Spelling Bee (How many can you get out of 20?)

NRO's The Corner ^ | 6-4-08 | John Derbyshire

[SeafoodGumbo]

A friend reminds me of the classic 1955 Esquire spelling test. In his words:

Not one of eight hundred editors, teachers, proof readers, etc. got a perfect score on a test of sixty words. The test included the following twenty words, which were the twenty misspelled by the most test-takers. Notice that none of the usual stumbling blocks — separate, embarrass, inveigle, etc. — is in the list.

When this test was given to a broad range of average Americans, six was the median score, twelve was attained by one person in ten, and eighteen "put you on the level of a university English professor." (NOTE: This was five decades ago. Does anyone believe people would do as well today?)

Here are the words, grotesquely misspelled. Good luck!

        1.  ass-uh-9
        2.  brag-uh-doe—C-O
        3.  rare-uff-I
        4.  lick-wuff-i
        5.  puh-vill-yun
        6.  ver-mill-yun
        7.  im-pah-stir
        8.  mock-uh-sun
        9.  uh-komuh-date
        10. kon-sen-sus
        11. roe-ko-ko
        12. tittle-8
        13. sack-ruh-lijus
        14. may-uh-naze
        15. im-pray-sorry-O
        16. in-ock-U-late
        17. sooper-seed
        18. obly-gahto
        19. dessuh-Kate
        20. re-sussuh-tate

I got the professorial 18; but then, I darn well should — words are my living.

[SeafoodGumbo]

To see the correct spelling, I typed them in an online dictionary. You could also type them in Word and use the spell checker.

[Drango]

wat u say?

[SeafoodGumbo]

Actually, instead of typing them in Word, I meant paste them in Word.

[the invisib1e hand]

spelling bee

b-e-e.

Sheesh.

[Billthedrill]

I missed roccoccco. Rocooccoo Rooococcococccocccoooo.

Dang it.

[freedompursuit]

hmmm....got all but #11

[Drango]

To see the correct spelling, I typed them in an online dictionary. You could also type them in Word and use the spell checker.

I just post the word here or FR. Someone is sure to correct you:)

[jimfree]

I got 14 going through the list quickly and trusting WordPerfect’s spellcheck to nail me.

[Osage Orange]

I got 16.........

What do I win?

[Billthedrill]

Rookookoe...rocccokkoco...rowkowkow...raccooko...

[SeafoodGumbo]

I got 16.........

What do I win?

Your leather-bound book of Obama's greatest speeches is in the mail!

[Man50D]

They’re misspelled?

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

How many people are ever honest about how many of these they get correct? Impossible to tell if anyone is being honest.

Nothing to see here...

[Moose4]

Dang, that’s tough. I got 12 and thought I could do better than that.

}:-)4

[humblegunner]

I just post the word here or FR. Someone is sure to correct you:)

Guilty.

[Osage Orange]

Already got the “Little Blue Book”.........

[Osage Orange]

Liar!

[Osage Orange]

LOL!

Jailhouse honesty...!!

[moonpie57]

Wow...got them all right except resuscitate. That danged ‘c’ got me. Most of the time I can look at a word and tell if it looks right.