diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2fcccfc4d5..72aac224b2 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
     "@schematics/angular": "8.3.3",
     "@testing-library/react": "9.2.0",
     "@types/express": "4.17.0",
+    "@types/fast-levenshtein": "^0.0.1",
     "@types/jasmine": "~2.8.6",
     "@types/jasminewd2": "~2.0.3",
     "@types/jest": "24.0.9",
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@
     "eslint-plugin-react": "^7.14.3",
     "eslint-plugin-react-hooks": "^1.7.0",
     "express": "4.17.1",
+    "fast-levenshtein": "^2.0.6",
     "fork-ts-checker-webpack-plugin": "^0.4.9",
     "fs-extra": "7.0.1",
     "html-webpack-plugin": "^3.2.0",
diff --git a/packages/tao/package.json b/packages/tao/package.json
index f547a9ffc1..200ab51b37 100644
--- a/packages/tao/package.json
+++ b/packages/tao/package.json
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
     "@angular-devkit/architect": "0.803.3",
     "inquirer": "^6.3.1",
     "minimist": "^1.2.0",
-    "strip-json-comments": "2.0.1"
+    "strip-json-comments": "2.0.1",
+    "fast-levenshtein": "2.0.6"
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/tao/src/commands/generate.ts b/packages/tao/src/commands/generate.ts
index 0934d5ce13..84dd5e9bed 100644
--- a/packages/tao/src/commands/generate.ts
+++ b/packages/tao/src/commands/generate.ts
@@ -19,16 +19,15 @@ import {
   NodeWorkflow,
   validateOptionsWithSchema
 } from '@angular-devkit/schematics/tools';
-import { execSync } from 'child_process';
 import * as fs from 'fs';
 import * as inquirer from 'inquirer';
+import { detectPackageManager } from '../shared/detect-package-manager';
 import { getLogger } from '../shared/logger';
 import {
-  coerceTypes,
-  convertAliases,
   convertToCamelCase,
   handleErrors,
-  Schema
+  Schema,
+  validateOptions
 } from '../shared/params';
 import { commandName, printHelp } from '../shared/print-help';
 import minimist = require('minimist');
@@ -148,61 +147,6 @@ function createRecorder(record: any, logger: logging.Logger) {
   };
 }
 
-async function detectPackageManager(
-  host: virtualFs.Host<any>
-): Promise<string> {
-  const hostTree = new HostTree(host);
-  if (hostTree.get('workspace.json')) {
-    const workspaceJson: { cli: { packageManager: string } } = JSON.parse(
-      hostTree.read('workspace.json')!.toString()
-    );
-    if (workspaceJson.cli && workspaceJson.cli.packageManager) {
-      return workspaceJson.cli.packageManager;
-    }
-  }
-
-  if (await fileExists(host, 'yarn.lock')) {
-    return 'yarn';
-  }
-
-  if (await fileExists(host, 'pnpm-lock.yaml')) {
-    return 'pnpm';
-  }
-
-  if (await fileExists(host, 'package-lock.json')) {
-    return 'npm';
-  }
-
-  // If we get here, there are no lock files, so lets check for package managers in our preferred order
-  if (isPackageManagerInstalled('yarn')) {
-    return 'yarn';
-  }
-
-  if (isPackageManagerInstalled('pnpm')) {
-    return 'pnpm';
-  }
-
-  return 'npm';
-}
-
-function fileExists(
-  host: virtualFs.Host<any>,
-  fileName: string
-): Promise<boolean> {
-  return host.exists(fileName as any).toPromise();
-}
-
-function isPackageManagerInstalled(packageManager: string) {
-  try {
-    execSync(`${packageManager} --version`, {
-      stdio: ['ignore', 'ignore', 'ignore']
-    });
-    return true;
-  } catch (e) {
-    return false;
-  }
-}
-
 async function createWorkflow(
   fsHost: virtualFs.Host<fs.Stats>,
   root: string,
@@ -343,44 +287,63 @@ async function runSchematic(
   workflow: NodeWorkflow,
   logger: logging.Logger,
   opts: GenerateOptions,
-  schematic: Schematic<any, any>
+  schematic: Schematic<any, any>,
+  allowAdditionalArgs: boolean = false
 ): Promise<number> {
-  const flattenedSchema = await workflow.registry
+  const flattenedSchema = (await workflow.registry
     .flatten(schematic.description.schemaJson!)
-    .toPromise();
+    .toPromise()) as Schema;
 
