Spelling appears to be a small issue. However, it is considered to be one of the most difficult problems that we face in academics and business.
Poor spelling can affect your reputation in the business and if you are a student, your grades.ย
But do not fret! On this page, we will enumerate the most commonly misspelled words in English along with what causes them so you will not commit such mistakes. Keep reading.ย
British vs. American English Spelling
While both the United Kingdom and the United States speak the same language (English), no one can argue that the way some words are spelled differs significantly.ย
People frequently misinterpret the spelling of several terms and are unable to determine which is proper, resulting in mistakes that could have been avoided.
The primary distinction is that British English retains the spelling of terms borrowed from other languages, primarily French and German.
While American English spellings are primarily determined by how a word sounds when spoken.
Here are the differences between British English and American English spelling and a few examples for your reference.ย
1. Words that end in -re or -er
One of the most common English spelling mistakes is shown in this category of common English spelling mistakes.ย
For this reason, nouns ending in -re are more prevalent in British English than in American English, where the identical terms are usually spelled with -er.
British Englishย | American Englishย |
---|---|
centre
fibre metre spectre theatre |
center
fiber meter specter theater |
2. Words that end in -ise or -ize and -yse or -yze
The sole distinction between American English and British English in this category, according to the Oxford dictionary, is that in American English, verbs are always spelled with -ize and -yze at the end, whereas in British English -ise and -yse is preferred.
British Englishย | American Englishย |
---|---|
apologise
civilise organise prioritise analy separalyse |
apologize
civilize organize prioritize analyze paralyze |
3. Words that end in -our or -or
Another notable distinction is the British choose to add -our at the end of a word, while the Americans prefer to use a plain -or instead.
British Englishย | American Englishย |
---|---|
colour
favour flavour humour neighbour |
color
favor flavor humor neighbor |
The occurrence of a second โlโ in some terms is another typical English spelling error.
This is more common in British English than in American English since Americans tend to skip it entirely.
British Englishย | American Englishย |
---|---|
equalled
fuelled modelling quarrelling travelling |
equaled
fueled modeling quarreling traveling |
5. Words with double vowelsย
In most circumstances, American English is simplified, and it appears that Americans feel that there is no need to add an extra letter where it does not appear to be required.ย
British English adds an extra vowel to several words in this circumstance as well.
British Englishย | American Englishย |
---|---|
anaemiaย
encyclopaedia leukaemia oestrogen paediatric |
anemiaย
encyclopedia leukemia estrogen pediatric |
6. Words that end in -ogue or -og
This is true for some nouns with this specific ending. In British English, they should be spelled with โogue, but in American English, they should be spelled with โog.
British Englishย | American Englishย |
---|---|
analogue
catalogue dialogue monologueprologue |
analog
catalog dialog monolog prolog |
7. Words that end in -ense or -ence
Some nouns in British English have a โcโ ending, but they have an โsโ ending in American English.ย
This is a typical writing error, but it is easy to avoid because these words do not have anything else to search for.
British Englishย | American Englishย |
---|---|
defence
licence offence pretence |
defense
license offense pretense |
What are the Common Causes of Misspellings?
According to one survey, 43% of hiring managers dismiss a candidateโs CV if it contains spelling problems.ย
Another study found that spelling and grammatical errors were the main โdeal breakersโ in job hunting for 79 percent of recruiters and human resource managers. This just goes to show how important spelling words correctly is.ย
Here are the most common causes of misspellings that you need to avoid so that your academic and professional life will not suffer.ย
1. Mispronunciation
One of the most common reasons for misspelling is mispronunciation.ย
As a result, when a word is mispronounced, the phonetic misspelling is widespread.
The word โrealizeโ, for example, could be misspelled as โreliseโ.
2. Typing Errors
Because some peopleโs typing is not faultless, some spelling errors are introduced, such as:
- letters are doubled, or in the case of โbetwweenโ and โbetweeenโ, double letters are tripled
- letters are singled such as โbetweenโ
- keys are sometimes transposed, โbecauseโ has become โbecuaseโย
3. Homophones
If two (or more) differently spelled words with distinct meanings are pronounced the same, they are homophones. This seems to be one of the major causes of misspellings as well.
