A recent IM conversation I had at work
Me: “Don’t you want to roll your eyes at people who don’t know the difference between stationary and stationery?”
Him: “It’s an easy mistake – the only way I remember it is that e goes with envelope.”
Me: “I remember it because e goes with letter… which, now that I think about it, is a completely useless mnemonic device.”
share:
tags: Annie Parsons | Education | mnemonic device | Now I know | Nugget | stationary vs. stationery | Words
What.
I have been spelling stationery wrong for years.
As someone who, if she had her way, would obsessively correct everyone’s grammar and spelling every time that it was not PERFECT, I find this mortifying.
Greta. I went through the exact same emotions when I found out that “complimentary” is not the same as “complementary.” Deep breaths, self-forgiveness, and the Serenity prayer help.
:)
How ’bout a little grace, girls!!??
That DOES help actually. I’ve always felt very smug when considering complimentary/complementary. Is it wrong to feel self-righteous indignation when someone uses the two incorrectly?
Yes.
Especially since I’ve supposedly been writing thank-you notes on a verb that means “immobile” for so many years.
Susan, there are many things I am able to give myself grace for, before I can forgive myself misspelled words… It is a sickness.
It’s an adjective! GAH!
heh heh heh… word nerds. Yep. That’s what we are. I’m with you Greta. Which means we’re complementary. Not that I was being complimentary.
I see red when people misuse effect and affect.
I, too, went for many years before I knew how to properly spell “stationery.”
There is also apparently a difference between “material” and “materiel.”
Wow. I never noticed the difference before. Thanks for the valuable tidbit! xx
You crack me up.
I like the way that guy thinks. :)