I am an incredibly proficient speller.

Really. I am. It is a good thing to be, in some ways. I don't worry about sending letters or texts with embarrassing misspellings. I never had any trouble with spelling tests. (Although I never did well at spelling bees, due mostly to my crippling fear of doing anything in public).

But, in some ways, it kind of sucks. I am kind of a spelling snob. I can't read anything with a misspelling and not think, "ugh, what kind of idiot wrote that!". Including, sadly, love letters from my husband, e-mails and texts from my best friend, and people's Facebook comments and status updates.

Luckily, the good folks (or I guess I should say folk. Apparently it's just one guy.) at The Oatmeal have given me this list of words YOU need to stop misspelling. It has all my favorites! Lose instead of loose. A lot rather than alot. The difference between effect and affect. And, the one that personally drives me the most bonkers, when to use its vs. it's.

Read it, people. Live it. Love it. It's our language. (See how I used it's there? That stands for it is.)