Below are a few words that are often used incorrectly in place of their homophones.ย
- โadviceโ instead of โadviseโ or vice versa
- โaffectโ instead of โeffectโ or vice versa
- โbreathโ instead of โbreatheโ or vice versa
- โprincipalโ instead of โprincipleโ or vice versa
- โlooseโ instead of โloseโ or vice versa
4. Personal Names
Personal names and surnames are spelled differently than standard English words: โbalanceโ and โJohn Balanceโ, โwarโ and โEvelyn Waughโ (if spoken without a rhotic accent); โmarshalโ and โGeorge Marshallโ.
Of course, most personal names begin with a capital letter.ย
Furthermore, personal names have several spellings, such as โCatherineโ, โKatharineโ, and โKathrynโ, or โStewartโ and โStuartโ, and a writer may not be aware of the right spelling of a specific individualโs name.
5. Foreign Writers
Someone who is used to a different spelling in another language may make a mistake in English; for example, โaddressโ is translated โadresseโ in German and French.ย
Many words from Spain are identical or similar to English ones, but with a โnโ is appended or a โmโ replaced, resulting in errors such as โinmigrantโ instead of โinmigranteโ, โcementeryโ instead of โcementerioโ, and โconfortableโ instead of โcomfortableโ.ย
To Germans, the English word โlossโ appears to be pronounced as โloseโ, because a lone โsโ in German often sounds like an English โzโ, while a lone โoโ in English rarely sounds like โooโ.
6. Apostrophe
A plural possessive form can cause some difficulty. When the singular is โbookโs titleโ and the plural is โbooksโ titlesโ, the plural can be โbookโs or โbooksโsโ. โAppleโs and pearโsโ can be written with an incorrect apostrophe (โgrocerโs apostropheโ in Britain).ย
The apostrophe denotes the elided โoโ, therefore โdoesnโtโ could be misspelled โdoesโntโ.
7. Silent Consonantsย
Although this is a surprisingly common occurrence in English, spelling errors appear to be uncommon.ย
In fact, pronunciation issues, such as mispronouncing both โbโs in โbombingโ, appear to be more common.
8. The spelling of Another Word
The noun โimprovementโ is an example of a word spelled as the spelling of a closely related word would suggest; it simply adds to the verb โimproveโs basic spelling without changing it.ย
The word formed from โmaintainโ, on the other hand, is โmaintenanceโ rather than โmaintainanceโ, and as a result, it is often misspelled. This base spelling change is completely unpredictable; you only need to be aware of it.
9. Endings of the Same Word with Different Spellings
-Sion/-tion, -able/-ible, and -ent/-ant are three word ends that have different spellings.ย
With the first of these, choosing the correct spelling is not necessarily an issue because there are certain fairly clear rules, such as that verbs ending in -d, such as suspend, become nouns ending in -sion, such as โsuspensionโ.
10. Words That are Difficult to Pronounce
There are times when struggling to speak a word correctly does not result in a spelling error, but this does not happen all the time.ย
Many East African language speakers, for example, have difficulty pronouncing the /ษช/ sound in the middle of longish words like โdisciplineโ, โhesitateโ, โmunicipalโ, โpresidentโ, and โstudyingโ, as a result of which the corresponding letter is sometimes lost from the spelling.
What are the 100 Commonly Misspelled Words?
At one point or another, we have committed a spelling mistake.
Mistakes might be caused by a lack of proofreading time or a lack of understanding of proper spelling.
Sometimes it is because of a misunderstanding of how to use the word.ย
The examples provided here will assist you in staying on track.