   if (opts.help) {
     printGenHelp(opts, flattenedSchema as any, logger);
-  } else {
-    const defaults =
-      opts.schematicName === 'tao-new'
-        ? {}
-        : await getSchematicDefaults(
-            root,
-            opts.collectionName,
-            opts.schematicName
-          );
-    const record = { loggingQueue: [] as string[], error: false };
-    workflow.reporter.subscribe(createRecorder(record, logger));
-    const schematicOptions = convertAliases(
-      coerceTypes(opts.schematicOptions, flattenedSchema as any),
-      flattenedSchema as any
-    );
-    await workflow
-      .execute({
-        collection: opts.collectionName,
-        schematic: opts.schematicName,
-        options: { ...defaults, ...schematicOptions },
-        debug: opts.debug,
-        logger
-      })
-      .toPromise();
-    if (!record.error) {
-      record.loggingQueue.forEach(log => logger.info(log));
-    }
-    if (opts.dryRun) {
-      logger.warn(`\nNOTE: The "dryRun" flag means no changes were made.`);
-    }
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  const defaults =
+    opts.schematicName === 'tao-new'
+      ? {}
+      : await getSchematicDefaults(
+          root,
+          opts.collectionName,
+          opts.schematicName
+        );
+  const record = { loggingQueue: [] as string[], error: false };
+  workflow.reporter.subscribe(createRecorder(record, logger));
+
+  const schematicOptions = validateOptions(
+    opts.schematicOptions,
+    flattenedSchema
+  );
+
+  if (schematicOptions['--'] && !allowAdditionalArgs) {
+    schematicOptions['--'].forEach(unmatched => {
+      const message =
+        `Could not match option '${unmatched.name}' to the ${opts.collectionName}:${opts.schematicName} schema.` +
+        (unmatched.possible.length > 0
+          ? ` Possible matches : ${unmatched.possible.join()}`
+          : '');
+      logger.fatal(message);
+    });
+
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  await workflow
+    .execute({
+      collection: opts.collectionName,
+      schematic: opts.schematicName,
+      options: { ...defaults, ...schematicOptions },
+      debug: opts.debug,
+      logger
+    })
+    .toPromise();
+
+  if (!record.error) {
+    record.loggingQueue.forEach(log => logger.info(log));
+  }
+
+  if (opts.dryRun) {
+    logger.warn(`\nNOTE: The "dryRun" flag means no changes were made.`);
   }
   return 0;
 }
@@ -402,6 +365,7 @@ export async function generate(
       'generate',
       await readDefaultCollection(fsHost)
     );
+
     const workflow = await createWorkflow(fsHost, root, opts);
     const collection = getCollection(workflow, opts.collectionName);
     const schematic = collection.createSchematic(opts.schematicName, true);
@@ -438,12 +402,14 @@ export async function taoNew(
     const workflow = await createWorkflow(fsHost, root, opts);
     const collection = getCollection(workflow, opts.collectionName);
     const schematic = collection.createSchematic('tao-new', true);
+    const allowAdditionalArgs = true; // tao-new is a special case, we can't yet know the schema to validate against
     return runSchematic(
       root,
       workflow,
       logger,
       { ...opts, schematicName: schematic.description.name },
-      schematic
+      schematic,
+      allowAdditionalArgs
     );
   });
 }
diff --git a/packages/tao/src/shared/detect-package-manager.ts b/packages/tao/src/shared/detect-package-manager.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2ee76eeaab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/tao/src/shared/detect-package-manager.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { virtualFs } from '@angular-devkit/core';
+import { HostTree } from '@angular-devkit/schematics';
+import { execSync } from 'child_process';
+
+export async function detectPackageManager(
+  host: virtualFs.Host<any>
+): Promise<string> {
+  const hostTree = new HostTree(host);
+  if (hostTree.get('workspace.json')) {
+    const workspaceJson: { cli: { packageManager: string } } = JSON.parse(
+      hostTree.read('workspace.json')!.toString()
+    );
+    if (workspaceJson.cli && workspaceJson.cli.packageManager) {
+      return workspaceJson.cli.packageManager;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (await fileExists(host, 'yarn.lock')) {
+    return 'yarn';
+  }
+
+  if (await fileExists(host, 'pnpm-lock.yaml')) {
+    return 'pnpm';
+  }
+
+  if (await fileExists(host, 'package-lock.json')) {
+    return 'npm';
+  }
+
+  // If we get here, there are no lock files,
+  // so lets check for package managers in our preferred order
+  if (isPackageManagerInstalled('yarn')) {
+    return 'yarn';
+  }
+
+  if (isPackageManagerInstalled('pnpm')) {
+    return 'pnpm';
+  }
+
+  return 'npm';
+}
+
+function fileExists(
+  host: virtualFs.Host<any>,
+  fileName: string
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  return host.exists(fileName as any).toPromise();
+}
+
+function isPackageManagerInstalled(packageManager: string) {
+  try {
+    execSync(`${packageManager} --version`, {
+      stdio: ['ignore', 'ignore', 'ignore']
+    });
+    return true;
+  } catch (e) {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/tao/src/shared/params.spec.ts b/packages/tao/src/shared/params.spec.ts
index 3382eeab9a..fa88b8abff 100644
--- a/packages/tao/src/shared/params.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/tao/src/shared/params.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { convertToCamelCase, convertAliases } from './params';
+import { convertAliases, convertToCamelCase, lookupUnmatched } from './params';
 
