Commonly Misspelled Words

Tip: If two things can mate or match, they are compatible: compat + ible.

Tip: Favor takes -able in American spelling, so the noun becomes favorable.

Tip: Force loses its e before -ible here, giving forcible.

Tip: Horror makes horrible, and the word keeps the -ible ending.

Tip: Eligible with in- becomes ineligible, and the ending stays -ible.

Tip: Liable keeps the ai in the root and ends simply in -able.

Tip: Mobile is the correct spelling for something that can move or be moved.

Tip: If you can obtain it, it is obtainable, because obtain + able is the pattern.

Tip: Permission points to permissible, and the word keeps the double s sound in the middle.

Tip: Plausible sounds like plaus-, but the correct ending is -ible.

Tip: Possible keeps the double s and ends in -ible: poss + ible.

Tip: Probable is tied to probability, so remember prob + able.

Tip: If an argument can be refuted, it is refutable, using -able.

Tip: Respect + able gives respectable, meaning worthy of respect.

Tip: Sense is the clue: sensible is the adjective built from sense with -ible.

Tip: Social and sociable are related, but the correct spelling is sociable.

Tip: If it can be dissolved, it is soluble, with the short -uble/-ible pattern.

Tip: Terror sits inside terrible, so remember the fear-root and the -ible ending.

Tip: Touch is the clue: tangible means able to be touched, so use -ible.

Tip: A position that can be held is tenable, and it ends in -able.

Tip: If you can understand it, it is understandable, with under + stand + able.

Tip: Vision is the clue: visible is what can be seen, and it uses -ible.

Tip: Voluble means fluent or talkative, and the correct spelling is voluble.

Tip: Think argue + able: the e drops from argue, but the u stays.

Tip: Salvageable keeps salvage intact, so the middle is -gea-, not -gea- with a missing v.

Tip: Peaceable keeps the e from peace before -able.

Tip: Forceable is force + able, while forcible is a different word entirely.

Tip: Replace keeps the e, so replaceable also keeps it.

Tip: Useable is often spelled with the e because it comes from use + able, even though usable is also standard.

Tip: Saleable keeps the e from sale before -able.

Tip: Lovable comes from love, but the final e drops before -able.

Tip: Readable is built from read + able, so the spelling stays close to read.

Tip: If you can drink it, add -able to drink; there is no -ible version here.

Tip: Collectible keeps the c-t root and adds -ible, like a collectible item.

Tip: Irreversible is just reverse with ir- and -ible; the internal spelling stays the same.

Tip: Pursuable comes from pursue + able, so the -ue helps you remember the spelling.

Tip: Verifiable keeps verify inside it, but drops the y before adding -able.

Tip: Detachable comes from detach + able, so keep the ch together.

Tip: Washable is just wash + able, so keep the a after the w.

Tip: Covertible is not standard, but many people confuse convertible by omitting the i before -ble; the safe form is convertible.

Tip: Reviewable is review + able, so the ending matches able, not ible.

Tip: Collapse has one p and one s before -ible: collap-s-ible.

Tip: Think of corrosion; the root ends in -d, so the adjective is corrod-ible.

Tip: Divi-sible keeps the s from divide and division.

Tip: Think gull + ible: a gullible person is easy to fool like a gull.

Tip: Build it from incredible and swap the final -e for -ly: incredibl-y.

Tip: The middle looks like mall, but the correct spelling is malleable with -eable after malle-.

Tip: Mutate helps you remember mutable: mut-ate → mut-able.

Tip: Precise keeps the root precise; just add -ly without dropping the e incorrectly.

Tip: It comes from suppose, so keep the single p and add -able: suppos-able.

Tip: Vulnerable keeps the full vul-ner- pattern inside it, so something easily hurt is vulnerable.

Tip: Remember the double c and double s: ac-cess-ible.

Tip: Think of the word cap inside it: cap-able.

Tip: It keeps the accept part, then adds able: accept-able.

Tip: If something can adapt, it is adapt-able.

Tip: Hear admit + s + ible: admissible.

Tip: The core word is adore, so it becomes ador-able.

Tip: Think afford + able: if you can afford it, it is affordable.

Tip: Keep the full agree and add able: agree-able.