Correct Word | Meaning | Spelling Tip | Common Misspellings |
---|---|---|---|
accommodate | To provide a place to stay or enough space for | There is a double โcโ and a double โmโ | accommodate
acommodate |
achieve | To succeed in completing something or achieving a goal, especially after a significant amount of effort | Remember that โiโ comes before โeโ except in โcโ | acheive |
across | From one end of the spectrum to the other | The โcโ is single | accross |
address | The specifics of where someone lives or where an organization is located | There is a double โdโ and a double โsโ | address
adress |
advice | Guidance or suggestions for sensible future actionย | If it is the noun, use โcโ, if it is the verb, use โsโ | advise |
aggressive | Ready, willing, or able to attack or challenge | There is a double โgโ and a double โsโ | aggressive
aggresive |
assassination | A murder committed in a surprise or covert strike, usually for political purposes | There are two double โsโes | assassination
asassination |
awful | Very unpleasant or badย | Forget the โeโ | aweful |
beginning | The point in space or time when something begins to happen | There is only one โgโ but a double โnโ, think of the root word โbeginโย | beggining |
believe | To accept something as true | Remember that โiโ comes before โeโ except in โcโ | beleive |
breathe | To take air into the lungs and then expel it, particularly as a physiological process | There is an extra โeโ at the end if it is the verb, if it is the noun, forget the โeโ | breath |
business | The act of making a living through commerce is a common practice | The single โsโ comes before the double โsโ | bussiness |
carefulย | Ensuring that there is no danger, disaster, or harm; with cautionย | Be careful not to add an extra โlโ | carefull |
cemetery | A graveyardย | There is no โaโ in cemeteryย | cemetaryย |
chauffeur | A person who is compensated to drive a personal or rental vehicle | There are two โuโs; one after the โaโ and one after the โeโ | chauffer |
coming | Due to happenย | There are no double lettersย | comming |
committee | A group of people assigned to perform a specific task, usually made up of members of a larger group | There are three double letters; โmโ, โtโ and โeโ | committee
commitee |
conscience | An voice or inner feeling that serves as a guidance to the correctness or incorrectness of oneโs actions | Think of the prefix โconโ added to the word โscienceโย | conscience
consience |
convenience | The state of being able to complete a task with minimal effort or difficulty | An โeโ follows the โvโ, not an โiโ | convinience |
curiosity | A burning desire to study or know something | There is only one โuโ | curiousity |
decide | To come to a mental conclusion as a result of deliberation | There is no โsโ | decide |
definite | Not ambiguous or doubtful; plainly expressed or resolved | There are two โiโs in between the two โeโs | defenite |
desperate | Feeling, displaying, or involving a dismal sensation that a situation is so horrible that it is unmanageable | There is only one โaโ โ after the โrโ | desparate |
disappear | To stop being visibleย | Only one letter is doubled โ โpโ | dissappear |
difference | A distinction between individuals or objects at a certain period or in a certain way | Do not forget the โeโ after the double โfโ | diffrence |
dilemma | A situation in which a difficult choice must be made between two or more options, particularly those that are both equally bad | Only the โmโ is doubledย | dillema
dillemma |
discipline | The system of teaching people to abide by norms or a decorum by enforcing penalty for noncompliance | Do not forget the โsโ before the โcโ or the โcโ after the โsโย | discipline
disipline |
ecstasy | An overpowering sense of joy or joyous exhilaration | There is only one โcโ and two โsโs | ecstacy |
embarrass | To experience discomfort, self-consciousness, or humiliation | There are two double letters โ โrโ and โsโ | embarrass
embarras |
environment | The environment or circumstances in which a person, plant, or animalย lives or works | Do not forget the โnโ after the โoโ | enviroment |
exaggerate | To give the impression that something is bigger, better, or worse than it is | Only the โgโ is doubled | exagerrate |
excellent | Really good; exceptional | Do not forget the โcโ after the โxโย The letter โlโ is doubled | excellent
excelent |
except | Not includedย | Do not forget the โcโ after the โxโย | exept |
excited | Extremely ecstatic and eager | Do not forget the โcโ after the โxโย | exited |
experiment | A technique used in science to create a discovery, test a hypothesis, or prove a known fact | The โiโ comes after the โrโย | expirement |
familiar | Well-known as a result of a long or intimate relationship | There are no double lettersย | familliar |
finally | After a long period of time, usually with difficulty or delay | Only the โlโ is doubled; think of the root word โfinalโย | finally
