Here are a few of the most commonly misspelled English words. You can remember them by inventing an exaggerated pronunciation for them in your head, or by taking special note of single and doubled letters:
definite
The error is replacing the final “i” with “a.” Think infinity or infinite. For further reinforcement, see my post at DailyWritingTips.
dependent
The error is with the final syllable, putting an “a” for the “e”: write depenDENT
embarrass
The error is with knowing which letters to double: Rx2 and Sx2; only one B.
existence
The error is replacing the “e” of the final syllable with an “a.” write exisTENCE
grammar
The error is writing er for ar: write grammAR
harass
The error is with the R; there’s only one
indispensable
The error is replacing the “a” in the final syllable with an “i.” write indispensABLE
liaison
The error is in leaving out one “i.” Note that the a is sandwiched between two slices of i.
license
The error is with either the c or the s. The C comes first. write liCense
separate
The error is writing “e” for “a.” The best mnemonic I know is “There’s A RAT in sep-A-RATe.”
misspell
The error is failing to double the S. Mis- is a prefix added to spell: miS-Spell.
occasion
The error is with the C and the S: two Cs, one S.
occurrence
The error is failing to notice the DOUBLE R and the DOUBLE C.
privilege
One error is leaving out the second “i.” Another error is putting an unnecessary D in front of the G. Study the syllables: priv-i-lege and think a pronunciation to match.
procedure
The error is trying to make the noun match the verb. There’s only one E after the C.
proceed
The error is trying to make the verb match the noun. Note the double E and the final D.
pronunciation
The error is trying to make the noun pronunciation match the verb pronounce. The noun is pro-NUN-ci-a-tion.