 describe('params', () => {
   describe('convertToCamelCase', () => {
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ describe('params', () => {
       ).toEqual({ directory: 'test' });
     });
 
-    it('should filter out unknown keys without alias', () => {
+    it('should filter unknown keys into the leftovers field', () => {
       expect(
         convertAliases(
           { d: 'test' },
@@ -57,7 +57,70 @@ describe('params', () => {
             description: ''
           }
         )
-      ).toEqual({});
+      ).toEqual({
+        '--': [
+          {
+            name: 'd',
+            possible: []
+          }
+        ]
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('lookupUnmatched', () => {
+    it('should populate the possible array with near matches', () => {
+      expect(
+        lookupUnmatched(
+          {
+            '--': [
+              {
+                name: 'directoy',
+                possible: []
+              }
+            ]
+          },
+          {
+            properties: { directory: { type: 'string' } },
+            required: [],
+            description: ''
+          }
+        )
+      ).toEqual({
+        '--': [
+          {
+            name: 'directoy',
+            possible: ['directory']
+          }
+        ]
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should NOT populate the possible array with far matches', () => {
+      expect(
+        lookupUnmatched(
+          {
+            '--': [
+              {
+                name: 'directoy',
+                possible: []
+              }
+            ]
+          },
+          {
+            properties: { faraway: { type: 'string' } },
+            required: [],
+            description: ''
+          }
+        )
+      ).toEqual({
+        '--': [
+          {
+            name: 'directoy',
+            possible: []
+          }
+        ]
+      });
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/tao/src/shared/params.ts b/packages/tao/src/shared/params.ts
index 5a6ba06568..f46d8e72ea 100644
--- a/packages/tao/src/shared/params.ts
+++ b/packages/tao/src/shared/params.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { logging } from '@angular-devkit/core';
 import { UnsuccessfulWorkflowExecution } from '@angular-devkit/schematics';
+import levenshtein = require('fast-levenshtein');
 
 export type Schema = {
   properties: { [p: string]: any };
@@ -7,6 +8,16 @@ export type Schema = {
   description: string;
 };
 
+export type Unmatched = {
+  name: string;
+  possible: string[];
+};
+
+export type Options = {
+  '--'?: Unmatched[];
+  [k: string]: any;
+};
+
 export async function handleErrors(
   logger: logging.Logger,
   isVerbose: boolean,
@@ -27,9 +38,7 @@ export async function handleErrors(
   }
 }
 
-export function convertToCamelCase(parsed: {
-  [k: string]: any;
-}): { [k: string]: any } {
+export function convertToCamelCase(parsed: Options): Options {
   return Object.keys(parsed).reduce(
     (m, c) => ({ ...m, [camelCase(c)]: parsed[c] }),
     {}
@@ -45,7 +54,14 @@ function camelCase(input: string): string {
   }
 }
 
