240 Common Spelling Mistakes in English

  

English spelling can be tricky, even for English speakers! That’s because English is not 100% phonetic and also because there are so many exceptions. Study the 240 most commonly misspelled words below. Then, try the free spelling test at the end to check how well you’re doing.

 

While some words admit multiple spellings, some are not considered standard, and thus are misspellings. A misspelled word can be a series of letters that represents no correctly spelled word of the same language at all or a correct spelling of another word. Misspellings of the latter type can easily make their way into printed material because they are not caught by simple computerized spell checkers.

 

Misspellings may be due to either typing errors, or lack of knowledge of the correct spelling. Whether or not a word is misspelled may depend on context, as is the case with American / British English distinctions. Misspelling can also be a matter of opinion when variant spellings are accepted by some and not by others.

 

Incorrect: acommodation

Correct: accommodation

Incorrect: acheive

Correct: achieve

Incorrect:  accross

Correct: across

Incorrect:  adress

Correct: address

Incorrect:  appearence

Correct: appearance

Incorrect:  assasination

Correct: assassination

Incorrect:  beggining

Correct: beginning

Incorrect:  buisness

Correct: business

Incorrect:  collegue

Correct: colleague

Incorrect:  commitee

Correct: committee

Incorrect:  concious

Correct: conscious

Incorrect:  copywrite

Correct: copyright

Incorrect:  dependance

Correct: dependence

Incorrect:  desireable

Correct: desirable

Incorrect:  embarass

Correct: embarrass

Incorrect: enviroment

Correct: environment

Incorrect:  Febuary

Correct: February

Incorrect:  fourty

Correct: forty

Incorrect:  glamourous

Correct: glamorous

Incorrect:  independance

Correct: independence

Incorrect:  interupt

Correct: interrupt

Incorrect:  intresting

Correct: interesting

Incorrect:  knowlege

Correct: knowledge

Incorrect:  libary

Correct: library

Incorrect:  lightening

Correct: lightning

Incorrect:  mischievious

Correct: mischievous

Incorrect:  mispell

Correct: misspell

Incorrect:  neccessary

Correct: necessary

Incorrect:  neice

Correct: niece

Incorrect:  calender

Correct: calendar

Incorrect:  definately

Correct: definitely

Incorrect:  tommorrow

Correct: tomorrow

Incorrect:  noticable

Correct: noticeable

Incorrect:  convinient

Correct: convenient

Incorrect:  deterioreit

Correct: deteriorate

Incorrect:  dissappear

Correct: disappear

Incorrect: arguement

Correct: argument

Incorrect: Wensday

Correct: Wednesday

Incorrect: ignor

Correct: ignore

Incorrect: occured

Correct: occurred

Incorrect: opertunity

Correct: opportunity

Incorrect: que

Correct: queue

Incorrect: speach

Correct: speech

Incorrect: thier

Correct: their

Incorrect: truely

Correct: truly

Incorrect: liesure

Correct: leisure

Incorrect: sieze

Correct: seize

Incorrect: wierd

Correct: weird

Incorrect: intresting

Correct: interesting

Incorrect: knowlege

Correct: knowledge

Incorrect: lollypop

Correct: lollipop

Incorrect: paralell

Correct: parallel

Incorrect: pasttime

Correct: pastime

Incorrect: persue

Correct: pursue

Incorrect: potatoe

Correct: potato

Incorrect: preceeding

Correct: preceding

Incorrect: pronounciation

Correct: pronunciation

Incorrect: recieve

Correct: receive

Incorrect: reccomend

Correct: recommend

Incorrect: rythm

Correct: rhythm

Incorrect: shedule

Correct: schedule

Incorrect: seige

Correct: siege

Incorrect: sentance

Correct: sentence

Incorrect: seperate

Correct: separate

Incorrect: sincerly

Correct: sincerely

Incorrect: tatoo

Correct: tattoo

Incorrect: tendancy

Correct: tendency

Incorrect: untill

Correct: until

Incorrect: vaccuum

Correct: vacuum

Incorrect: vegeterian

Correct: vegetarian

Incorrect: whereever

Correct: wherever

Incorrect: writen

Correct: written

Incorrect: finaly

Correct: finally

Incorrect: fluoroscent

Correct: fluorescent

Incorrect: goverment

Correct: government

Incorrect: grammer

Correct: grammar

Incorrect: happend

Correct: happened

Incorrect: dilemna

Correct: dilemma

Incorrect: existance

Correct: existence

Incorrect: familar

Correct: familiar

Incorrect: foriegn

Correct: foreign

Incorrect: futher

Correct: further

 

The Most Common Spelling Mistakes for English Language Learners

 

The English language doesn’t always seem completely logical and some spellings aren’t obvious, even to native speakers. These are words that you just have to learn.

This is especially confusing when it comes to words that sound the same but have different meanings. It’s very easy to mix these up when you’re writing them down, but it will cost you a lot of marks in your writing exam.

