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135 Commonly Misspelled Words in English
135 Commonly Misspelled Words in English
Check out the most commonly misspelled words in English. Get tips on how to avoid these mistakes and remember their correct spelling in your essays, emails, and everyday writing.
Oct 14, 2025
Grammar Rules
11 min read
Modern life is so fast and hectic that misspelled words in your writings, emails, or texts can't surprise anyone. We are always in a rush, so confusing homophones or plural and singular forms is very common and understandable. Researchers claim that approximately only four percent of all English words are truly irregular and defy explanation of their spelling.
Together with StudyAgent, you will learn the 135 most commonly misspelled words and get tips on how to spell them correctly and avoid these mistakes in the future.
Common Reasons People Misspell Words
It is obvious that common misspellings happen for predictable reasons. Even typing quickly causes major spelling mistakes like freind instead of friend. Plus, do not forget that the English language has different accents, hence the spelling can vary across regions: color vs. colour, for instance.
Check out the reason behind misspellings.
- Homophones. Words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. For example, their vs. there vs. they’re; your vs. you’re; to vs. too vs. two.
- Double Consonants Confusion. Some words require double letters in the middle, which are easy to forget or overuse. Such as, accommodate (often misspelled as acommodate), necessary (neccessary), embarrass (embarass).
- Foreign-Origin Words. Words borrowed from other languages often retain unusual spellings. Examples: entrepreneur, rendezvous, souvenir.
- Silent Letters. English has many silent letters that are easily forgotten. For example: knife, psychology, island, Wednesday.
- Typing Too Fast. Speed leads to transposed or omitted letters. Look here: becuase instead of because, recieve instead of receive.
- Irregular Spelling Rules. Some misspelled English words simply don’t follow standard phonics or spelling logic. Examples: colonel, liaison, subtle.
These common grammar mistakes are worsened by the lack of consistent phonetic rules. Many of the most misspelled words are simply tricky spelling words that defy logic or pattern, requiring extra attention and practice to master.
A List of 135 Commonly Misspelled Words
Here is a list of frequently misspelled English words, organized by type of error:
Confusing Vowel Combos
Words with vowel combinations like “ie” vs “ei” or “ea” vs “ae” are often on the commonly misspelled words list. These errors occur from not knowing which letter comes first. For example:
- Receive
- Ceiling
- Leisure
- Belief
- Achieve
- Deceit
- Foreign
- Perceive
- Weird
- Weight
Consonant Groups
When consonants appear together in unusual sequences, writers often skip a letter or reverse the order, making these some of the words commonly misspelled in essays. Especially the words that have “th”. For example, words “though”, “thought”, “through”, “thorough” are called the 4 knights of apocalypse.
Double Letters
One of the most commonly misspelled words errors is forgetting which words need two of the same letter. These are particularly difficult when the double letters fall in the middle. For instance:
- Accommodation
- Committee
- Necessary
- Embarrass
- Occasion
- Successful
- Millennium
- Possession
- Address
- Occurred
Silent Letters
English is full of silent letters that make spelling confusing, even for native speakers. These words don’t sound the way they look, which puts them high on the commonly misspelled words list. For example:
- Doubt
- Subtle
- Knife
- Muscle
- Island
- Indict
- Ballet
- Align
- Castle
- Salmon
Homophones
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Confusing them is one of the most common spelling mistakes in student writing. Look here:
- Your/You’re
- Their/There/They’re
- Its/It’s
- Affect/Effect
- Than/Then
- To/Too/Two
- Whose/Who’s
- Sight/Site
- Bare/Bear
- Write/Right
Everyday Words That Get Misspelled
Don’t be shocked, but even some of the most commonly misspelled words are the ones we use every day. These often get overlooked because they seem too simple to be wrong. Such as:
- Definitely
- Separate
- Beginning
- Calendar
- Friend
- Business
- Until
- Surprise
- Tomorrow
- Environment
“-able” vs “-ible” Word Endings
These endings sound similar but follow different rules. Mixing them up is a major spelling mistake in formal writing. Examples:
- Visible
- Flexible
- Terrible
- Credible
- Legible
- Breakable
- Acceptable
- Lovable
- Reliable
- Incredible
Plural Forms+ Suffixes
Irregular plurals and unusual suffixes make spelling unpredictable. These tricky spelling words often confuse even advanced learners. Examples:
- Children
- Geese
- Mice
- Indices
- Phenomena
- Crises
- Analyses
- Oxen
- Cacti
- Fungi
Hyphenation
Hyphenated words confuse writers, such as where the hyphen goes or whether to use one at all. These belong to every commonly misspelled words list. Examples:
- Mother-in-law
- State-of-the-art
- Long-term
- Self-esteem
- Part-time
- All-inclusive
- High-tech
- Well-being
- Up-to-date
- Editor-in-chief
Words Mispronounced and Then Misspelled
When people write words the way they sound, mistakes are likely. These errors are based on hearing, not grammar. Like as:
- Supposedly (not supposably)
- Nuclear (not nucular)
- Espresso (not expresso)
- Etcetera (not excetera)
- Library (not libary)
- Candidate (not canidate)
- Jewelry (not joolery)
- Realtor (not real-a-tor)
- Arctic (not artic)
- Mischievous (not mischevious)
Trouble with Numbers and Ordinals
Even simple numbers can show up on the commonly misspelled words list, especially when writing ordinals (first, second, third) or longer numerals. These errors usually happen due to incorrect suffixes, transposed letters, or confusion with pronunciation. Here are words commonly misspelled in this group:
- Forty (not fourty)
- Twelfth (not twelveth)
- Eighth (often written eight)
- Ninety (not ninty)
- Second (misspelled as secound)
- Seventeenth (commonly sevententh)
- Sixtieth (mistaken for sixtyth)
- Third (sometimes thrid)
- Tenth (not tenthh)
- Hundredth (misspelled as hundreth)
Foreign-Origin Words in English
English borrows heavily from French, Latin, Greek, and other languages, creating spelling challenges. These commonly misspelled words don’t always follow English phonetic rules, so learners rely on visual memory or repetition. Here are frequent offenders:
- Entrepreneur
- Déjà vu
- Faux pas
- Hors d’oeuvre
- Cliché
- Ballet
- Tsunami
- Karaoke
- Quiche
- Guerrilla
How to Spell Better: 6 Easy Things to Remember
Even though misspelling is very common, and there are millions of ready-to-go solutions, but the ability to spell and grammar is a must if you want to succeed in academic circles or the business world. Below are some simple but effective strategies to help you avoid frequently misspelled words:
- Read regularly: Exposure to correct spelling builds visual memory. The more you see a word, the more natural it becomes.
