1. Can you diagram a sentence?
I used to be able to, but not sure now. We did this a lot in school but that was in the 1980s and I haven’t done it since. I think I could if I reminded myself of all the appropriate terms.
2. What word do you always spell wrong, no matter what?
Not always, but half the time I switch “c” and “s” in “decision”. It’s the bane of my existence.
I can also mix up “z” and “s”, and whether it should be “o” or “u” or “ou”.
I’m also convinced that the word “iriscandent” exists – never mind I can’t find it in any dictionary I’ve checked online and that google, duckduckgo etc. try to insist that I mean “iridescent” actually.
3. What word always looks like it’s spelled wrong to you but isn’t?
I can’t think of one.
4. Do you have any little memory games when it comes to similar words, like principle and principal?
Nope, I don’t need to. They’re all very clearly separate words. I read somewhere that native speakers are more likely to do this mistake, and I’m not a native English speaker. I usually see a new word written first, or see it written and hear it pronounced simultaneously – so in my mind there’s always a clear delineation between similar sounding and/or looking English words right from the start. We were also taught in depth the pronunciation rules of the English language and I think that also helps with this.
5. Was grammar something you enjoyed or detested in school?
Learning my mother tongue’s (Finnish) grammar was neutral, I wouldn’t say I loved it but I didn’t mind. I thought it was necessary. But I’ve always loved reading and writing so I’m predisposed to like learning grammar. As for the English grammar… I loved it. I loved everything about learning English. I was good at both Finnish and English grammar.