finnally |
fluorescent | Vibrantly colored | Do not forget the โuโ after the โlโ and the โcโ after the โsโ | florescent
fluoresent |
foreign | Pertaining to or dealing with foreign countries | Remember that โiโ comes before โeโ except in โcโ | foriegn |
forty | Four tensย | Forget the โuโย | fourty |
forward | Toward the front; in the direction one is facing or traveling | There is no โeโ after the first โrโ | foreward |
friend | A person who is not an opponent or on the same side | Remember that โiโ comes before โeโ except in โcโ | freind |
gauge | An apparatus or gadget that measures the size, quantity, or substance of anything, usually with a visual display of the results | Just like in the alphabet, โaโ comes before the โuโย | guage |
generally | Most of the time; typically | Only โlโ is doubled; think of the root word โgeneralโ | genneraly |
glamorous | Excitingly appealing | Do not forget the โoโ after the โrโย | glamorus |
government | A nationโs, stateโs, or communityโs governing body | Do not forget the โnโ after the โrโ | goverment |
grateful | Thankfulness; feeling or expressing gratitude for kindness | An โaโ follows the โrโ โ not an โeโ | greatful |
guarantee | Something that ensures a positive outcome | There is no โyโย Do not forget the โuโ after the โgโ | guarantee
guaranty |
happiness | A state of mind characterized by feelings of happiness, contentment, and fulfillment | There are two double letters โ โpโ and โsโ;ย | hapiness |
harass | To be subjected to coercion or intimidation | Only the โsโ is doubledย | harrass |
heroes | A person who is admired or idealized for their bravery, extraordinary accomplishments, or virtuous traits | Do not forget the โeโ before the โsโ | heros |
imitation | Something that attempts to imitate or mimic something else | There are no double lettersย | immitation |
immediately | Instantly | The โmโ is doubledAn โeโ comes after the double โmโย | immediately
immidiately |
incidentally | Used when someone has something else to say or is about to say something unrelated to the current topic | Do not forget the โaโ after the โtโ | incidentlly |
independent | Not relying on others for a living or sustenance | There is only one โiโ; the beginning letterย | indipendent |
intelligent | Having or demonstrating a high level of intelligence | An โiโ follows the double โlโ | intellegent |
interesting | Arousing or maintaining someoneโs interest in something; retaining or capturing someoneโs attention | Do not forget the โeโ after the first โtโ | intresting |
interruption | A situation in which someone or something temporarily prevents something from happening | The โrโ is doubledย | interuption |
irrelevant | Not important since it has nothing to do with what is being discussed or considered | Only the โrโ is doubledย | irrelevant
irrellevant |
irresistible | Too appealing and enticing to refuse | An โiโ follows the โtโ โ not an โaโ | irresistable |
length | The length or measurement of something from beginning to end; a bodyโs greater of two or greatest of three dimensions | Do not forget the โgโ after the โnโย | lenth |
lightning | A natural electrical discharge with a very short duration and high voltage that occurs within a cloud, usually accompanied by a blinding flash and thunder | Do not forget the โnโ after the โtโ | lighting |
losing | The act of being defeated in a game or contest; suffering | There is only one โoโย | loosing |
medicine | A substance or preparation used to treat or prevent disease, particularly a medicine or drugs administered orally | An โiโ follows the โdโ โ not an โeโ | medecine |
millennium | A ten-thousand-year period | There are two double letters โ โlโ and โnโ | millennium
milennium |
miniature | A little duplicate or model, especially one that is substantially smaller than typical | Do not forget the โaโ after โminiโย | miniture |
necessary | Required to be done, accomplished, or present | Only the โsโ is doubledย | necessary
neccesary |
noticeable | Plain or obvious; easily seen or noticed | Remember the words โnoticeโ and โableโ put togetherย | noticeble |
occasion | A specific moment or occurrence of an event | Only the โcโ is doubledย | occasion
occassion |
occurred | Took place | Two letters are doubled โ โcโ and โrโย | occured |
official | Pertaining to a government agency or public bodyโs tasks, actions, and obligations | The โfโ is doubled | oficial |
omission | The act of leaving something or someone out or excluding them | Only the โsโ is doubledย | ommision |
parallel | Side by side, with the same distance between them all the time | Only the โlโ is doubled | parallel
parrallel |
peculiar | Odd or strange; unusual | There are no double lettersย | peculliar |
perceive | To become aware of or mindful of something; to comprehend or recognize | Remember that โiโ comes before โeโ except in โcโ | percieve |