Tip: Audible comes from audio, so it keeps the i sound: aud-ible.

Tip: It comes from avail, then adds able: avail-able.

Tip: If you can avoid it, it is avoid-able.

Tip: Believ- comes from believe, so the ending is believable.

Tip: Think break + able: if it breaks, it is breakable.

Tip: The word change stays intact before able: change-able.

Tip: It starts with comfort, even though the spelling is shortened in the middle.

Tip: Keep the whole consider and add able: considerable.

Tip: Convertible keeps convert, then adds ible.

Tip: The root is cred-, as in credit or credibility.

Tip: If you can depend on it, it is dependable.

Tip: The base is desire, so the spelling is desir-able.

Tip: Remember digest + ible, like something easy to digest.

Tip: Durable comes from endure and means built to last.

Tip: Think educate without the last e, then add able.

Tip: Edible is the short, irregular form from eat, not eat-able.

Tip: Enjoy stays complete before able: enjoy-able.

Tip: The root is erase, so the correct form is eras-able.

Tip: Keep exchange and add able: exchange-able.

Tip: It comes from excite, with the final e dropped before able.

Tip: Think execute + able: executable.

Tip: It keeps fashion, then adds able.

Tip: The base is forgive, and the final e drops before able.

Tip: Formidable keeps the formid- stem and ends with able.

Tip: In American spelling, it is honorable, with no u.

Tip: Think imagine, but drop the final e before able.

Tip: This one uses cc: impecc-able.

Tip: It is the opposite of capable, so keep the same capable base.

Tip: The root is cred-, as in credit: incredible.

Tip: Indelible has a double l and means not able to be erased.

Tip: Keep describe in the middle, then add able.

Tip: The word is inevit-able, with a short i sound in the middle.

Tip: Infallible has double l and means not able to fail.

Tip: The middle word is knowledge, plus able.

Tip: Think laugh + able: something worth laughing at is laughable.

Tip: Legible keeps the soft g sound and ends with ible.

Tip: In American spelling, drop the final e from like and add able.

Tip: Move loses its e before able: movable.

Tip: The base is note, but the correct spelling is notable without the e.

Tip: It comes from rely, but the standard spelling is reliable.

Tip: Keep sustain and add able: sustainable.

Tip: Usable drops the e from use before adding able.

Tip: It comes from manage, so keep manage intact before adding -able.

Tip: Notice the e in notice stays when you add -able: notice + able.

Tip: It comes from reverse, so keep the e in reverse and add -ible.

Tip: Eligibility comes from being eligible, and the middle e helps you remember the -ible ending.

Tip: If something can bend, it is flexible—remember the x in flex and the -ible ending.

Tip: Expense stays with the e because it is tied to expensive and expend.

Tip: Insist forms insistence, and the spelling keeps the e after the s.

Tip: Persist turns into persistence, so the noun follows the -ence pattern.

Tip: Distance comes from distant, which points to the -ance ending.

Tip: When unsure, look for the base word: acceptability comes from acceptable, so the related noun family keeps the a pattern.

Tip: Admit becomes admittance, and double t + -ance is the safe pattern.

Tip: Assure is the root, so reassurance ends in -ance just like assurance.

Tip: Ignore is the root idea, and ignorance keeps the a in -ance.

Tip: Abundant is the adjective, so abundance follows the -ance form.

Tip: Reluctant is the clue, and reluctance keeps the a in the noun ending.

Tip: Rely becomes reliance, and the y changes to i before -ance.

Tip: Break it into recon- + naiss- + -ance and remember the double n and the a ending.

Tip: Fragrant is the clue; fragrance keeps the a in the noun.

Tip: Predominant leads to predominance, so the noun ends in -ance.

Tip: Forbear becomes forbearance; the ending is the same as endurance-type nouns.

Tip: The base is "adolescent," so the noun keeps the -ence ending: adolescence.

Tip: Think of "wealth" flowing in, and remember the noun ends like many abstract states in -ence.

Tip: Spot the word "apply" inside it, then add -ance: appliance.

Tip: For the noun meaning upward rise, keep the spelling tied to "ascend" and add -ence.

Tip: The common mistake is to swap the middle letters; remember "attend" + -ance = attendance.

Tip: Hear "audio" at the start, then finish with -ence: audience.

