Comments on: From spelling and grammar to usage and grammar http://editdesk.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/spelling-grammar-test/ Thoughts on editing for print and online media Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:20:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: andybechtel http://editdesk.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/spelling-grammar-test/#comment-3646 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:30:45 +0000 http://editdesk.wordpress.com/?p=4533#comment-3646 Not now, because we are still using it. But perhaps someday.

]]> By: janflora http://editdesk.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/spelling-grammar-test/#comment-3645 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:26:19 +0000 http://editdesk.wordpress.com/?p=4533#comment-3645 Is the old test available for the public? I would like test myself. :)

]]> By: David http://editdesk.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/spelling-grammar-test/#comment-3573 Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:39:30 +0000 http://editdesk.wordpress.com/?p=4533#comment-3573 I looked through the list for the usage section of the new test. I stopped when I came to “shoe-in/shoo-in.” I knew “shoo-in” was the person considered almost certain to win something, but I couldn’t imagine what a “shoe-in” was, although I thought of a person who had put his foot in a race or had thrown his hat into a race, or who had a clear advantage in getting a certain job because of factors not related to the job, such as a personal friendship with the hiring person. I looked up the term in the online Merriam-Webster dictionary and in my 1969 American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Neither dictionary lists “shoe-in” as a word. If “shoe-in” is not a word, this would seem like a test of spelling, not usage.

]]> By: andybechtel http://editdesk.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/spelling-grammar-test/#comment-3525 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:05:17 +0000 http://editdesk.wordpress.com/?p=4533#comment-3525 Yes, Kelsey, the new test will have that sort of thing in the usage section.

]]> By: Kelsey http://editdesk.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/spelling-grammar-test/#comment-3523 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:09:53 +0000 http://editdesk.wordpress.com/?p=4533#comment-3523 With the prevalence of instant spell-check, it makes sense to de-emphasize spelling as a pass-or-fail skill. Do you consider homonyms to fall into the spelling or usage category? I’m constantly correcting complement/compliment, site/sight, etc.

]]> By: andybechtel http://editdesk.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/spelling-grammar-test/#comment-3518 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:56:12 +0000 http://editdesk.wordpress.com/?p=4533#comment-3518 It’s not available publicly. It’s possible that we’ll post sample questions this fall, though.

We’re still working out a few details, such as the time limit for students to take the test and the ratio of grammar questions to usage questions.

]]> By: Margaret Jean http://editdesk.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/spelling-grammar-test/#comment-3516 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:30:36 +0000 http://editdesk.wordpress.com/?p=4533#comment-3516 I teach ESL in Canada and would love to have a look at your test. Is it available to other universities? Or online to the general public? Please let me know!

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