30 Super-Geeky Spelling And Grammar Questions

Think you know your grammar? Think again.

Tabatha Leggett

BuzzFeed Staff, UK

1. Which of these is correct?

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1. Who’s is that ugly dog? Is it her’s?
2. Whose is that ugly dog? Is it her’s?
3. Whose is that ugly dog? Is it hers?
4. Who’s is that ugly dog? Is it hers?
5. Who’s that ugly dog? Is it hers?
6. Who’s that ugly dog? Is it her’s?
“Who’s” is short for “who is” or “who has”. The word “her’s” doesn’t exist.
2. Which of these is correct?

Via mplegal.net
1. Last time I needed legal advice, I consulted a lawyer who my aunt recommended to me.
2. Last time I needed legal advice, I consulted a lawyer whom my aunt recommended to me.
“Who” is a subjective pronoun (like “he,” and “she”). whereas “whom” is an objective pronoun (like “him,” and “her”).
3. Which of these is correct?
1. Liaison
2. Liason
4. Which of these is correct?

Via forsterorganicmeats.com
1. I eat only meat that has been organically farmed.
2. I eat only meat which has been organically farmed.
“That” is a restrictive pronoun, whereas “which” introduces a relative clause, allowing for non-essential qualifiers.
5. Which of these is correct?

Via thatnewjam.com
1. I think your mum’s really fit. I get anxious every time I see her.
2. I think your mum’s really fit. I get excited every time I see her.
3. I think you’re mum’s really fit. I get excited every time I see her.
4. I think you’re mum’s really fit. I get anxious every time I see her.
“You’re” means “you are”. If you are anxious about something, you are dreading it, rather than looking forward to it.
6. Which of these is correct?

Via static3.beanscdn.co.uk
1. I literally know what everyone from my school is up to now. That’s the effect of Facebook stalking.
2. I literally know what everyone from my school is up to now. That’s the affect of Facebook stalking.
3. I know what everyone from my school is up to now. That’s the effect of Facebook stalking.
4. I know what everyone from my school is up to now. That’s the affect of Facebook stalking.
“Literally” means “exactly”. It’s unlikely that you know what every single person from you school is up to right now. “Affect” is usually a verb and “effect” is usually a noun. To affect something is to cause an effect.
7. Which of these is correct?
1. Separate
2. Seperate
8. Which of these is correct?

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1. The wine you just served me out of a box made me feel nauseous.
2. The wine you just served me out of a box made me feel nouseous.
9. Which of these is correct?

Via tumblr.com
1. Chuck and Blair annoy me. They’re always breaking up and getting back together.
2. Chuck and Blair annoy me. Their always breaking up and getting back together.
3. Chuck and Blair annoy me. There always breaking up and getting back together.
“They’re” means “they are”. “Their” indicates possession. “There” indicates the existence of something.
10. Which of these is correct?
1. Definitely
2. Definately
11. Which of these is correct?

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1. I never lend Rachel anything because she always loses things.
2. I never lend Rachel anything since she always loses things.
3. I never lend Rachel anything because she always looses things.
4. I never lend Rachel anything since she always looses things.
“Because” refers to causation, whereas “since” refers to time. “Looses” comes from “loose”, as in “loose-fitting clothing”.
12. Which of these is correct?

Via relationships-scotland.org.uk
1. I really liked him, but I couldn’t see the relationship going any farther.
2. I really liked him, but I couldn’t see the relationship going any further.
“Farther” implies a distance you can measure. “Further” refers to abstract lengths.
13. Which of these is correct?

Via blogger.com
1. My neighbours continually played music between the hours of 2am-6am this morning, which made sleeping very difficult.
2. My neighbours continuously played music between the hours of 2am-6am this morning, which made sleeping very difficult.
“Continual” means something that is always occurring, with lapses of time in between. “Continuous” means something that is on-going, without any gaps.
14. Which of these is correct?
1. Wierd
2. Weird
15. Which of these is correct?

