Spelling and Grammar Mistakes: What’s The Difference?

When it comes to spelling and grammar mistakes, many people are unsure of the differences between the two of them. In fact, some may confuse the two or mix them up. The reason for this is that the differences between spelling and grammar mistakes may not be that obvious at times. Still, once you look at some examples we will use here to better explain the two, it may help you to distinguish between the both of them more easily.

 

 

Speaking Versus Spelling

 

For most people, it is very easy to speak very well or intelligently. Be that as it may though, whenever you ask the same person to spell what he or she said, they will usually end up making numerous spelling and grammar mistakes. Various words in the dictionary actually sound similar to others. Some words are often spelled differently than what they actually sound like. Silent letters can also cause problems for spellers and end up tripping people in their grammar. Still, while the speaker may not know how to spell either one of them, they will know when to properly use them in a sentence.  

 

Check out this article if you are still unsure how to use There, Their, and They’re

 

Spelling Versus Grammar

 

There are some that may think that when a word is spelled correctly but used incorrectly that it is a spelling mistake. However, that is not the case. Whenever a person intends to use a certain word but ends up using a different one through a spelling mishap, then that becomes a grammar mistake. Most of the time, the words are spelled correctly, however, they are used incorrectly or improperly.

 

One of the most commonly misspelled or misused words are the ‘Your and You’re’ ‘It’s or its’ ‘There, They’re or Their’ combinations. These words are called heterographs since they both sound the same but are spelled differently. Also, using one versus the other incorrectly can alter and change the meaning of the sentence altogether.

 

Here are several examples of words spelled correctly, but wrongly used.

 

Affect, Effect:

 

The drug did not effect the disease so the doctors had to change it.

 

In this sentence we see that the person properly spelled the word effect. However, they should have used affect –  usually a verb meaning to influence. Effect is a noun usually meaning result.

 

Elicit, Illicit:

 

The police were unable to illicit information from one of their informants during the raid.

 

In this sentence we see that the writer used the word illicit incorrectly. While illicit was again spelled correctly, the right word to use should have been elicit.

Elicit is a verb which means to bring out or evoke. However, Illicit refers to an adjective which means unlawful. These two prime examples show us how easy it can be to know how to spell words properly, but end up using them incorrectly in a sentence.

 

You should read Commonly Misused Words – Learn to Use Them Correctly

 

Avoid Making Grammar or Spelling Mistakes

 

One of the best tips you should focus on whenever you are faced with words such as these is to double check them for meaning. Heterographs are very difficult for most students to fully understand right away. Despite this though, with sites like Online SpellCheck or a dictionary, you can actually see the words being used in example sentences to make sure you are using them correctly. Always double check your heterographs and other difficult words which have silent letters, are spelled differently than they sound and contractions. Ultimately, knowing the most common spelling and grammar mistakes can help you tremendously to make sure you avoid making them.