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
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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'.

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'.

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.
  • 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.

Read our blog posts 'English tongue twisters to test your English skills' and 'English words and slang terms you should know'.

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    1. End of year projects

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    • Class memory book: Ask students to contribute to a collaborative memory book filled with drawings, photos, or written reflections on their favorite moments of the year.
    • Passion projects: Give students the chance to dive into something they’re really interested in and wrap it up with a fun presentation or creative display.
    • Local impact projects: Challenge your learners to brainstorm ways to support their local community. They could develop a plan or even implement their ideas.

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    • Cultural exploration: Encourage students to research and share how different cultures celebrate the holidays, fostering inclusivity and curiosity. They can also share how they celebrate the end of the year and any New Year traditions.
    • Art session: Organise a holiday craft-making session where students create ornaments, cards, or posters. Encourage students to write and create cards to take home to their loved ones.

    3. Interactive learning games

    Interactive games are an easy way to maintain focus and excitement.

    • Trivia challenges: Create trivia questions about topics covered during the year—bonus points for including playful or funny questions about inside jokes or class moments.
    • Escape room activities: Turn your classroom into an educational escape room with puzzles, problem-solving challenges and hidden clues.
    • AI Guess Who: Most AI chatbots will let you play games like Guess Who; play this with the class to liven things up.Let them take turns to guess who the chatbot is thinking of. You can also use '.

    4. Group activities

    Encourage collaboration with team tasks that bring students together.

    • Talent show: Give students the chance to showcase their talents, from singing and dancing to magic tricks and storytelling. It can be a great way to encourage them to practice language skills.
    • Debate tournaments: Divide your class into teams and set them up for friendly debates on fun or meaningful topics.
    • Story circles: Build stories as a group by having students take turns adding to the tale.

    5. Creative classroom ideas

    Don’t hesitate to think outside the box with these unique ideas:

    • Class awards ceremony: Create fun and light-hearted awards for each student, such as “Best Scientist” or “Most Curious Learner.”
    • Time capsule creation: Have students write letters to their future selves or fill a box with objects representing the year.
    • Themed classroom party: Use a theme, such as a tropical luau or winter wonderland, to bring the class together for a fun party with food, games and music.

    6. Classroom party ideas

    Every great year deserves a great finish. Host a lesson that brings your students closer together.

    • Movie afternoon: Set up your classroom and dim the lights to create a cinema atmosphere for a class movie.
    • Game board bonanza: Bring in board games and allow students a relaxed day of friendly competition. If none are available, get students to create their own games.

    Keep the learning spirit alive

    The end of the school year doesn’t have to signal the end of learning. With a bit of creativity, teachers can make the last weeks of school productive and enjoyable. From fun classroom activities to meaningful year-end projects for students, these ideas will set the stage for a memorable finish.