1 2.0 Spelling

With computer spellcheckers, spelling correctly may seem simple. But spellcheckers don’t catch every error. For example, if you write “to” but mean “too,” a spellchecker won’t mark that as incorrect because “too” is also a real word. Also, if the spellchecker highlights a word that is misspelled and gives you a list of alternatives, you might choose a word with the wrong meaning, even though it is spelled correctly.

Writers are responsible for the errors in their work. Spellcheckers are useful, but they cannot replace human knowledge and judgment.

Tips to Improve Spelling

• Read everything you write carefully. Focusing word by word will help you note each word’s spelling. If you skim quickly, you will overlook misspelled words.
• Own a dictionary and use it. If you find it difficult to use a regular dictionary because you can’t figure out how words start, get what is called a “poor speller’s dictionary.”
• Keep a list of frequently misspelled words. Writers often misspell the same words over and over. Be aware of which words you commonly misspell and add them to your list.
• Look over returned assignments for misspelled words. Add these words to your list and practice writing each word (spelled correctly!) four or five times.
• Be familiar with a few common spelling rules (see below). Return to the rules as needed.
• Read. As simple as that sounds, reading good writing is the best (and easiest) way to learn to spell correctly.

4 Spelling Rules

One way to master spelling is to learn a few basic spelling rules. Keep this list nearby and refer to it regularly. Understanding these rules won’t fix every spelling problem, but it will help with some of the more common and troublesome mistakes.

1. Put i before e (achieve, niece, alien), except after c (receive, deceive) or when pronounced ay (neighbor, weigh).
2. When words end in a consonant plus y (happy, cry), drop the y and add an i before adding another ending (happy + er = happier, cry + ed = cried). When words end in a vowel plus y (delay), keep the y and add the ending (delay + ed = delayed). Exceptions are day, lay, say and pay which become daily, laid, said, paid.
3. When adding an ending that begins with a vowel (-able, –ence, –ing, –ity) to a word that ends in e (write, pure), drop the last e (write + ing = writing, pure + ity = purity). But when adding an ending that begins with a consonant (-less, –ment, –ly) to a word that ends with an e (hope, advertise), keep the e (hope + less = hopeless, advertise + ment = advertisement).
4. Many words ending in a consonant and an o (photo, soprano) add -s to make a plural (photo + s = photos). Exceptions are words like potato, which adds es (potato + es = potatoes). Add -es to words that end in s, ch, sh, and x (church + es = churches, fax + es = faxes).

Frequently Misspelled Words

Below is a list of words that are often misspelled. Each word has a segment in bold type, which indicates the part of the word that is often spelled incorrectly. Read through the list, noting words that are problematic for you.