Even the best writers stumble sometimes. And not because they don’t know the word, they just can’t spell it. Welcome to the wonderful world of common spelling mistakes, where even native English speakers often trip over words they’ve used their whole lives. Let’s break down the frequently misspelled word list that drives everyone a little bit crazy, and learn some clever tips to finally get them right.
Why Are Some Words So Hard to Spell?
English is a mix of Germanic roots, Latin borrowings, French influence, and pure chaos. That’s why words that sound similar may be spelled differently (like their and they’re), and words that look familiar might trip you up with one wrong letter (separate vs seperate).
Some words are tricky because of:
- Double letters (Is it accommodate or accomodate?);
- Silent letters (Why is there a “b” in subtle?);
- Vowel confusion (A or E? Definitely not definately);
- Words borrowed from other languages (Thanks a lot, French 🙃).
The Most Commonly Misspelled Words (and How to Fix Them)
Here’s a handy list of challenging, often misspelled words along with memory hacks to help you nail them next time.
These are just a few of the most commonly misspelled words, but there are dozens more where they came from.
The Hardest Words to Spell? Here’s the Elite Club
If you're ready for the spelling Olympics, here are some tough, borderline impossible words that challenge even seasoned writers:
- Colonel (sounds nothing like it looks);
- Worcestershire (what even is this jumble?);
- Pharaoh (Ancient Egypt, eternal spelling issues);
- Onomatopoeia (sounds like chaos, spelled like it too);
- Mnemonics (ironically, very hard to remember how to spell).
Fun fact: spelling champions often practice these kinds of words daily. You don’t have to go that far, but being familiar with these easily mistaken words can make you feel like a word wizard.
“Misspelled” or “Misspelt”?
Both are correct, but they’re used differently.
- Misspelled is standard in American English.
- Misspelt is more common in British English.
The same applies to words like 'learnt/learned' and 'dreamt/dreamed'. So don’t worry, you’re not wrong, you’re just speaking a slightly different English.
How to Beat Common Misspellings Once and for All
- Use spellcheck, but don’t rely on it blindly. It won’t always catch real-world mistakes like there vs their.
- Read more. The more you see a word spelled correctly, the more familiar it becomes.
- Keep a personal ‘Oops’ list. Everyone has words they always get wrong. Track them and revisit once in a while.
- Break the word into parts. Think: def-ini-te-ly or main-ten-ance.
- Say it out loud. Hearing how a word sounds can often help you picture how it's spelled.
No matter how many spelling quizzes you’ve aced and how advanced your English is, everyone makes mistakes. English is a wild language filled with difficult words to spell, silent letters, and bizarre exceptions. If you want to write with confidence and impress your boss, teacher, or even your future self, mastering a few of these commonly misspelled words goes a long way.
