Most misspelled English words
A
* acceptable
o 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
o 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
o Remember, this word is large enough to accommodate both a double "c" AND a double "m".
* acquire
o 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
o See the previous discussion.
* a lot
o Two words! Hopefully, you won't have to allot a lot of time to this problem.
* amateur
o Amateurs need not be mature: this word ends on the French suffix -eur (the equivalent of English -er).
* apparent
o A parent need not be apparent but "apparent" must pay the rent, so remember this word always has the rent.
* argument
o Let's not argue about the loss of this verb's silent [e] before the suffix -ment.
* atheist
o Lord help you remember that this word comprises the prefix a- "not" + the "god" (also in the-ology) + -ist "one who believes."
B
* believe
o 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
o 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
o This word has an [e] between two [a]s. The last vowel is [a].
* category
o This word is not in a category with "catastrophe" even if it sounds like it: the middle letter is [e].
* cemetery
o 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
o 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
o Another -ible word. You just have to remember.
* column
o Silent final [e] is commonplace in English but a silent final [n] is not uncommon, especially after [m].
* committed
o If you are committed to correct spelling, you will remember that this word doubles its final [t] from "commit" to "committed."
* conscience
o Don't let misspelling this word weigh on your conscience: [ch] spelled "sc" is unusual but legitimate.
* conscientious
o Work on your spelling conscientiously and remember this word with [ch] spelled two different ways: "sc" and "ti". English spelling!
* conscious
o 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
o The census does not require a consensus, since they are not related.