Tip: Think of "bene-" meaning good, and remember this gentle noun ends in -ence.

Tip: It ends like other geometry words in -ence; the circle's edge is the circumference.

Tip: If things hold together clearly, they have coherence, with the -ence ending.

Tip: In British spelling, use defence with -ence; the word is built from "defend."

Tip: The word is related to being diligent, so it ends in -ence: diligence.

Tip: For a happening or occurrence, remember incidence ends with -ence, unlike "incident."

Tip: Hear "interfere" inside it, and add -ence for the noun: interference.

Tip: Think of "malevolent" behavior and keep the noun ending -ence: malevolence.

Tip: The verb "obey" leads to obedience, spelled with -ence.

Tip: Think of something staying forever: permanent becomes permanence.

Tip: This means foreknowledge; remember the science-like ending in prescience.

Tip: If something sticks out, it has prominence, spelled with -ence.

Tip: This word is often confused because it sounds like -ence words, but the correct ending is -ity, not -ance or -ence.

Tip: The sound is soft, but the spelling is violence with -ence.

Tip: In chemistry, valence has -ence; don't confuse it with valance, which is a curtain.

Tip: Alli-ance has two i’s, like two groups joining together.

Tip: Brilliance has the bright root brill-, then -ance.

Tip: Captaincy comes from captain, so keep the -cy ending.

Tip: Compliance contains comply, and the noun ends with -ance.

Tip: Enhance has an a in the middle, like “add to” or “advance.”

Tip: Entrance starts with enter, and the noun ends in -ance.

Tip: Guidance comes from guide, but the noun drops the e and takes -ance.

Tip: Mischance is mis- plus chance, so it should look like chance with -ance.

Tip: Nuisance has the same a as annoyance and ends with -ance.

Tip: Pregnancy keeps the g from pregnant, then uses -cy, not -ce.

Tip: Provenance is related to provenance/proven, and the correct ending is -ance.

Tip: Secrecy is secrecy by sound, but the spelling uses -cy, not -ence.

Tip: Clear + -ance makes clearance; remember it as the act of clearing something away.

Tip: Elegance keeps the a of elegant plus -ance, like a stylish ending.

Tip: A hindrance hinders you, and the word keeps the a before -nce.

Tip: Instance has the same -ance ending as distance and resistance-type nouns.

Tip: Contain the word continent inside it: continence uses -ence, not -ance.

Tip: Innocence contains the word no: an innocent person is without guilt, and the noun ends in -ence.

Tip: Remember the pair EXIST + -ENCE: existence keeps the same ending as existence of a thing.

Tip: It comes from APPEAR, so keep the -ance ending in appearance.

Tip: Think of DIFFER + -ENCE: the spelling stays with the root differ.

Tip: Prefer ends in -er, but preference ends in -ence.

Tip: Evidence is what you use as evidence in court—keep the -ence ending.

Tip: Confer plus -ence gives conference, like a conference table.

Tip: Patience is the noun from patient, so the ending is -ence, not -ance.

Tip: Presence has the word present inside it, and present takes -ence here.

Tip: If something is absent, the noun is absence with -ence.

Tip: See maintain inside maintenance; the noun keeps the core maintain.

Tip: Performance comes from perform, so the correct ending is -ance.

Tip: Think relevant + -ance = relevance.

Tip: Allowance contains allow, so remember the double L and -ance.

Tip: Assure turns into assurance, keeping the -ance ending.

Tip: Insurance is built from insure, and the noun ends in -ance.

Tip: Significant gives significance; keep the -ance after the -ic- part.

Tip: Important becomes importance, just changing -ant to -ance.

Tip: Tolerate leads to tolerance, so the spelling follows the root word.

Tip: Assist is the base, and the noun is assistance with -ance.

Tip: Attend adds -ance in attendance, with double t preserved.

Tip: Substance contains the strong base sub- plus -stance, ending in -ance.

Tip: Remember is inside remembrance, so keep the full root visible.

Tip: Deliver forms deliverance, like deliver + -ance.

Tip: Utter becomes utterance, so keep the -ance ending.

Tip: Accept plus -ance gives acceptance, matching the verb accept.

Tip: Depend changes to dependence, not dependance, because the noun takes -ence.

