighted this incident as an example
59.
the mere presents of the lawyer intimidated him
the mere presence of the lawyer intimidated him
60.
the story was purely antidotal in nature
the story was purely anecdotal in nature
61.
one of my favorite past times is to...
one of my favorite pastimes is to...
62.
the machine did nothing except record the numbers
the machine did nothing accept record the numbers
63.
case in point
case and point
64.
it wasn't an argument per say
it wasn't an argument per se
65.
he was poring over documents
he was pouring over documents
66.
he was not use to the feel of the new shoes
he was not used to the feel of the new shoes
67.
the boxer was wailing on his opponent
the boxer was whaling his opponent
68.
the ship was in for some fowl weather
the ship was in for some foul weather
69.
the sulphur mine wreaked of rotten eggs
the sulphur mine reeked of rotten eggs
70.
the boat changed coarse
the boat changed course
71.
wreaking havoc
reeking havoc
72.
he's a a real no-nothing
he's a real know-nothing
73.
they had a low per capital income
they had a low per capita income
74.
those are all just bold-faced lies
those are all just bare-faced lies
75.
I hold them in high estimation
I hold them in high esteem
76.
He was ready to dual it out with him
He was ready to duel it out with him
77.
the item piqued my interest
the item peaked my interest
78.
the state seceded from the union
the state succeeded from the union
79.
an athlete of that caliper
an athlete of that caliber
80.
one criterium we have for that is
one criterion we have for that is
81.
I don't subscribe to that theory
I don't prescribe to that theory
82.
out of site, out of mind
out of sight, out of mind
83.
we live in a track home
we live in a tract home
84.
all of the sudden he stopped and turned around
all of a sudden he stopped and turned around
85.
she was the splitting image of her mother
she was the spitting image of her mother
86.
he likes roll playing games
he likes role-playing games
87.
there were 12 of them all told
there were 12 of them all tolled
88.
the mounds were geographically disbursed around the region
the mounds were geographically dispersed around the region:
89.
he won the prize
he one the prize
90.
they raced on a 1.5 mile dirt coarse
they raced on a 1.5 mile dirt course
91.
the horse was very skittish
the horse was very skiddish
92.
he cited this incident as an example
he sited this incident as an example
93.
Santa gave a hearty chuckle
Santa gave a hardy chuckle
94.
please bare in mind
please bear in mind
95.
the case against him was cut and dried
the case against him was cut and dry
96.
I heartily agree
I hardily agree
97.
the miners hit the mother lode
the miners hit the mother load
98.
those who don't tow the line will be dismissed
those who don't toe the line will be dismissed
99.
when tempers flare
when tempers flair
100.
on the eve of that special day
on the eave of that special day
101.
the snack may wet my appetite
the snack may whet my appetite
102.
give you some inside as to the reasoning
give you some insight as to the reasoning
103.
he related a few humorous anticdotes
he related a few humorous anecdotes
104.
they accept it as a fact that grass is green
they except it as a fact that grass is green
105.
try to find a happy medium between the two extremes:
try to find a happy median between the two extremes
106.
the rumors spread like wildflowers
the rumors spread like wildfire
107.
this quiz is a waist of time
this quiz is a waste of time
108.
the cabin was off the beating path
the cabin was off the beaten path
109.
the results were fair to middlin'
the results were fair to midland
110.
this quiz will really test your metal
this quiz will really test your mettle
111.
a top score is an elusive goal
a top score is an illusive goal