Talk:Mistakes Due to Lack of Phonics

Reversion explained

Liberals do try to use relativity to push moral relativism. Barack Obama supposedly helped with a law review article that did exactly that. Regardless, this is not an issue of phonics.--Andy Schlafly 10:08, 30 January 2010 (EST)

Further suggestions for common sight-reading errors

These are some of the more common errors I see from students.

• Affect/effect: This one is particularly important when describing cause/effect relationships--in scientific literature, for example. To affect something is to change it; the effect is the change itself. You may affect paper by lighting it on fire; the effect is that it burns.
• Allude/elude: To allude to something is to refer to it; to elude something is to avoid or escape it. Conservatives allude to facts; liberals elude questioning.
• Appraise/apprise: To appraise is to determine the value of something; to apprise is to inform others of something. You may apprise others of your appraisal.
• Bought/brought: The former means "purchased," while the latter is the past tense of "bring." My good friend bought a reproduction of the Constitution while he was in Philadelphia, then brought it home.
• Bias/biased: Those who don't approach words phonically frequently confuse the two. Bias is the quality of being unreasonably predisposed towards one viewpoint; someone who is biased shows that quality. Your bias causes you to be biased.
• Collaborate/Corroborate: To collaborate is to work closely with others; to corroborate is to confirm the truth of something. Scientists frequently collaborate, but don't always corroborate their findings.
• Dribble/drivel: I see this one even from supposedly proficient writers. "Dribble" is what comes from the mouth of an infant who cannot yet speak; "drivel" is what comes from the mouth of an adult who can speak, but really shouldn't.
• Elocution/electrocution: Elocution is one's manner of speaking aloud. Electrocution is what happens to someone who sticks their finger in a wall socket. If a professor has poor elocution, his students may think that electrocution would be preferable to hearing him speak!
• Eminent/imminent: Someone who is eminent is prominent or well-known. Something that is imminent is going to happen shortly. A hotel might make ready for the imminent arrival of an eminent visitor.
• Imminent/immanent: Less common, but important. Again, imminent refers to something that will happen soon. "Immanent" means something that is an inherent quality of the universe. God's Word is immanent; His return is imminent.
• Faithful/fateful: "Faithful" is the quality of having faith; "fateful" means highly significant. For those who turn to God, the day they become faithful is a fateful day.
• Farther/further: "Farther" properly refers to distance, while "further" refers to time, degree, or progress. I can further my goal of getting to the supermarket by going father down the road.
• Founder/Flounder: To founder is to fill with water and sink. A founder is someone who establishes something--for instance, the Founders who established the Constitution. To flounder is to flail about ineffectually; a flounder is a fish. If you try to pull that flounder into your boat, it may founder. Then you'll flounder around in the water.
• Incredulous/incredible: Someone who is incredulous doesn't believe what they hear. Something that is incredible is unbelievable. (It may be incredibly good, or incredibly bad. The term is neutral.) Many find the theory of evolution incredible; therefore, they are incredulous when told that it is true.
• Later/latter: "Later" refers to sequence in time. "Latter" refers to the second in a set of two. Bob and Henry were coming to dinner; the latter showed up earlier, and the former showed up later.
• Ordinance/ordnance: An ordinance is a law; ordnance refers to military weapons. Many ordinances restricting the ownership of ordnance are unconstitutional.
• Parameter/perimeter: Another important distinction when dealing with science, math, or engineering. Parameters are mathematical constants or variables that determine the form of a function. More generally, "parameter" can also be used to refer to physical properties or essential characteristics. A "perimeter" is a boundary. One of the parameters of geometry is that every shape has a perimeter.
• Perpetrate/perpetuate: To perpetrate is to commit, usually a crime. To perpetuate something is to ensure that it continues. Adam and Eve perpetrated the Fall; man's sinful nature perpetuates it.
• Prescribe/proscribe: Although they look similar, they're almost opposites. To prescribe something is to recommend it; to proscribe it is to forbid it. Your doctor may prescribe lots of exercise and green leafy vegetables and proscribe McDonald's hamburgers if you're trying to lose weight.
• Rogue/rouge: A rogue is someone untrustworthy or dishonest; rouge is makeup. The rogue tried to sell Mrs. Applebee some rouge, but she noticed that it smelled like old fish and said no.
• Sacred/scared: That which is sacred is holy. He who is scared is afraid. Evildoers are frequently scared of the sacred.
• Vicious/viscous: He who is vicious is savage and depraved; that which is viscous is thick and sticky. A particularly vicious punishment was to pour viscous honey on someone and stake them out near an anthill.

More later--hope these help! --Benp 14:09, 30 January 2010 (EST)

Wow, what a superb list!!!! Thank you for your examples! Note that not all are due to lack of phonics, however, though many are. Feel free to add the errors caused by lack of phonics to the entry as you think appropriate, or I will do so if you prefer.--Andy Schlafly 14:31, 30 January 2010 (EST)

True enough--the actual list I use is longer. I did try to restrict myself to errors that result from a lack of phonics-based word attack skills, but I'm afraid I got a little too enthusiastic and let others creep in. Would you mind terribly if I asked you to be my spot-checker and add the ones that you feel are most relevant to the article? I think the overall result will be better with the input of two people. --Benp 14:37, 30 January 2010 (EST)

You really do have many superb examples here. I'll add them to the entry, and feel free to include more!--Andy Schlafly 14:47, 30 January 2010 (EST)

Capital/Capitol is one I see a lot with grade-school kids. --ChrisY 15:07, 30 January 2010 (EST)