Mistakes Due to Lack of Phonics

Everyone can benefit from increased use of phonics to reduce mistakes and improve reading speed. Here is a growing list of mistakes that result from a lack of reading by phonics:

written word  | mistaken substitute  | example

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immorality  | immortality  | Misread in church: "Flee from sexual immorality [misread as "immortality"]. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.[1]
Libertarian  | Lieberman  | "[M]ore than 10,000 Florida voters negated their ballots by voting for both Gore and Libertarian candidate Harry Browne. Presumably, they mistook Libertarian (the party) for Lieberman (Sen. Joe Lieberman, Gore's running mate)."[2]
accidentally  | actually  | "The discovery of new western routes accidentally [misread as "actually"] led to the discovery of lands in the New World (Western Hemisphere)."[3]
imminent  | eminent  | Mistaken transcription of testimony given by now-Justice Sonia Sotomayor during her confirmation hearings.
censor  | censure  | common mistake in connection with congressional resolutions to admonish someone
amendment  | agreement  | an amendment is often attached to an original agreement, but should often be rejected instead
objectives  | objections  | their meanings are nearly the opposite
parameter  | perimeter  | parameters are mathematical constants or variables that determine the form of a function, or any physical property; a "perimeter" is a boundary.
lose  | loose  | "lose", a verb, means to suffer defeat; "loose", a noun, means relaxed or not tight
filing  | filling  | Secretaries have the responsibility of "filing" documents; pharmacists have the responsibility of "filling" prescriptions.
proscribe  | prescribe  | "proscribe" means to outlaw, forbid or condemn, as in prohibit; "prescribe" means to establish a rule or order something, as in prescription
least  | last  | No mistake if read phonetically, but a bad mistake if based on a quick glance and the "e" is not noticed

## Other mistakes[edit]

written word  | mistaken substitute  | example

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knight  | night  | A "knight" was a chivalrous man who aided the oppressed; "night" is the period of darkness at the end of each day.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (bolding added, NIV used)
2. ↑ http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sns-ballots-design-os,0,5771905,full.story
3. ↑ World History Lecture Eight