-export function coerceTypes(opts: { [k: string]: any }, schema: Schema) {
+/**
+ * Coerces (and replaces) options identified as 'boolean' or 'number' in the Schema
+ *
+ * @param opts The options to check
+ * @param schema The schema definition with types to check against
+ *
+ */
+export function coerceTypes(opts: Options, schema: Schema): Options {
   Object.keys(opts).forEach(k => {
     if (schema.properties[k] && schema.properties[k].type == 'boolean') {
       opts[k] = opts[k] === true || opts[k] === 'true';
@@ -56,7 +72,14 @@ export function coerceTypes(opts: { [k: string]: any }, schema: Schema) {
   return opts;
 }
 
-export function convertAliases(opts: { [k: string]: any }, schema: Schema) {
+/**
+ * Converts any options passed in with short aliases to their full names if found
+ * Unmatched options are added to opts['--']
+ *
+ * @param opts The options passed in by the user
+ * @param schema The schema definition to check against
+ */
+export function convertAliases(opts: Options, schema: Schema): Options {
   return Object.keys(opts).reduce((acc, k) => {
     if (schema.properties[k]) {
       acc[k] = opts[k];
@@ -66,8 +89,55 @@ export function convertAliases(opts: { [k: string]: any }, schema: Schema) {
       );
       if (found) {
         acc[found[0]] = opts[k];
+      } else {
+        if (!acc['--']) {
+          acc['--'] = [];
+        }
+        acc['--'].push({
+          name: k,
+          possible: []
+        });
       }
     }
     return acc;
   }, {});
 }
+
+/**
+ * Tries to find what the user meant by unmatched commands
+ *
+ * @param opts The options passed in by the user
+ * @param schema The schema definition to check against
+ *
+ */
+export function lookupUnmatched(opts: Options, schema: Schema): Options {
+  if (opts['--']) {
+    const props = Object.keys(schema.properties);
+
+    opts['--'].forEach(unmatched => {
+      unmatched.possible = props.filter(
+        p => levenshtein.get(p, unmatched.name) < 3
+      );
+    });
+  }
+  return opts;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Converts aliases and coerces types according to the schema
+ *
+ * @param opts The options to check
+ * @param schema The schema definition to validate against
+ *
+ * @remarks
+ *
+ * Unmatched options are added to opts['--']
+ * and listed along with possible schema matches
+ *
+ */
+export function validateOptions(opts: Options, schema: Schema): Options {
+  return lookupUnmatched(
+    convertAliases(coerceTypes(opts, schema), schema),
+    schema
+  );
+}
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 2bfc7ccf26..cbb4ab0db2 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -1773,6 +1773,11 @@
     "@types/express-serve-static-core" "*"
     "@types/serve-static" "*"
 
+"@types/fast-levenshtein@^0.0.1":
+  version "0.0.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/fast-levenshtein/-/fast-levenshtein-0.0.1.tgz#3a3615cf173645c8fca58d051e4e32824e4bd286"
+  integrity sha1-OjYVzxc2Rcj8pY0FHk4ygk5L0oY=
+
 "@types/glob@^7.1.1":
   version "7.1.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@types/glob/-/glob-7.1.1.tgz#aa59a1c6e3fbc421e07ccd31a944c30eba521575"
@@ -6796,7 +6801,7 @@ fast-json-stable-stringify@2.0.0, fast-json-stable-stringify@2.x, fast-json-stab
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/fast-json-stable-stringify/-/fast-json-stable-stringify-2.0.0.tgz#d5142c0caee6b1189f87d3a76111064f86c8bbf2"
   integrity sha1-1RQsDK7msRifh9OnYREGT4bIu/I=
 
-fast-levenshtein@~2.0.4:
+fast-levenshtein@^2.0.6, fast-levenshtein@~2.0.4:
   version "2.0.6"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/fast-levenshtein/-/fast-levenshtein-2.0.6.tgz#3d8a5c66883a16a30ca8643e851f19baa7797917"
   integrity sha1-PYpcZog6FqMMqGQ+hR8Zuqd5eRc=