Language Mistakes Test--Hard Even for English Geeks!

Here are your scores:

2 on punctuation (4 points possible).

2 on capitalization (2 points possible).

2 on pronunciation (8 points possible).

1 on word usage (18 points possible).

5 on spelling (5 points possible).

-3 on vocabulary (3 points possible).

By and large, this test GAVE YOU one point for every correct answer and TOOK AWAY one point for every wrong answer.  Therefore, if you got a 0 in any area it means you got as many wrong as you got right, not that you got 0 right.  If you got a POSITIVE score you got more right than wrong, and if you got a NEGATIVE score you got more wrong than right.

There were two exceptions to this:

1. The "how to pronounce forte" question did not dock you any points no matter which you chose, but the only choice that allowed you to EARN a point was the "all of the above" answer.  Since every answer available was a correct answer, I didn't dock you if you didn't happen to pick the best one.

2. The use of "prejudice/prejudiced" and "close-minded/closed-minded."  A person can never be "prejudice" (that's a noun, not an adjective), so if you picked either of those it's incorrect; however, even though "close-minded" is actually the correct adjective, "closed-minded" IS accepted as a variant.  It's just not the best answer.  I didn't dock you if you picked "prejudiced/closed-minded."

Keep in mind this test was not basic; I organized it to highlight mistakes I've seen made by very learned people who consider themselves language buffs.  I KNOW YOU PROBABLY WANT TO ARGUE WITH ME ABOUT SOME OF THESE, and no one is perfect, so maybe you're right. If you'd like to ask a question, you can mail me through OKCupid OR my private e-mail address. HOWEVER, I strongly suggest you READ MY ANSWER KEY at this link before you ask. If you go and ask me something that is already explained on the answer key, I will simply write back and refer you to it. But if you can make a good argument for a change on the test and it turns out you're right, I'll be glad to pat you on the head, tweak my test, and perhaps send you cookies if you want to be my friend.

Yes, I really do send cookies to people.  I bake.