Spelling

Spelling, as defined by Cambridge Dictionary, is forming words with the correct letters in the correct order, or the ability to do this, and the way a particular word is spelled. It is one of the hardest things to learn in English, especially for second-language learners. English words are said to be inconsistent. That is why it is important to have a bank of vocabulary.

There are some reasons why learning spelling is difficult. Fluentu.com listed five (5) reasons why English words are difficult to spell.

Reason 1: Common letter combinations are confusing.

The English language has many combinations of letters that you see often. For example, CH, EI, IE and others can be particularly confusing for English learners. This is because these combinations may be pronounced differently in different words or not pronounced at all!

Reason 2: Many English words have long strings of vowels.

Words in this group are difficult because the vowels in them form sounds that are normally represented by just one or two letters. As a result, some vowels “get lost” in the process.

The best way to remember the spelling of these tricky nouns and adjectives is to make associations with other words that you do know how to spell.

Reason 3: Double consonants are even more challenging.

With words in these group, the difficult thing to spell are the double consonants.

While there are a lot of examples and exceptions to the rules, pronouncing the words correctly will help you spell the words correctly, too. The sounds produced by double consonants are elongated.

Reason 4: A word may change its meaning depending on how you spell it.

These words sound absolutely the same, but are spelled differently depending on their meaning.

Misspelling these words is very common among native English speakers, who automatically spell the words one way, while wanting to say something else (sometimes even without realizing it).

The rule to spelling these kinds of words is memorizing the correct spelling for all of them, then choosing the one you want to use! The difficulty is only in knowing which one is which.

Reason 5: Some words are just difficult.

You may have trouble spelling some words, but some other words are just hard, period. They may combine difficult consonants with lots of vowels, or be pronounced one way and spelled the other. Some are just difficult to type right. Whatever the case might be, study them and memorize them. You will eventually get there.

Learning to Spell New Words

(Grammar and Composition Handbook Grade 10 by McGraw-Hill)

You can improve your spelling by improving your study method. Try the following method to learn to spell new words. You can also improve your spelling by thoroughly learning certain common but frequently misspelled words.

1. Say It.

Look at the printed word and say it aloud. Then say it again, pronouncing each syllable correctly.

2. Visualize It.

Picture the word in your mind. Avoid looking at the printed word on the page. Try to visualize the word letter by letter.

3. Write It.

Look at the printed word again, and write it two or three times. Then write the word without looking at the printed spelling.

4. Check It.

Check your spelling. Did you spell the word correctly? If not, repeat each step until you can spell the word easily.

Expanding Your Vocabulary

The following tips suggest ways to expand your vocabulary and remember new words you encounter.

1. Notice new words when you’re reading or listening. Write the words and their meanings in a notebook.

2. Check the meaning and pronunciation of a new word in a dictionary. Use the original context- surrounding words that are familiar- to understand the word’s meaning and use.

3. Relate the new word to words you already know. Associate its spelling or meaning with a familiar word that will make the new word easier to remember.

4. Verify your understanding of the new word with someone else. A teacher, a parent, or a friend may be able to tell you if you correctly understand the meaning of the word.

5. Practice using the new word in your writing and conversation. Try to use the new words at least once a day for a week. Using a word repeatedly is the best way to remember it.

Spelling Difficult Words

One useful strategy for learning difficult words is to develop a list of words that you frequently misspell and study them often.

Here are some of the frequently misspelled words. Use it for quick reference.

abdomen

absence

abundant

academically

accelerator

accept

accessible

accidentally

acclimated

accommodate

accompaniment

accomplishment

acknowledge

acknowledgment

acquaintance

adequately

admission

admittance

adolescent

advantageous

advertisement

adviser

aerate

aerial

against

alcohol

allegiance

alliance

allot

allotting

all right

a lot

anonymous

answer

apologetically

apparatus

apparent

arctic

arousing

arrangement

atheistic

attendant

ballet

bankruptcy

beautiful

beginning

behavior

bibliography

biscuit

blasphemy

boulevard

buffet

bureau

bureaucrat

burial

business

cafeteria

calendar

camouflage

canceled

canoe

capitalism

carburetor

caricature

cataclysm

catastrophe

cemetery

changeable

chassis

choir

circumstantial

coliseum

colleague

colonel

coming

commercial

competition

complexion

concede

conceivable

connoisseur

conscience

conscientious

conscious

consciousness

consistency

controlling

controversy

convenient

cruelty

curriculum

decadent

decathlon

deceitful

deference

definite

deodorant

descend

descendant

descent

desirable

detrimental

devastation

develop

devise

dilemma

diligence

diphtheria

disastrous

disciple

discipline

discrimination

disease

diseased

dissatisfied

division

efficiency

eighth

elementary

eligible

embarrass

embarrassed

emperor

emphasize

endeavor

enormous

entertainment

entrance

environment

espionage

essential

exceed

except

exhibition

exhilaration

expensive

exuberant

familiarize

fascinating

fascism

February

feminine

financier

fission

foreign

forfeit

forty

fulfill

fundamentally

funeral

gaiety

galaxy

gauge

genius

government

grammatically

guarantee

guidance

harassment

height

hereditary

hindrance

hippopotamus

horizontal

hospital

humorous

hygiene

hypocrisy

hypocrite

ideally

idiomatic

immediate

incidentally

independent

inevitable

influential

ingenious

innocent

inoculate

institution

intellectual

interference

irresistible

jewelry

knowledge

knowledgeable

laboratory

larynx

legitimate

leisure

leisurely

library

license

livelihood

luxurious

magistrate

magnificence

maintenance

malicious

manageable

maneuver

marital

marriageable

martyrdom

mathematics

mediocre

melancholy

melodious

metaphor

miniature

mischievous

misspell

molasses

mortgage

mosquito

municipal

muscle

naive

necessary

necessity

negligence

negotiable

neighborhood

neurotic

newsstand

niece

nucleus

nuisance

nutritious

occasion

occasionally

occur

occurrence

occurring

omission

omitting

opportunity

orchestra

original

outrageous

pageant

pamphlet

parallel

paralysis

parliament

pastime

peasant

pedestal

perceive

permanent

permissible

personnel

perspiration

persuade

pharmacy

physical

physician

picnic

picnicking

pilot

playwright

pneumonia

politician

possessed

precede

preferable

presence

prestige

presumption

prevalent

privilege

procedure

proceed

propaganda

propagate

prophecy

prophesy

psychoanalysis

questionnaire

realtor

rebellion

receipt

receive

recognize

recommend

recommendation

reference

referred

rehearsal

reminiscent

remittance

repetitive

representative

responsibility

restaurant

reveal

rhythm

rhythmical

ridiculous

salable

schedule

seize

separate

separation

sergeant

significance

sincerely

souvenir

specimen

sponsor

statistics

strategic

stubbornness

succeed

succession

sufficient

superintendent

supersede

suppress

surprise

susceptible

symmetrical

synonymous

technique

technology

temperament

tendency

theory

tolerance

tortoise

traffic

tragedy

transparent

truly

twelfth

unanimous

undoubtedly

unmistakable

unnecessary

unscrupulous

usually

vaccine

vacuum

valedictory

variety

vaudeville

vehicle

vengeance

versatile

villain

Wednesday