1. Irregardless
There’s a hot debate in the world of linguistics as to whether “irregardless” is actually a word. Irregardless, it is often used colloquially to mean “regardless,” despite it being non-standard. Somehow, we’ve adapted this common misspelling into our every writing and speech when we want to sound smarter and more refined. Spell check might not recognize it because it is considered incorrect in formal writing.
2. Heebie-Jeebies
Did you just watch a scary movie like Hereditary or Terrifier? You may come away from the film saying that it really gave you the “heebie-jeebies.” This phrase, which is a lighthearted way to refer to being scared, will be marked as incorrect if you use it in some versions of Microsoft Word. Go ahead and use it since it is recognized by the Oxford and Merriam-Webster dictionaries as being real.
3. Agastopia
If you think a man has nice biceps or a woman has attractive legs, you might say that you’re experiencing a feeling of agastopia. This noun, which has unclear origins, is recognized by most dictionaries to mean “admiration of a particular part of one’s body.” Still, online spell checkers won’t recognize the word as actually being real. Ignore those squiggly red lines and keep on writing.
4. Yassify
For the most part, spell check has a tough time recognizing modern slang. The word “yassify,” for instance, is always going to get flagged as an error. Teens use this word to refer to an extreme makeover or the process of applying so many filters to an image that a person becomes unrecognizable in a photo. As modern parlance changes, it will be interesting to see how word processors keep up.
5. Conjubilant
Technology isn’t perfect and not nearly as smart as the human mind. When you write the word “conjubilant” online, it’s always going to be marked as wrong. Google this word and you’ll see that it’s real, meaning “shouting together with joy.” We can all feel conjubilant that we learned a new, fun word to use in our celebrations.
6. Gobsmacked
Popular in British English, “gobsmacked” means utterly astonished. It may not be recognized by spell checkers that are calibrated to American English. This shows a fundamental flaw in this technology. Most of the time, they heavily favor American dialect and speech. For that reason, words from other countries aren’t always recognizable.
7. Ain’t
Most of us learned in elementary school that “ain’t” isn’t a word. However, that won’t stop us from using it in everyday speech and in creative, informal writing. Just like other words in our everyday language, we borrowed “ain’t” from the Irish and Scottish. The word is a contraction meaning “am” and “not” and is still popularly used in these countries to this day.
8. Yeet
Here’s another slang word that often befuddles spell check tools. If you hear a teenager say “yeet,” they’re saying that something is being thrown aggressively, usually in anger. The origins of this word are unclear, but it’s snuck into modern speech and digital communications. Time will tell if it becomes an official part of the dictionary.
9. Gonna
Just like “ain’t,” most modern spell checkers aren’t going to recognize the word “gonna” as being real. Years ago, people started using “gonna” as shorthand for “going to.” Remember, this isn’t the proper way to write if you’re turning in an essay for school or writing an email at work. In text messages, social media posts, and every conversation, “gonna” is totally fair game!
9. Jollux
Even back in the late 18th century, they used slang words in their everyday speech. Spell check isn’t going to recognize these words as being spelled correctly. For instance, “jollux” was found in a 1797 poem to refer to a fat person. Perhaps it’s the negative context of the word’s use that made it obsolete in the modern world.
10. Meldrop
Some words may be getting marked as wrong by spell check simply because they’re gross. Take the word “meldrop,” for example, which is used to mean “the drop of mucus at the nose.” You’ll get a meldrop if you’re suffering from a cold. Spell check just doesn’t believe this is a real thing.
12. Tittynope
In all reality, you likely read this word and immediately thought of something inappropriate. Surprisingly, you don’t need to turn to Urban Dictionary to find the meaning of this word. A “tittynope” is a noun that means “a small quantity of something left over,” such as food, paper, or cleaning supplies. Don’t be surprised if you get weird looks for using this real word in your writing or speech.
Check Your Spelling
Never take spell check as the end all be all when it comes to proper writing. This tool is a fantastic backup to use, but you should always rely on your own brain instead. After all, there are many words that spell check simply won’t recognize. Use your best judgment, double check your work, and look up words the old-fashioned way in the dictionary if needed.
Read More:
12 Words That Were Added to the Dictionary Because of Social Media
Office Etiquette: 12 Innocent Phrases That Can Get You in Trouble at Work
Alyssa Serio has been a writer and editor since graduating from Aurora University in 2014. In her free time, she loves reading, playing volleyball, and watching any horror movie (even the bad ones) with her husband.
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