- Practice writing: Daily writing helps you spot patterns and correct the words you often misspell.
- Use mnemonics: Memory tricks like “Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants” make tough words easier to remember.
- Break words into syllables: Split complex words like maintenance into main-te-nance to spell them step by step.
- Say words out loud: Hearing the word clearly can help you catch silent letters or tricky sounds.
- Try a grammar checker: You can learn new words and correct spelling from these tools.
And while you’re working on spelling, don’t forget to explore how language works. For example, knowing what is a metaphor can make your writing not only correct but also more expressive.
Technology and Spelling Relationship
We live in the 21st century, so it would be impossible not to use technology, especially one that offers a very good and solid solution for spelling issues, for fixing common spelling mistakes. What can power your confidence better than being 100% sure in your writing skills? So how can technology help you? Read carefully.
- Spell Checkers: Built-in tools in Word, Google Docs, or browser extensions like Grammarly highlight errors as you write.
- AI Grammar Checker: AI assistant for writing and studying like StudyAgent is the perfect example of AI grammar checker that can be used to detect not just spelling mistakes but also grammar and context-based errors.
- Text-to-Speech Tools: Hearing your writing aloud (via tools like NaturalReader) can help spot words that don’t sound right.
- Online Dictionaries: Resources like Merriam-Webster or Oxford let you instantly check definitions, spellings, and pronunciations.
- Grammar and Writing Apps: Hemingway Editor or ProWritingAid improve spelling, clarity, and sentence structure.
- Educational Sites: Platforms like BBC Bitesize provide interactive lessons on spelling and grammar. StudyAgent, while currently focused on writing support, is expanding soon to include study assistance features like quizzes and homework tools.
- Spelling Games & Apps: Tools like Spelling Bee or WordUp help reinforce correct spelling through fun practice.
Use these tools not only to correct errors but also to learn how to improve writing and how to summarize an article effectively.
Bottom Line
We've explained several reasons behind the most commonly misspelled words, from mixing up sounds and typographical errors to the influence of similar-sounding words and spelling quirks from different regions. Recognizing these stumbling blocks can make you more mindful of your spelling.
And if you want writing support that goes beyond spellcheck, AI assistants like StudyAgent can help you catch errors, rewrite tricky sentences, and stay on top of your grammar and spelling, so you always write with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
One of the most commonly misspelled words in English is "definitely", often confused with “definately”. It’s frequently seen in academic writing, texts, and emails. This word is also commonly confused with similar-sounding words, making it tricky for many writers.
One of the hardest words to spell is consciousness. Due to its complex structure, suffix usage, and sound, many people misspell it. It’s a word with different spellings, silent letters, and tricky syllables, making it a commonly misspelled term.
People often misspell words due to homophones, which are almost identical words (like their vs. there), silent letters (knight, subtle), or confusing spelling rules. Fast typing and relying on pronunciation alone can also lead to errors. Commonly misspelled words often have irregular patterns or commonly confused vowels or consonants. Practice, reading, and grammar tools can help spell words correctly and reduce mistakes over time.
Sources:
- Bitesize, B. (2020, July 27). Why do we keep misspelling these words? - BBC Bitesize. BBC Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zd3gpg8
- Flor, M., Futagi, Y., Lopez, M. B., & Laham, D. (2015, May). Patterns of misspellings in L2 and L1 English: A view from the ETS Spelling Corpus. Paper presented at the Bergen Language and Linguistics Studies conference. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277584335_Patterns_of_misspellings_in_L2_and_L1_English_a_view_from_the_ETS_Spelling_Corpus
- Terry, B. (2025, May 20). What Causes Problems with Spelling? – Scholar Within. Scholar Within. https://scholarwithin.com/spelling-problems?srsltid=AfmBOorIBo2QEStzENPMGuBL--gJjVxUL90Paf7xnD4REB4EcDe6v3AZ