Via cfile207.uf.daum.net
1. You have amazing legs. I’m so jealous.
2. You have amazing legs. I’m so envious.
“Jealous” implies a fear of rivalry, whereas “envy” implies longing for something someone else has.
16. Which of these is correct?
1. Manouvre
2. Manoeuvre
17. Which of these is correct?

Via cfile207.uf.daum.net
1. I don’t know whether I should dye my hair green.
2. I don’t know whether I should die my hair green.
3. I don’t know if I should die my hair green.
4. I don’t know if I should dye my hair green.
“Whether” expresses a decision involving two or more options. “If” implies that there are no alternatives. “Dye” refers to the process of colouring, whereas “die” means not living anymore.
18. Which of these is correct?

Via cfile207.uf.daum.net
1. Yum. This strawberry sauce really compliments the dessert.
2. Yum. This strawberry sauce really complements the dessert.
3. Yum. This strawberry sauce really compliments the desert.
4. Yum. This strawberry sauce really complements the desert.
To compliment is to say nice things about something. To complement is to offset. A “dessert” is a sweet dish, whereas a “desert” is landscape of very dry land.
19. Which of these is correct?

Via blogger.com
1. You can queue only at those tills if you have less than five items in your shopping trolley.
2. You can queue only at those tills if you have fewer than five items in your shopping trolley.
“Fewer” refers to things you can quantify, whereas “less” refers to ambiguous amounts of something,
20. Which of these is correct?

Via blogger.com
1. After our argument, we just lay there in silence.
2. After our argument, we just laid there in silence.
“Laid” requires a direct subject and one or more objects. “Lay” does not require an object.
21. Which of these is correct?
1. Occurence
2. Ocurrence
3. Ocurence
4. Occurrence
22. Which of these is correct?

Via media.ratemyplacement.co.uk
1. I could of been an investment banker. I just don’t like the principle of screwing people over to make money.
2. I could have been an investment banker. I just don’t like the principle of screwing people over to make money.
3. I could have been an investment banker. I just don’t like the principal of screwing people over to make money.
4. I could of been an investment banker. I just don’t like the principal of screwing people over to make money.
“Could of” isn’t a thing. It’s always “could have”. “Principal” is the main thing, whereas “principle” is a belief.
23. Which of these is correct?
1. Independence
2. Independance
24. Which of these is correct?

Via upload.wikimedia.org
1. OH MY GOD. Please stop going on about your new boyfriend. I am disinterested.
2. OH MY GOD. Please stop going on about your new boyfriend. I am uninterested.
If you’re disinterested in something, you feel ambivalent towards it. If you’re uninterested in something, you actively do not want to know about it.
25. Which of these is correct?
1. Necesary
2. Necessary
3. Neccessary
4. Neccesary
26. Which of these is correct?

Via personalizationmall.com
1. Its her birthday party. We should take a bottle of wine.
2. It’s her birthday party. We should take a bottle of wine.
3. Its her birthday party. We should bring a bottle of wine.
4. It’s her birthday party. We should bring a bottle of wine.
“It’s” means “it is”. Taking wine involves moving wine away from the subject, whereas bringing wine involves moving wine towards the subject.
27. Which of these is correct?

Via highschool-game.net
1. Jonathan and I always hook up when we get drunk.
2. Me and Jonathan always hook up when we get drunk.
3. Jonathan and me always hook up when we get drunk.
You always refer to the other person first. In this case, “I” forms the object of the verb (along with Jonathan), so it is used.
28. Which of these is correct?
1. Embaras
2. Embarrass
3. Embarras
4. Embarass
29. Which of these is correct?

Via mediad.publicbroadcasting.net
1. You might be too drunk if you have another shot.
2. You may be too drunk if you have another shot.
“May” implies a possibility, whereas “might” implies uncertainty.
30. Which of these is correct?
1. Pronounciation
2. Pronunciation