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A List of the Words That Americans Say They Can Never Spell Correctly

By bondsy Feb 18, 2025 | 5:49 AM

dizanna / Depositphotos.com

There are good spellers who are still haunted by a mistake from their sixth grade spelling bee.  And then there are others, who still can’t figure out whether they should use:  Y-O-U-R . . . Y-O-U-R-E . . . or U-R.  (???)

Someone asked the internet:  “What is the ONE word you can never spell correctly?”  And the responses were . . . relatable.  Here are a few:

1.  Maintenance.  “When I try to spell it out . . . my brain just short circuits.”

 

2.  Diarrhea.  “It’s always a big mess.  My spelling, that is.”

 

3.  Convenience.  Someone said, “I wanted to say this too, but couldn’t spell it.”

 

4.  Boutonnière.  “And I’m a wedding photographer.”

 

5.  Necessary.  Remember:  One C, Two Ss.

 

6.  Occasionally.  Remember:  Two Cs.  One S.

 

7.  Accommodate.  Remember:  Two Cs.  Two Ms.

 

8.  Embarrass.  Remember:  Two Rs.  Two Ss.

 

9.  Receipt.  Remember:  “I” before “E,” except after “C.”

 

10.  Seize.  Remember:  “I” before . . . wait a minute!  (This must be an exception.  English is FUN!  Good luck following all this, A.I.)

 

11.  Conscientious.  And also:  Conscience.

 

12.  Rhythm.

 

13.  Restaurant.

 

14.  Refrigerator.  Mostly due to the disappearing “D” from “fridge.”

 

15.  Privilege.

 

16.  Definitely.

 

17.  Nauseous.

 

18.  Alcohol.  Even when sober.

 

19.  Hemorrhoids.

 

20.  As a preemptive strike, tomorrow is a WEDNESDAY in FEBRUARY, and a lot of people struggle with both of those.

 

 

On top of this madness, there are also the words that are technically correct in two forms . . . and yet, we agonize over them anyway.

Things like:  Canceled vs. cancelled with TWO Ls . . . judgment vs. judgement with an E in the middle . . . and ax vs. axe with an E at the end.

 

 

(Ask Reddit)

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