More commonly misspelled English words

Charlotte Guest
A student writingon a paper with other students doing the same in the background
Reading time: 3 minutes

Spelling can often feel like navigating a maze. But fear not, for you are not alone in this quest. Whether you're a fluent speaker or learning English as a second language, the challenge of spelling is universal.

Yet, just as heroes rise to conquer their foes, you too can triumph over misspelled words. With dedication and the right tools, you'll soon find yourself spelling with confidence and ease. Carrying on from our previous post, 'The most commonly misspelled words in English', let's explore more commonly misspelled words and empower ourselves with the knowledge to spell them correctly.

More commonly misspelt words
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree ÃÛÌÒapp can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

Commonly misspelled words and their correct spellings

1. Apparent not apparunt

This word is often misspelled due to its pronunciation. Remember, it's 'apparent' with an 'e' in the middle.

2. Calendar not calender

The 'a' in 'calendar' is crucial. Think of marking important dates on your calendar to remember this one.

3. Conscience not conscence

Your conscience guides you, so let it guide your spelling too. The 'science' in 'conscience' can help you remember the correct form.

4. Dilemma not dilemna

Although it sounds like it has an 'n', 'dilemma' is spelled with two m's. Picture yourself facing a dilemma to recall this spelling.

5. Existence not existance

The 'e' in 'existence' is essential. Imagine the existence of life to keep this spelling in mind.

6. Grateful not greatful

While gratitude is great, the correct spelling is 'grateful'. Remember, 'grateful' comes from the word 'gratitiude'.Ìý

7. Indispensable not indispensible

This word is indispensable in your vocabulary, and it ends with '-able', not '-ible'.

8. Maintenance not maintenence

Maintenance requires attention, just like its spelling. The 'a' in the middle is key.

9. Occurrence not occurance

Double 'c' and double 'r' make 'occurrence' a word to remember. Think of frequent occurrences to get it right.

10. Perseverance not perserverance

Perseverance is about persistence, and it has 'sever' in the middle rather than 'server'. Keep pushing forward with the correct spelling.

11. Privilege not priviledge

It's a privilege to spell this word correctly, this word has no 'd'.

12. Recommend not recomend

When you recommend something, remember the double 'm' in the middle.

13. Separate not seperate

This word often trips people up, but remember the phrase 'separate a rate' to remind you it’s an 'a' before the 'rate'.

14. Vacuum not vaccuum

The silent 'u' in 'vacuum' is important. Picture a vacuum cleaner to recall this spelling.

15. Visible not visable

Visibility is key, and 'visible' ends with '-ible', not '-able'.
Ìý

Improving your spelling is a rewarding endeavor that requires practice and patience. While spell-checkers are helpful, they don't replace the value of learning and understanding the correct spelling.

Remember these strategies:

  • Practice regularly: Write down commonly misspelled words and practice spelling them correctly. Repetition is your ally in mastering spelling.
  • Use mnemonics: Create memorable associations or rhymes to help you remember tricky spellings.Ìý
  • Engage with language learning tools: Apps like offer spelling exercises and lessons that reinforce correct spelling from the start.

Remember, every step you take towards better spelling is a step towards greater confidence in your language skills. Embrace the challenge, celebrate your progress and empower yourself with the knowledge to spell accurately. Your dedication will lead you to spelling success, one word at a time.

More blogs from ÃÛÌÒapp

  • A teacher helping a teenage student working at her desk in a library

    How teachers can use the GSE for professional development

    By Fajarudin Akbar
    Reading time: 4.5 minutes

    As English teachers, we’re usually the ones helping others grow. We guide learners through challenges, celebrate their progress and push them to reach new heights. But what about our own growth? How do we, as educators, continue to develop and refine our practice?

    The Global Scale of English (GSE) is often seen as a tool for assessing students. However, in my experience, it can also be a powerful guide for teachers who want to become more intentional, reflective, and confident in their teaching. Here's how the GSE has helped me in my own journey as an English teacher and how it can support yours too.

    About the GSE

    The GSE is a proficiency scale developed by ÃÛÌÒapp. It measures English ability across four skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – on a scale from 10 to 90. It’s aligned with the CEFR but offers more detailed learning objectives, which can be incredibly useful in diverse teaching contexts.

    I first encountered the GSE while exploring ways to better personalize learning objectives in my Business English classes. As a teacher in a non-formal education setting in Indonesia, I often work with students who don’t fit neatly into one CEFR level. I needed something more precise, more flexible, and more connected to real classroom practice. That’s when the GSE became a turning point.

    Reflecting on our teaching practice

    The GSE helped me pause and reflect. I started reading through the learning objectives and asking myself important questions. Were my lessons really aligned with what learners at this level needed? Was I challenging them just enough or too much?

    By using the GSE as a mirror, I began to see areas where I could improve. For example, I realized that, although I was confident teaching speaking skills, I wasn’t always giving enough attention to writing development. The GSE didn’t judge me. It simply showed me where I could grow.

    Planning with purpose

    One of the best things about the GSE is that it brings clarity to lesson planning. Instead of guessing whether an activity is suitable for a student’s level, I now check the GSE objectives. If I know a learner is at GSE 50 in speaking, I can design a role-play that matches that level of complexity. If another learner is at GSE 60, I can challenge them with more open-ended tasks.

    Planning becomes easier and more purposeful. I don’t just create lessons, I design learning experiences that truly meet students where they are.

    Collaborating with other teachers

    The GSE has also become a shared language for collaboration. When I run workshops or peer mentoring sessions, I often invite teachers to explore the GSE Toolkit together. We look at learning objectives, discuss how they apply to our learners, and brainstorm ways to adapt materials.

    These sessions are not just about theory: they’re energizing. Teachers leave with new ideas, renewed motivation and a clearer sense of how to bring their teaching to the next level.

    Getting started with the GSE

    If you’re curious about how to start using the GSE for your own growth, here are a few simple steps:

    • Visit the GSE Teacher Toolkit and explore the learning objectives for the skills and levels you teach.
    • Choose one or two objectives that resonate with you and reflect on whether your current lessons address them.
    • Try adapting a familiar activity to better align with a specific GSE range.
    • Use the GSE when planning peer observations or professional learning communities. It gives your discussions a clear focus.

    Case study from my classroom

    I once had a private Business English student preparing for a job interview. Her speaking skills were solid – around GSE 55 – but her writing was more limited, probably around GSE 45. Instead of giving her the same tasks across both skills, I personalized the lesson.

    For speaking, we practiced mock interviews using complex questions. For writing, I supported her with guided sentence frames for email writing. By targeting her actual levels, not just a general CEFR level, she improved faster and felt more confident.

    That experience reminded me that when we teach with clarity, learners respond with progress.

    Challenges and solutions

    Of course, using the GSE can feel overwhelming at first. There are many descriptors, and it can take time to get familiar with the scale. My advice is to start small: focus on one skill or one level. Also, use the Toolkit as a companion, not a checklist.

    Another challenge is integrating the GSE into existing materials, and this is where technology can help. I often use AI tools like ChatGPT to adjust or rewrite tasks so they better match specific GSE levels. This saves time and makes differentiation easier.

    Teachers deserve development too

    Teaching is a lifelong journey. The GSE doesn’t just support our students, it also supports us. It helps us reflect, plan, and collaborate more meaningfully. Most of all, it reminds us that our growth as teachers is just as important as the progress of our learners.

    If you’re looking for a simple, practical, and inspiring way to guide your professional development, give the GSE a try. It helped me grow, and I believe it can help you too.

    Additional resources