Let’s look at some of the most common mistakes that English learners make – and how to avoid them.

 

It’s and Its

 

“It’s” is short for it is. Here, the apostrophe takes the place of the “i”. For example, you would write “it’s very cold outside” (it is very cold outside) or “it’s half past twelve” (it is half past twelve).

“Its” means that the next thing in the sentence belongs to whatever the “it” is. For example, you could say, “the dog dropped its ball” or “the best thing about the iPhone is its camera”. In these sentences, it would not make sense to say “the dog dropped it is ball” or “the best thing about the iPhone is it is camera”.

So, if you are unsure of which to use, replace “it’s”/”its” with “it is”. If it still makes sense, you should use “it’s”. It if doesn’t, use “its”.

 

They’re, Their and There

 

“They’re” is the plural version of the “it’s”. It’s short for “they are”. For example: “What time are your friends arriving?” “They’re arriving at 8pm” (They are arriving at 8pm).

“Their” is the plural form of “its”, “hers” or “his”. For example, “The children put on their shoes” or “the lions showed their teeth”.

Finally, “there” refers to a place – to where something is. For example, you could say “I put the book over there” or “The car is parked there”, or “It was there that we saw the fireworks”.

The English language doesn’t always seem completely logical and some spellings aren’t obvious, even to native speakers. These are words that you just have to learn.

This is especially confusing when it comes to words that sound the same but have different meanings. It’s very easy to mix these up when you’re writing them down, but it will cost you a lot of marks in your writing exam.

Let’s look at some of the most common mistakes that English learners make – and how to avoid them.

 

It’s and Its

 

“It’s” is short for it is. Here, the apostrophe takes the place of the “i”. For example, you would write “it’s very cold outside” (it is very cold outside) or “it’s half past twelve” (it is half past twelve).

“Its” means that the next thing in the sentence belongs to whatever the “it” is. For example, you could say, “the dog dropped its ball” or “the best thing about the iPhone is its camera”. In these sentences, it would not make sense to say “the dog dropped it is ball” or “the best thing about the iPhone is it is camera”.

So, if you are unsure of which to use, replace “it’s”/”its” with “it is”. If it still makes sense, you should use “it’s”. It if doesn’t, use “its”.

 

They’re, Their and There

 

“They’re” is the plural version of the “it’s”. It’s short for “they are”. For example: “What time are your friends arriving?” “They’re arriving at 8pm” (They are arriving at 8pm).

“Their” is the plural form of “its”, “hers” or “his”. For example, “The children put on their shoes” or “the lions showed their teeth”.

Finally, “there” refers to a place – to where something is. For example, you could say “I put the book over there” or “The car is parked there”, or “It was there that we saw the fireworks”.

WH Questions

  

WH- words - Easy Learning Grammar

The WH- words are also called interrogatives. They are used for WH- questions. They can be determiners, adverbs, or pronouns.

WH- determiners

When used as determiners, what, which, or whose can be used to ask questions:

• about nouns

• What book are you reading?
• Which plane is he catching?
• Whose jacket is this?

• or about the pronoun one or ones.

• Which one would you like?
• Which ones did Ruth want?

• The determiner which can be used in questions about selecting. It can also be used together with the preposition of for the same purpose.

• Which colour shall we use?
• Which book sells the most copies?
• Which of these colours shall we use?
• Of all your novels,which of them did you enjoy writing the most?

• The determiner whose asks about possession with reference to a person as the possessor.

• Whose mother did you say she was?
• Whose bag is this?

WH- adverbs

The adverb WH- words, when, where, how, and why, always make the sentence follow the interrogative word order.

• When asks about time.

• When will they arrive?
• When shall I see you again?

• Where asks about place.

• Where are you going?
• Where have you been?
• Where is your coat?

• How asks about manner.

• How did you get here? – We came by train.
• How does this thing work?

• Why asks about reasons and purpose. Questions with why are usually answered with a clause containing because to express reason, or with the to infinitive to express purpose.

• Why is the baby crying? – Because she’s hungry.
• Why are you saving your money? – To buy a bike.

• How much implies reference to a quantity; how many implies reference to an amount or a countable number of things but may leave out the noun referred to.

• How much money did they take? – All of it.
• How much does it cost? – £4.20.
• How many packs do you want? – Twelve, please.
• How many do you want? – Twelve, please.

• How can also be used with adjectives such as old, big, far, or with adverbs such as often, soon, quickly to ask about degree, rate, or timing.

• How far is it to the station? – About five kilometres.
• How often does he come? – Not very often.

WH- pronouns

The pronouns who, whose, which, and what can be the subject or object of a verb.

• Who can help me?
• Whose is the new sports car outside?
• Which was your best subject at school?
• What happened next?
• What have you got to take with you to camp?

The interrogative pronoun whose is used when the question is asked about a person as the possessor of something. See also Pronouns on interrogative and relative pronouns.

• Whose is the motorbike parked outside?
• Whose is this?