Tip: Independent is the clue: independence keeps the same -ence ending.

Tip: Think eminent, and the noun becomes eminence with -ence.

Tip: Intelligent turns into intelligence, preserving the -ence ending.

Tip: Confident becomes confidence, and the final sound is -ence.

Tip: Competent gives competence, so the noun ends in -ence.

Tip: Resident becomes residence, like a place where you reside.

Tip: Silent leads to silence, with the noun ending in -ence.

Tip: Adhere is the root, and adherence keeps the -ence ending.

Tip: Consequent turns into consequence; remember the -quence sound before -ence.

Tip: Experience contains perience, so avoid dropping the first e.

Tip: Allegiance is tied to loyal allegiance, and the ending is -ance.

Tip: Prevalent becomes prevalence, keeping the -ence noun ending.

Tip: Essence has the word ESS inside it, so keep the double s and -ence.

Tip: Ambulance has the sound -ance at the end, like a vehicle arriving fast.

Tip: Defy changes to defiance, so remember the y-to-i pattern before -ance.

Tip: Variant becomes variance, just as different things show variance.

Tip: Radiant gives radiance, so the noun ends in -ance.

Tip: Annoy becomes annoyance, with the double n and -ance ending.

Tip: Resistance is built from resist + -ance, so keep the i and the final -ance.

Tip: If something disturbs, the noun is disturb-ance, not disturb-ence.

Tip: Credence is related to cred- words about belief, and it keeps the -ence ending.

Tip: Keep the clear -cy ending in mind: ag-en-cy, like many words ending in -cy.

Tip: It keeps the same a as arrogant: arro-ga-nce.

Tip: Think of the verb balance: the a stays in both the noun and the verb.

Tip: The ending is -ency, as in leniency and clemency, not -ancy.

Tip: Notice it is built from complacent with -ence added, so the vowel stays e.

Tip: Break it as con-va-les-cence: the final sound is -cence, not -sense.

Tip: This one ends like delicatessen’s first part plus -cy: deli-ca-cy.

Tip: See the lively -escence ending in words like effervescence and convalescence.

Tip: If you can spell thought, just add -less to it.

Tip: The base word is thought, and the ending is simply -fully.

Tip: Spell thorough first, then add -ly.

Tip: Laugh sounds like "laf," but the spelling keeps gh at the end.

Tip: Draught is the British spelling for a current of air or a preliminary version.

Tip: Raught is rare, but its spelling follows the same -aught pattern as taught.

Tip: Throughly is a separate word in older usage, and it starts with through.

Tip: The word is just thought + less + ness, so keep the core thought.

Tip: In British English, ploughed is plough + ed.

Tip: Broughten is built directly from brought, so the -ought part stays unchanged.

Tip: Droughty keeps the same drought base, just plus -y.

Tip: If you meet an uncommon -ough word, look for the familiar ending pattern first.

Tip: Add -ing to cough without changing the base spelling.

Tip: Keep thought intact, then attach the hyphenated second part.

Tip: If you see shough, trust the word's traditional spelling, not the sound.

Tip: Inwrought has wrought inside it, so keep the same -ought spelling.

Tip: Overwrought literally contains wrought, so the ending stays -ought.

Tip: Bethought is just the past of bethink, so it follows thought's spelling.

Tip: Forethought is fore + thought, so the second part should be spelled exactly like thought.

Tip: Misthought is built from mis + thought, so it keeps the same -ought ending.

Tip: Unthought is literally un + thought, so the spelling mirrors thought.

Tip: Afterthought contains thought at the end, so spell that part the same way every time.

Tip: Mothball starts with moth, not with the sound of "moan," so keep the simple ball ending.

Tip: Stouthearted is stout + hearted, so the first part keeps the short word stout.

Tip: Wough is a rare word, but its spelling still follows the familiar -ough pattern.

Tip: Sloughed is the past tense of slough, so preserve the original -ough spelling.

Tip: Doubted keeps the silent b from doubt before adding -ed.

Tip: Doubting keeps the silent b, just like doubt plus -ing.

Tip: Undoubted is un + doubted, so the silent b stays in the middle.

Tip: Redoubt preserves the same silent-b pattern as doubt, so spell it with oubt.

