Spelling Shenanigans: How Everyday Words Keep Us Sassy Enough to Fail
Ever had a moment where you looked down at your keyboard and felt like a detective interrogating the word “literally”? You’re not alone. Surprisingly, the words most likely to trip us up are the ones we use on a daily basis. Remember that “their,” “there,” and “they’re” drama? That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
What the Study Found
A recent deep‑dive by Edubirdie – a top‑tier essay‑writing service – exposed the top offenders in student essays from 2019 to 2020 across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. They sifted through thousands of submissions to pull out the words that kept spelling teachers scratching their heads.
- Construed (should read construed) – because it’s a tongue‑twister and a pun in one sentence.
- Separate – a classic bad des+parette combo that keeps us alike.
- Acknowledgement – that adds a whole package of extra letters to a simple act of recognition.
- Embarrass – double “r” and double “s” — a true alphabet gym.
- Definitely – trust me, this one is a spell check rebel.
Why Everyday Words Are the Worst
Our brains are wired to recognize the patterns of our native language, but sometimes the patterns break in sneaky ways. Words that look ordinary are actually laden with tricky roots, silent letters, or unconventional stress. That’s why so many of us, even with perfect grammar, get tripped up on these seemingly simple terms.
And the Confession
We’re not the only ones who’ve got sneezed accommodate or had a spelling check with a slap‑on‑the‑back. The point is that spelling can be a battlefield, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one.
Hit Your Notes Now
Download the full list NOW—because who doesn’t want to feel like the master of their own dictionary? Just a quick glance at these words will have you writing “beautifull” as a thing of the past. Never mind that you’re on the 12th birthday of the word question—the rest of your life will thank you for being spell‑checked.
Study finds most confusing words to spell by students
What Students Really Do Wrong in Their English Essays
Inside the Edubirdie Data Dive
Edubirdie recently pulled apart a huge mountain of student writing—over 500,000 words—to see where people stumble. The findings? They’re nothing fancy: the most common mistake is a simple spelling blunder.
Key Takeaways
- Spelling glitches top the list, with typos and misspellings taking the crown.
- Students often slip up with misplaced modifiers, putting descriptive phrases in the wrong spot and messing up the flow.
- A frequent roadblock is the lack of subject-verb agreement, where the noun and verb don’t match in number.
Bottom line: keep your spelling sharp, watch where you drop descriptive words, and always double‑check that your subject and verb are dancing in sync.
Top 10 most commonly misspelt words
Don’t Let These Word Blunders Slip Through
Ever find yourself at a loss for which word to choose? You’re not alone. Below is a quick rundown of ten common spelling slip‑ups that even the most confident writers can fall victim to—along with the right way to write each one.
Little bumps on the path to perfect prose, but one easy tweak and you’ll be in spelling shape.
1. Tomorrow
- Common Misspelling: Tommorow
- Fact: Write Tomorrow—the “o” leans left, not right.
2. Which
- Common Misspelling: Wich
- Pro Tip: Which invites the “i” to keep the “h” from (uh‑uh).
3. Completely
- Common Misspelling: Completly
- Note: The “l” sticks around. Spell it Completely to keep the full feel.
4. Receive
- Common Misspelling: Recieve
- Mnemonic: “I before E except after C.” Yes, a little math feels good for language.
5. Until
- Common Misspelling: Untill
- Remember: One l. No double.
6. Finally
- Common Misspelling: Finaly
- Keep the little “i” after the “l.” Spell Finally to wrap it up nicely.
7. Successful
- Common Misspelling: Succesful
- Double-check: Two “c.” Write Successful to celebrate the win.
8. Beginning
- Common Misspelling: Begining
- Solution: Add the second “n.” It’s Beginning that starts the story.
9. Definitely
- Common Misspelling: Definately
- Clue: The “i” comes before the “a.” Correct spelling is Definitely.
10. Government
- Common Misspelling: Goverment
- Correction: Two “m.” Write Government to keep the policy in line.
Next time you’re polishing a document, run through this list to pinpoint any sneaky errors. A quick double‑check lets you focus on what matters—telling your story with confidence.
Reasons for misspelling words
Why Kids (and Even Some Adults) Keep Misspelling Common Words
Ever typed “finaly” instead of “finally” and wondered if you’re a bad speller? Avery Morgan, communication director at Edubirdie, says it’s not a lack of knowledge – it’s simply a case of mind‑flicker.
Blind Spots in a Busy Brain
When your brain is buzzing with thoughts, small details can slip by. Molecules of “finaly” drift into “finally” when the double‑letter “l” gets lost on the way.
Common Rip‑and‑Fall Reasons
- “I before E except after C” —but what if “I” is hiding behind “E”?
Mr. Benjamin Wong explains that “receive” trips up students because the I and E swap places in the spelling puzzle.
- Typing on the go
Texting shortcuts are a modern menace. Words we’re tired of are shortened to as little as “sep” for separate. Mr. Wong warns that this habit can seep into our writing habits.
- Social‑media snags
When emojis and hashtags dominate the conversation, real spelling gets sidelined. Morgan notes that it’s easy to let typo‑intensive posts mess your brain’s spell‑check.
- Verbs to nouns & back again
Christabel Hong points out that a quick change of a word’s shape – like adding or removing a letter – can throw a wrench in the spell‑wheel.
- Mispronunciation mischief
When words like “privilege” or “mischievous” are pronounced oddly, the brain might not catch how they should look. Ms. Hong reminds us that a wrong tune can lead to an wrong spelling.
Does Your Kid Slip Up Too?
Spotting these slip‑ups can feel like a detective mystery. If your little writer keeps missing a double letter or mixes up I and E, give them a gentle nudge: practice can be a fun game, not a chore. Try “Spell‑check Challenge” where you race to correct words – who can find the double l fast?
Takeaway
Spelling snafus aren’t a sign of incompetence. Even the brightest or youngest writers will stumble here and there, especially when distractions abound. Keep a lighthearted attitude, encourage playful practice, and before long the mispells will be a thing of the past.
