MOST OFTEN MISPELLED MISSPELLED WORDS IN ENGLISH

A

• acceptable
  • Several words made the list because of the suffix pronounced -êbl but sometimes spelled -ible, sometimes -able. Just remember to accept any table offered to you and you will spell this word OK.
• accidentally
  • It is no accident that the test for adverbs on -ly is whether they come from an adjective on -al ("accidental" in this case). If so, the -al has to be in the spelling. No publical, then publicly.
• accommodate
  • Remember, this word is large enough to accommodate both a double "c" AND a double "m".
• acquire
  • Try to acquire the knowledge that this word and the next began with the prefix ad- but the [d] converts to [c] before [q].
• acquit
  • See the previous discussion.
• a lot
  • Two words! Hopefully, you won't have to allot a lot of time to this problem.
• amateur
  • Amateurs need not be mature: this word ends on the French suffix -eur (the equivalent of English -er).
• apparent
  • A parent need not be apparent but "apparent" must pay the rent, so remember this word always has the rent.
• argument
  • Let's not argue about the loss of this verb's silent [e] before the suffix -ment.
• atheist
  • Lord help you remember that this word comprises the prefix a- "not" + the "god" (also in the-ology) + -ist "one who believes."

B

• believe
  • You must believe that [i] usually comes before [e] except after [c] or when it is pronounced like "a" as "neighbor" and "weigh" or "e" as in "their" and "heir." Also take a look at "foreign" below. (The "i-before-e" rule has more exceptions than words it applies to.)
• bellwether
  • Often misspelled "bellweather." A wether is a gelded ram, chosen to lead the herd (thus his bell) due to the greater likelihood that he will remain at all times ahead of the ewes.

C

• calendar
  • This word has an [e] between two [a]s. The last vowel is [a].
• category
  • This word is not in a category with "catastrophe" even if it sounds like it: the middle letter is [e].
• cemetery
  • Don't let this one bury you: it ends on -ery—nary an -ary in it. You already know it starts on [c], of course.
• changeable
  • The verb "change" keeps its [e] here to indicate that the [g] is soft, not hard. (That is also why "judgement" is the correct spelling of this word, no matter what anyone says.)
• collectible
  • Another -ible word. You just have to remember.
• column
  • Silent final [e] is commonplace in English but a silent final [n] is not uncommon, especially after [m].
• committed
  • If you are committed to correct spelling, you will remember that this word doubles its final [t] from "commit" to "committed."
• conscience
  • Don't let misspelling this word weigh on your conscience: [ch] spelled "sc" is unusual but legitimate.
• conscientious
  • Work on your spelling conscientiously and remember this word with [ch] spelled two different ways: "sc" and "ti". English spelling!
• conscious
  • Try to be conscious of the "sc" [ch] sound and all the vowels in this word's ending and i-o-u a note of congratulations.
• consensus
  • The census does not require a consensus, since they are not related.