Tip: In this Irish word, the final sound is often like “loch,” but the spelling is l-o-u-g-h.

Tip: If you are unsure about a rare form, check whether the word really belongs in the -ough family before spelling it.

Tip: Overthought keeps the thought root intact; adding over- should not change the spelling of thought.

Tip: Like overthought, underthought preserves the full thought spelling inside the longer word.

Tip: When a word includes hough, keep the full -ough cluster even if the pronunciation seems shortened.

Tip: The root rough keeps its gh, so the noun roughness should too.

Tip: For -ough words, add suffixes to the whole base word, not to a guessed pronunciation.

Tip: Build it from thorough + fare, so both parts are visible in the spelling.

Tip: Think of afore + thought; the word literally ends with thought.

Tip: Keep the under- prefix and the -neath ending; it is not spelled like undern-eath variants.

Tip: Slaughter shares the daughter pattern, so keep the gh before the -ter ending.

Tip: Naught means nothing, and it starts with na- plus the familiar -aught ending.

Tip: The core word is sought, so spell the first part like seek in the past tense.

Tip: Teaching uses the same old spelling family as caught: taught ends with -aught.

Tip: A fight is fought, not faught—many -ought words sound like aw but keep the gh.

Tip: Ought is short but tricky: it starts with o and ends with gh, like thought and bought.

Tip: Tough looks like through and cough in spelling, but it sounds like tuff.

Tip: Rough has the same ending as tough, so remember the gh stays even when it sounds like f.

Tip: Enough is enough: keep the full -ough ending even though it sounds like -uff.

Tip: Cough sounds like koff, but the spelling keeps the gh from the -ough family.

Tip: Dough is the bread word, and it ends with -ough even though it sounds like doe.

Tip: Plough is the farming spelling; in American English the same word is often plow.

Tip: Slough is spelled like tough but can sound different, so memorize the silent gh ending.

Tip: A bough is a tree branch, and it rhymes with cow even though it keeps -ough.

Tip: Trough is the bowl-shaped word that sounds like troff, but the spelling stays -ough.

Tip: Borough hides borough inside it—think of borough as a town word ending in -ough.

Tip: Hiccough is the old spelling for hiccup, and the -ough ending is pronounced like up.

Tip: When you see sloughing, remember the root slough and keep the gh even if the sound changes.

Tip: Ploughman keeps the farm spelling plough, so the whole word preserves the -ough form.

Tip: Boughs is just the plural of bough, so add -s but keep the -ough spelling.

Tip: Boroughs is the plural of borough, and the hidden -ough stays the same in both forms.

Tip: Drought has the same silent gh pattern as though, even though it sounds like drowt.

Tip: Furlough keeps the full -ough ending, like though and through.

Tip: Hough is a rare word, but its spelling still follows the old -ough pattern.

Tip: Scough is uncommon, so the best memory aid is that it ends like cough with an s in front.

Tip: Sloughs is the plural of slough, so the final s is added to the same unusual -ough base.

Tip: Sough is pronounced like suff, but the spelling keeps the traditional -ough ending.

Tip: Thoughtful contains thought, so spelling the root correctly helps you spell the whole adjective.

Tip: Doughnut contains dough, so the middle part reminds you of the bread-like root.

Tip: Roughly is just rough plus -ly, so keep the rough spelling intact.

Tip: Throughout is built from through + out, so the through part tells you how to spell it.

Tip: Although ends with -though, so spotting the word though inside it can prevent mistakes.

Tip: In as though, the key word is though, so keep the silent gh.

Tip: Even though is two words, and the second word is the familiar though.

Tip: This long word is a useful reminder that -ough words often keep old spellings that sound unexpected.

Tip: Sought is the past tense of seek, so connect the spelling to sought, not sought like sort.

Tip: Besought is built on sought, so the middle spelling stays the same even in longer forms.

Tip: Methought is an old-fashioned word, and it keeps the thought family spelling in the middle.

Tip: Wrought rhymes with caught in sound, so its spelling uses the same -ought ending.

Tip: Unthoughtful is just un- plus thoughtful, so preserve the thought spelling inside it.

Tip: Furloughed keeps furlough at its core, so the past tense still shows the old -ough spelling.