• The form whom is used as the object of a verb or of a preposition in very formal or old-fashioned English.

• Whom did you talk to?
• Whom would you rather have as a boss?

Modern English usage prefers who instead of whom in all but the most formal contexts.

• Who did you talk to?
• Who would you rather have as a boss?

When whom is used as the object of a preposition, it normally follows the preposition.

• To whom did you speak?
• With whom did she go?

When who is used, the preposition is placed at the end of the clause.

• Who did you speak to?
• Who did she go with?

The WH- subject pronouns are found in the same sentence order as statements:   WH- subject pronoun + the main verb.

• Who can help me?
• Whose is that motorbike parked outside?
• Which was your best subject at school?
• What happened next?

The WH- object pronouns make the sentence take the word order of a question:   WH- object pronoun + primary or modal auxiliary + subject + base form of the verb.

• What do you have to take with you to camp?
• What has Jonathan done now?

• The exception to this is in informal spoken English, when the speaker wants to show shock or disbelief.

• You did what?

Comma Rules

  

Comma Rules (,) When to Use Commas in English

 

A comma (,) is a punctuation mark used to denote a pause in the sentence (shorter than a colon or a semicolon). A comma is used to show the difference between two separate ideas or elements within a sentence. Commas have other users as well, as they can be used to separate numbers, and write dates.

 

Comma Rules

 

1. We use commas to separate a series of words
2. To separate a series of phrases
3. To connect two independent clauses
4. To set off introductory phrases or clauses
5. Used after certain words that introduce a sentence
6. To separate the parenthetical elements
7. To separate coordinate adjectives
8. To separate the quoted parts
9. To set off phrases to express contrast
10. To avoid confusion
11. To set off expressions that interrupt the sentence flow
12. To separate dates, years, addresses…
13. To separate a statement from a tag question

 

When to Use Commas with Example Sentences

Separate a Series of Words

 

We use commas between words in a series. Notice that a comma does not follow the last word in the series.

 

Examples

 

• See, listen, and be silent, and you will live in peace.
• He was tall, dark, and handsome.
• Do you want some cakes, candies or ice cream?

 

Separate a Series of Phrases

 

Examples

 

• I like reading books, listening to music, watching TV, and studying English.

 

Connect Two Independent Clauses

 

We use commas to separate two complete statements.

 

Examples

 

• It’s an old car, but it’s very reliable.
• I was feeling hungry, so I made myself a sandwich.
• Although she is very poor, she has not lost her dignity.
• He walked all the way home, and he shut the door.

 

Set off Introductory Phrases or Clauses

 

We use a comma to separate an introductory element from the rest of the sentence.

 

• Having finally arrived in town, we went shopping.
• As the day came to an end, the fire fighters put out the last spark.
• Talking with her, you’d try to head off your happy marriage.

 

After Certain Words that Introduce a Sentence

 

Examples

 

• Well, I’m not going home on foot, at any rate.
• Hey, don’t tell me what to do.
• Yes, I’ll be there. Thanks for reminding me.

 

Separate the Parenthetical Elements

 

A parenthetical element adds extra information and can be removed from the sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence.

 

Examples

 

• Football, which is a popular sport, is very good for health.
• My grandmother, old and sick, never goes out of the house.
• We visited Sydney Opera House, Australia, last week.

 

Separate Coordinate Adjectives

 

We place commas between adjectives, if two ore more adjectives modify a noun in the same way. These are called coordinate adjectives which can be identified by the fact that the word and can be inserted between them and their order can be reversed.

 

Example

 

• Followers feel energetic, confident and happy.
• He is a competent, efficient worker.

 

Separate the Quoted Parts

 

Examples

 

• He asked,”Do you want to go with me?”
• The teacher asked, “Do you love English?”
• “I don’t think you should do that,” he said.

 

Set off Phrases to Express Contrast

We also use commas to set off contrasting expressions beginning with not, but…

 

Examples

 

• Money is a good servant, but a bad master.
• The golden age is before us, not behind us.
• Adversity makes a man wise, not rich.

 

Avoid Confusion

 

We also add a comma in some cases to make a sentence clear.

 

Examples

 

• For most, the year is already finished.
• I saw that she was busy, and prepared to leave.

 

Set off Expressions that Interrupt the Sentence Flow

 

Examples

 

• This, after all, is a company which is awash with cash.
• On the other hand, many women choose to go out to work.
• We all tried our best. However, we lost the game.

 

Separate Dates, Years, Addresses…

 

Examples

 

• We will meet Friday, July 15.
• I was born in August 26, 2001.
• The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500.

 

Separate a Statement from a Tag Question

 

We use this punctuation mark to set off a tag question which is used at the end of the statement to ask for confirmation.

 

• There weren’t any problems when you talked to Jack, were there?
• Let’s take the next bus, shall we?
• We have never seen that, have we?
• You’re moving to London, are you?
• This will work, won’t it?
• There‘s nothing wrong, is there?