Misspelt words in English

[irmamar]

I've found this page with the 100 most commonly misspelt words in English. Would you add some words of common usage? For instance, I think that "aggressive" could be added.

Thanks.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I've found this page with the 100 most commonly misspelt words in English. Would you add some words of common usage? For instance, I think that "aggressive" could be added.

Thanks.

Think that these words are particularly difficult to spell to natives.

[hermit]

Good thread - One group of words that are difficult for ESL students
as well as many native speakers includes the "ie"-"ei" words.

The rule is "i before e except after c...either, neither, leisure, seize are
four exceptions, if you please."

[Rusty]

We only have misspelled words in America, none of those misspelt ones.

Here are a couple of links that list many exceptions to the 'i before e except after c' rule, and pronunciations differ for even some of those between American and British English. link1 link2

[bobjenkins]

Tengo unas pocas


Their
Loose / lose
Accidentally
Unnecessary
Weird

[Perikles]

My spelling is atrocious, and that is one word I can never spell without looking it up.

I also have a huge problem with diarrhoea, but fortunately only an orthographical one.

[irmamar]

Perikles

Thanks everybody and Rusty for the links. By the way, is "misspelled" in AmE and "misspelt" in BrE? Would "misspelled" wrong in BrE?

And I agree with you, Chileno, I don't have difficulty with some of them, but I have with the others.

Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Thanks everybody and Rusty for the links. By the way, is "misspelled" in AmE and "misspelt" in BrE? Would "misspelled" wrong in BrE?

In BrE, spelt and misspelt are used, but spelled and misspelled also used and not considered incorrect (according to Fowler).

[irmamar]

Thanks.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Rusty

We only have misspelled words in America, none of those misspelt ones.

Here are a couple of links that list many exceptions to the 'i before e except after c' rule, and pronunciations differ for even some of those between American and British English. link1 link2

Originally Posted by irmamar

Perikles

Thanks everybody and Rusty for the links. By the way, is "misspelled" in AmE and "misspelt" in BrE? Would "misspelled" wrong in BrE?

And I agree with you, Chileno, I don't have difficulty with some of them, but I have with the others.

Thanks.

You have problems with some of them, mainly because you haven't accustomed to them, but with a bit more of practice almost none of them will offer a problem.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by chileno

You have problems with some of them, mainly because you haven't accustomed to them, but with a bit more of practice almost none of them will offer a problem.

You are very optimistic.

I think I don't have problem with those words which are similar to Spanish ones (such as argument, miniature, amateur, etc.), and I don't understand Perikles' difficulties with atrocious, which is similar to Spanish "atroz" and that common English suffix "ious", maybe it's because of his pronunciation, which is much better than mine ( ). My problems are with those words which have two identical consonants (such as aggressive, accommodate, etc., or even that manoeuvre, for which I must think of the French I studied and forgot). Well, maybe practice will help.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

and I don't understand Perikles' difficulties with atrocious, which is similar to Spanish "atroz" and that common English suffix "ious",

Believe it or not, I have never made the connection. Now I have a mnemonic - thanks.

My main problem is actually I am a little dyslexic. I have huge problems with words like friend or freind and it's no good giving the rule because I never know if it's an exception or not. (I have trouble telling left from right, but I don't know if that is connected.)

I find that learning foreign languages does help. I could never spell the name Michael until I met a German with that name, pronounced Mích - a - el.

[bobjenkins]

Originally Posted by irmamar

You are very optimistic.

I think I don't have problem with those words which are similar to Spanish ones (such as argument, miniature, amateur, etc.), and I don't understand Perikles' difficulties with atrocious, which is similar to Spanish "atroz" and that common English suffix "ious", maybe it's because of his pronunciation, which is much better than mine ( ). My problems are with those words which have two identical consonants (such as aggressive, accommodate, etc., or even that manoeuvre, for which I must think of the French I studied and forgot). Well, maybe practice will help.

Sí sí la llave es practicarlas

Las palabras que llevan letras diferentes con los mismos sonidos son difíciles

unneccessary ... Hmm did I spell it right, yo mismo no estoy seguro !

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by bobjenkins

unneccessary ... Hmm did I spell it right, yo mismo no estoy seguro !

Nope. . It is necessary for you to learn this.

(One curve in the letter c, two curves in the s)

[irmamar]

Unnecessary (I know this one! ).

I have the same problem as you, Perikles, with dyslexia (a difficult word, as bicycle ) and the right and the left. I've given wrong directions because of that problem and I'm not sure where the persons who asked me arrived. Even when I was doing the exam for my driving license (another "beautiful" word"), the examiner told me to park on the right and I did on the left, or on the contrary (he made an observation but I passed the exam ).

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

You are very optimistic.

I think I don't have problem with those words which are similar to Spanish ones (such as argument, miniature, amateur, etc.), and I don't understand Perikles' difficulties with atrocious, which is similar to Spanish "atroz" and that common English suffix "ious", maybe it's because of his pronunciation, which is much better than mine ( ). My problems are with those words which have two identical consonants (such as aggressive, accommodate, etc., or even that manoeuvre, for which I must think of the French I studied and forgot). Well, maybe practice will help.

Of course. Practice will make a whole world of difference.

Originally Posted by Perikles
Believe it or not, I have never made the connection. Now I have a mnemonic - thanks.

My main problem is actually I am a little dyslexic. I have huge problems with words like friend or freind and it's no good giving the rule because I never know if it's an exception or not. (I have trouble telling left from right, but I don't know if that is connected.)

I find that learning foreign languages does help. I could never spell the name Michael until I met a German with that name, pronounced Mích - a - el.

Good thinking.

But, with Spanish you are in an even better position, since Spanish is pronounced as you see it. (WYSIWYG)

[wafflestomp]

I'd say the most misspelled word in English is "definitely"

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by wafflestomp

I'd say the most misspelled word in English is "definitely"

You are deffinnitly right.

[Jessica]

I think I launched a missle.

:P

Originally Posted by wafflestomp

I'd say the most misspelled word in English is "definitely"

nah I can spell that fine.

there are ones harder than that

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Jessica

there are ones harder than that

I agree, Jessica. How about

aequeosalinocalcalinoce raceoaluminosocupreovitriolic (52 letters)

which is quite difficult. This is one of a list here