Tip: Droughts is the plural of drought, so the final s is added without changing the root spelling.

Tip: If you meet a rare word like boughy, remember that bough keeps the -ough pattern even before another ending.

Tip: Throughline uses the full through spelling at the start, so the root word stays visible.

Tip: Roughen keeps rough inside it, so the spelling clue is to recognize the base word.

Tip: Even when adding endings, enough keeps the same -ough core, which is the safest part to remember.

Tip: Nought means zero, and its spelling matches thought-style -ought with an n in front.

Tip: This word is often mistaken, but the correct form is throughout, combining through + out.

Tip: Foughten is an older form, and the -ought chunk stays intact just like in fought.

Tip: Ploughing keeps the same plough spelling, with -ing simply added to the end.

Tip: Throughput starts with through, so the opening spelling tells you how to keep the whole word.

Tip: It contains ver, not verti: ad-ver-tise.

Tip: Say it slowly: al-go-rithm, with th in the middle.

Tip: It has two s's at the start, like a helpful pair standing together.

Tip: It is calc + ulus; keep the c and the l together at the start.

Tip: It ends with -pus, like a place where people gather on foot.

Tip: Think catalog + ue; the final ue is part of the traditional spelling.

Tip: The word begins with chlor-, the same cluster you see in chlorophyll.

Tip: It contains league at the end, like coworkers on the same team.

Tip: It comes from compare, so keep the a and the r before -ison.

Tip: It builds from computation, so add -al at the end.

Tip: This one keeps the sci cluster: con-sci-ous.

Tip: It ends with -ulum, like a little ladder of letters.

Tip: It is usually one word in modern usage: database.

Tip: Remember gno in the middle, as in diag-no-sis.

Tip: Think different + iate, with the n dropping out.

Tip: It has eco + logy, like the study of living systems.

Tip: It has two f's and a c: ef-fi-cien-cy.

Tip: The base is electric, so the spelling keeps the r before -ical.

Tip: Break it into equi + librium to keep the middle clear.

Tip: It contains perim, as in ex-peri-ment.

Tip: It is fac + ulty, with the u after c.

Tip: It is formula, just like singular words ending in -ula.

Tip: Hear the root import and add -ant: important.

Tip: It ends like reference: in-fer-ence.

Tip: Keep the full -ficient ending, as in sufficient.

Tip: Remember the extra o: la-bo-ra-to-ry.

Tip: See micro + scope; the s comes right before scope.

Tip: Think observe + ation, which preserves the r and v.

Tip: It comes from percent, so keep the cent sound visible in the spelling.

Tip: Think quantity + tive, and keep the full quant- root.

Tip: One r in the middle: ref-er-ence.

Tip: It has two g’s and two a’s: ag-gre-ga-te.

Tip: Think of “ambi-” meaning “both,” and keep the -guous ending together.

Tip: In British spelling, it keeps the -ogue ending, like catalogue.

Tip: Break it into ap-er-ture: one p, then the familiar -ture ending.

Tip: In British spelling, remember art + e + fact: artefact.

Tip: Keep the root bacteria and add -l: bacteri-al.

Tip: See the two parts: bio + chemistry, with chemistry spelled exactly as its own word.

Tip: Think of a botanist studying plants: botany keeps the a in the middle.

Tip: A catalyst has a y only once, right before -st.

Tip: It starts with chron- like chronology’s cousin chronic, not cron-.

Tip: Remember the silent i after c: cir-cuit.

Tip: It has two f’s and the full -ficient ending: co-effi-cient.

Tip: Keep the small -scle ending, like muscle without the mu.

Tip: There are two l’s in crystal and the ending is -graphy, not -ography alone.

Tip: Chunk it: de-oxy + ribo + nucleic; the u comes before the l in nucleic.

Tip: The tricky part is the silent g: dia-phragm.

Tip: Keep the embryo root intact, then add -logy.

Tip: Think epi + demo + logy: studies of populations and disease.

Tip: Start with eu- and keep the y after k: eukaryote.

Tip: Double s, then -ization: fossilization.

Tip: It comes from gene, so keep the e before the t.

Tip: Glucose is built on gluc- plus -ose, the common sugar ending.

Tip: Hear the full middle: hetero + gene + ous, with the e in gene preserved.

