Don't you hate it when you discover that, after hitting the send button, you incorrectly spelled a word or two? That happens to me every now and then. I even use an app to spell-check everything I type. Still, words slip past that are spelled wrong. I found an interesting article the other day that listed some of the more commonly misspelled words in the English language and offered tips for remembering how to spell them correctly, I thought it might be fun and useful to go over a few of those words in today's blog.
First off, let's begin by discussing mnemonic devices. A mnemonic device is a "technique a person can use to help them improve their ability to remember something. In other words, it's a memory technique to help your brain better encode and recall important information." Many of the tips and tricks I will offer you today fall into the category of mnemonic devices.
1. Accommodate. If you have trouble remembering which letters are doubled, here's a phrase that might help you remember. "This word can accommodate a "double "c" and a double "m."
2. Acquire. It is easy to forget the c in this word, since most of us pronounce it a-quire. Use this sentence to remember it. I "c" that you want to acquire it.
3. Not sure if there's one or two Ls in basically? Just remember this. It's BASIC that I have an ALLY.
4. Can't remember if the I comes before or after the e in believe? Use this trick. Do not believe a lie.
5. Does business give you trouble? The BUS IN the terminal was a mESS.
6. Criticize. There's no "s" in criticize.
7. Maybe is either is your trouble word. If so, remember this trick. Ed Is THERe.
8. It's easy to misspell grammar. So think of this: GRAM didn't want to MAR our grammar.
9. How about guarantee? Does that word befuddle you? if so, try this trick. The GUARd ANd the TEEn guaranteed it.
10. Neighbor can be another troublesome word. If it bugs you, remember this sentence. The horse NEIGHed at the BORing man.
11. Occasion is my most troublesome word. Here's the trick i use to remember how to spell it. It's an occasion when to remember that occasion has two "c's" but only one "s."
12. And parallel? There's a trick to help with that pesky word. The two "ll's form parallel lines in parallel.
13. Particularly. PART was in the CULt with ARLY.
14. I have trouble remembering if the last vowel is an "a" or an "e" in permanent. Here's the trick that helps me. The PERM on the MAN cost just a cENT. And finally...
15. Prejudice. Is this your oft-misspelled word? If so, this can help. Don't PREJUDge; think twICE.
There are many other problematic words and just as many solutions for remembering how to spell them. I bet you have a few of your own. When I was a tadpole I couldn't remember how to spell icicle. My mom knew it was coming up on a spelling test and came up with a way to help me remember. I still use it today. I see (ic) I see (ic) Ellie (l e). Pretty clever, eh?
And if you're an English nerd like me, you may want to test your spelling skills . You may do so here. https://www.thoughtco.com/quiz-on-commonly-misspelled-words-1692340. Good luck! Let me know how you do.
It's often said that "you never get a second chance to make a good first impression." And this holds true for written impressions, as well. So i do hope that you found these spelling tricks and mnemonic devices helpful.
Tomorrow is, of course, Wednesday and I've heard through the grapevine that Dharma has a special lesson planned for me on yin and yang. I can't wait to find out what he has to say. If you'd like to know, too, please stop back by tomorrow when I'll share his wise words with you. Until then,
PEACE (and happy spelling!)
First off, let's begin by discussing mnemonic devices. A mnemonic device is a "technique a person can use to help them improve their ability to remember something. In other words, it's a memory technique to help your brain better encode and recall important information." Many of the tips and tricks I will offer you today fall into the category of mnemonic devices.
1. Accommodate. If you have trouble remembering which letters are doubled, here's a phrase that might help you remember. "This word can accommodate a "double "c" and a double "m."
2. Acquire. It is easy to forget the c in this word, since most of us pronounce it a-quire. Use this sentence to remember it. I "c" that you want to acquire it.
3. Not sure if there's one or two Ls in basically? Just remember this. It's BASIC that I have an ALLY.
4. Can't remember if the I comes before or after the e in believe? Use this trick. Do not believe a lie.
5. Does business give you trouble? The BUS IN the terminal was a mESS.
6. Criticize. There's no "s" in criticize.
7. Maybe is either is your trouble word. If so, remember this trick. Ed Is THERe.
8. It's easy to misspell grammar. So think of this: GRAM didn't want to MAR our grammar.
9. How about guarantee? Does that word befuddle you? if so, try this trick. The GUARd ANd the TEEn guaranteed it.
10. Neighbor can be another troublesome word. If it bugs you, remember this sentence. The horse NEIGHed at the BORing man.
11. Occasion is my most troublesome word. Here's the trick i use to remember how to spell it. It's an occasion when to remember that occasion has two "c's" but only one "s."
12. And parallel? There's a trick to help with that pesky word. The two "ll's form parallel lines in parallel.
13. Particularly. PART was in the CULt with ARLY.
14. I have trouble remembering if the last vowel is an "a" or an "e" in permanent. Here's the trick that helps me. The PERM on the MAN cost just a cENT. And finally...
15. Prejudice. Is this your oft-misspelled word? If so, this can help. Don't PREJUDge; think twICE.
There are many other problematic words and just as many solutions for remembering how to spell them. I bet you have a few of your own. When I was a tadpole I couldn't remember how to spell icicle. My mom knew it was coming up on a spelling test and came up with a way to help me remember. I still use it today. I see (ic) I see (ic) Ellie (l e). Pretty clever, eh?
And if you're an English nerd like me, you may want to test your spelling skills . You may do so here. https://www.thoughtco.com/quiz-on-commonly-misspelled-words-1692340. Good luck! Let me know how you do.
It's often said that "you never get a second chance to make a good first impression." And this holds true for written impressions, as well. So i do hope that you found these spelling tricks and mnemonic devices helpful.
Tomorrow is, of course, Wednesday and I've heard through the grapevine that Dharma has a special lesson planned for me on yin and yang. I can't wait to find out what he has to say. If you'd like to know, too, please stop back by tomorrow when I'll share his wise words with you. Until then,
PEACE (and happy spelling!)
Nordquist, Richard. "The 201 Most Commonly Misspelled Words in English." ThoughtCo, Jul. 8, 2019, thoughtco.com/commonly-misspelled-words-in-english-1692761.
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