possession | Owning, or controlling something is the state of having, owning, or controlling anything | There are two double โsโes | possession
possesion |
preferred | To like one item or person over another or others | Only the โrโ is doubledย | preferred
preffered |
prejudice | Predetermined notions that are not founded on logic or experience | A โcโ follows the โiโ โ not an โsโ | prejudise |
privilege | A unique right, benefit, or immunity bestowed on or available to a single individual or group | There is no โdโAn โiโ follows the โvโ โ not an โeโ | privilege
privelege |
professional | Pertaining to or being a member of a profession | Only the โsโ is doubledย | professional
proffesional |
pronunciation | The way a word is pronounced | Do not put an โoโ after the first โnโ | pronounciation |
really | In reality, rather than what is claimed or thought to be true or possible | The โlโ is doubledย | realy |
receive | To be provided, presented with, or compensated with | Remember that โiโ comes before โeโ except in โcโ | recieve |
recommend | To put someone or something forth as being appropriate for a specific purpose or duty | Only the โmโ is doubledย | recommend
reccomend |
referred | To imply or make a reference to | Only the โrโ is doubledย | referred
reffered |
religious | Relating to a pious order or other group of individuals who share a common religious practice | Do not forget the โiโ after the โgโ | religous |
resistance | The unwillingness to accept or comply with anything; the action or argument used to try to prevent something from happening | An โaโ follows the โtโ โ not an โeโ | resistence |
separate | Developing or being seen as a separate unit or by itself | An โaโ follows the โpโ โ not an โeโย | seperate |
successful | Achieving a goal or objective | Two letters are doubled โ โcโ and โsโย | succesful |
therefore | As a result; thus | Do not forget the โeโ at the end | therefor |
threshold | The size or intensity that must be exceeded in order for a particular reaction, phenomenon, result, or situation to occur or exhibit itself | Do not double the โhโ after the โsโย | threshhold |
tomorrow | The day after today | The โrโ is doubled โ not the โmโ | tommorow |
tongue | A mammalโs fleshy muscular organ used for tasting, licking, ingesting, and (in humans) producing speech | The โuโ comes after the โgโ โ not after the โoโย | tounge |
truly | In a sincere manner | The โlโ is not doubledย | trully |
until | Up until the given point in time or occurrence | The โlโ is not doubled | untill |
vicious | Willfully brutal or violent | There is only one โsโ โ at the endย | viscious |
weird | Implying something supernatural; bizarre | The โeโ comes after the โwโ โ not after the โrโ | wired |
wherever | In any place; regardless of where you are | There are no double lettersย | whereever |
whether | Expressing apprehension or a decision between two options | Do not forget the โhโ after the โwโ | wether |
writing | The act or talent of writing down a set of comprehensible words on paper and putting them together into a text | The โtโ is not doubledย | writting |
Why Do Proper Spelling Matter in Writing?
While some spelling errors are harmless and funny, the majority are not. Not only may a simple error make us appear less smart than we really are.ย
Poor spelling can lead to misunderstandings, a lack of clarity, and, in extreme circumstances, millions of dollars in lost sales and job prospects.ย
It has the potential to sabotage our business and as a student, your chances of getting good grades could be jeopardized.ย
Needless to say, it is important that we be extremely careful when it comes to spelling, as this could seriously affect our personal and professional life.ย
Additional FAQs โ Commonly Misspelled Words
What is the #1 Misspelled Word?
Based on 2020 research, the most commonly misspelled word is โquarantineโ.ย
To a point, there are even people who spell it as โcorn teenโ.ย
Which Spelling Should I Use: British English or American English?ย
While both spellings are accepted almost everywhere, it is advised that you lean towards the spelling being followed or preferred in the university/company/country you are in.ย
For example, if you are in Australia, you should stick to British English spelling as it is one of the countries that follow British English spelling.ย
Does Spelling Matter in English Proficiency Exams?ย
Yes, spelling matters in standardized English proficiency exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, and Duolingo English Test.ย
Spelling plays a crucial role in your IELTS marks but not as much in the TOEFL and Duolingo tests.ย
The TOEFL and Duolingo examiners are keener on the content of your answers rather than the spelling, but it is important to note that poor spelling will surely affect your marks in these three exams.ย
Additional Reading โ ENGLISH GRAMMAR