Tip: It’s hist- + -ology, like a study of tissues under a microscope.

Tip: Double m in immun- and keep -ization at the end.

Tip: Think of “iso” meaning same and keep the clear -tope ending.

Tip: It comes from micro + scope + y, so the s belongs in scope.

Tip: Split it into neuro + science, and remember science keeps the c.

Tip: Nucleo- + -tide: keep the u and the clear -tide ending.

Tip: There is only one l and one o after the n: an-O-mal-y.

Tip: Think of a library of books: BIBLIO- and -graphy, like writing about books.

Tip: The middle is -mis-, as in CHEM-ISTRY, not -mes-.

Tip: The middle is -sis-: con-sis-tent, just like consistency.

Tip: It comes from define, so keep the e before the -tion ending.

Tip: It comes from evaluate, so keep the eva-lu-ation pattern.

Tip: It begins with exam-, then add -ination like determination.

Tip: The hard part is fluor-; remember it starts like fluorine.

Tip: Keep the u before e: fre-quen-cy.

Tip: Think of letter plus -ature: literature is full of letters.

Tip: It has math at the front and -matics at the end.

Tip: Measure + ment: keep the a from measure in measurement.

Tip: Think obstacle course: the middle is -sta-, not -sti-.

Tip: It begins with para- and ends with -meter, like measuring alongside.

Tip: You predict what is going to happen, so keep predict in predictable.

Tip: It keeps science inside it: sci-en-tif-ic.

Tip: It comes from cell, so keep the double l in cellular.

Tip: Think "chrome" + "some"; the middle is -mo-, not -ma-.

Tip: The verb keeps an s sound but uses an s, so spell it with s: condense.

Tip: Remember the a in dia-: a diagram is something drawn through parts.

Tip: It starts with eco- and ends with system; keep both parts intact.

Tip: Hear the c in electric and keep it in electricity.

Tip: Equation keeps the q-u-a at the start, then -tion at the end.

Tip: Immunity begins with im- and keeps the double m from immune.

Tip: Incident has -cid- in the middle, like something that occurs in a scene.

Tip: Lecture contains lect- like collect, followed by -ure.

Tip: Magnesium keeps the gnes sequence, just like the mineral name sounds.

Tip: Molecule includes the word cell-like ending -cule, as in particle.

Tip: A neuron is a nerve cell, and the spelling keeps the simple -on ending.

Tip: The middle is -yge-, so remember oxygen with y, not i.

Tip: Paradigm ends with -gm, a classic tricky ending worth memorizing as one chunk.

Tip: Pedagogy keeps -gogy, like strategy-style endings in Greek-based words.

Tip: Photo means light, so keep the ph in photograph.

Tip: Quadratic begins with quad-, meaning four, so remember the d after a.

Tip: Research has the base search inside it, with re- in front.

Tip: Statistics keeps the tics at the end, not a single -ics sound.

Tip: Technology starts with tech-, so keep the ch before the nology ending.

Tip: Variable keeps the a in the middle, like vary plus -able.

Tip: The word ends in -chure, like “pressure” has the sh sound but not sh spelling.

Tip: It starts with fahren-, the same opening sound as “far,” but with an h after the n.

Tip: Hear margin + -alia; the first a stays in margin, not an o or e.

Tip: Keep the ï if your style uses it; it marks the two vowels as separate sounds.

Tip: It starts with neut-, like neutral, then adds -rino.

Tip: See quadri- for four and lateral for sides: four-sided figure.

Tip: Say it slowly as aux-il-i-ar-y to keep the vowels in order.

Tip: It ends with -ia, not -ria: bac-te-ri-a.

Tip: The base is interpret, so the middle is -pret-.

Tip: The ch is silent-sounding but must stay: di-cho-to-my.

Tip: Think of sync + chron + ous: the ch helps you hear the time root.

Tip: Think of “journey” hiding inside it: you adjourn when a meeting is sent on to later.

Tip: The word contains amend + -ment, so only one m in amend and one in -ment.

Tip: It comes from appraise, so remember the -s-al ending: appraisal.

Tip: Think of arbiter + -ation; the middle is bit, not brit.

Tip: It keeps the author root, so the spelling starts autho- and ends -ize.

Tip: Hear the full word as bene-fi-ci-ary; the missing i is a common trap.

Tip: It begins with bureau, so keep the full bureaucr- in the middle.

Tip: It contains capable, so keep the a from cap-able before -ity.

Tip: Double the l after cancel: cancel + l + ation = cancellation.

Tip: Hear the category root inside it: categor-ize.

Tip: The middle is me, not ma: c-e-m-e-t-e-r-y.

Tip: It starts with com- plus a double m sound: commence.

Tip: Think of sequence: con-secutive keeps the sec in the middle.

Tip: It ends with -sus, not -cus: con-sen-sus.

Tip: A handy clue: convenient + -ce gives convenience.

Tip: It has two r's at the start: co-rro-bor-ate.

Tip: It keeps the c before the i: dis-ci-pline.

Tip: Think expend + iture; the d comes right after expend.

Tip: It comes from flexible, so keep the i in flexi-bility.

Tip: Remember the pair of vowels at the start: hie- and the -archy ending.

Tip: It starts with im- plus plement; there is no extra i after the p.

Tip: The c is silent but still written: indict-ment.

Tip: Keep the measure root intact: meas-ure-able.

Tip: The t is silent but necessary: mort-gage.

Tip: Think negotiate = nego + tiate; the ti is pronounced like sh.

Tip: Remember the silent a after parl: par-li-a-ment.

Tip: It comes from persevere, so the middle stays ver, not vern or veren.

Tip: Hear pre-judge in it: prejudice has the j sound from jud-.

Tip: Think proceed + ure; the spelling has -ced-, not -sed-.

Tip: It ends like efficiency: pro-fi-cien-cy.

Tip: Remember the double s and one f: pro-fes-sion-al.

Tip: Think of four in the word: quar-an-tine.

Tip: See the word reimburse as re + imburse, with both parts clearly present.

Tip: Break it into reconcile + -ation; the ending is -li-a-tion.

Tip: In American spelling, there is no extra e after the g: acknowl-edg-ment.

Tip: Think of admin + istrative; the middle starts with istr, not str or it.

Tip: It contains benefit, so keep the n and the i: benefici-al.

Tip: The word begins with camera-like cama-, not cam- or com-.

Tip: It has two l's in the middle: colla-teral.

Tip: It comes from confidence, so keep the d in confi-dent-ial.

Tip: The middle is fend, like defend, not fend-ent with an extra e.

Tip: Split it as depart + ment; the t belongs in the first part.

Tip: Remember the full word has ron inside: envi-ron-ment.

Tip: It starts with exec, as in execute, then adds -utive.

Tip: Think of facility: facil-itate keeps only one l.

Tip: It ends with -antee, like warranty’s long cousin: guaran-tee.

Tip: It ends with -dent, just like depend + ent.

Tip: Break it into mis + demeanor; the e-a combination is the clue.

Tip: It shares the -gence ending with words like evidence, so keep -gence.

Tip: Precedent has e before d, while president has i; the spellings are easy to mix up.

Tip: It contains dun, like redundant; keep the a in -dancy.

Tip: It contains sign, so keep the g and the i: sig-nif-i-cant.

Tip: Build it from super + intend + ent, which keeps the n-t in the middle.

Tip: It includes act, as in transact, then adds -ion: trans-action.

Tip: It comes from benefit, so keep the single t in the past tense.

Tip: Fulfill uses one l in full and one more in fill: two l’s total.

Tip: Drop the e from judge when adding -ment.

Tip: Management is built from manage + ment, with the e kept before -ment.

Tip: Personal is one thing; personnel is two n’s because it refers to staff.

Tip: It comes from sign, so the middle vowel is a, not i.

Tip: Surveillance keeps the e in surveil and the double l before -ance.

Tip: Transfer takes one f, but when adding -ed after the stressed syllable, the f doubles.

Tip: Remember it as with + hold, so both parts stay visible.

Tip: Warrant has a double r and ends with -ant, like guaranty-related legal language.

Tip: Break it into as-y-n-chronous: the “chron” part matches time-related chronology.

Tip: It ends like hotel: clientele has two e's in the final syllable.

Tip: Use the money clue: a commission costs one extra m and one extra s.