Hardest common words for you to spell

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges participants face with spelling various words in English. It includes personal anecdotes, specific words that cause difficulty, and reflections on spelling rules and exceptions. The scope encompasses both general spelling challenges and specific examples, with contributions from both native and non-native English speakers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention specific words they struggle to spell, such as "maintenance," "ecstasy," "conscience," and "entrepreneur."
  • One participant humorously notes their difficulty with "hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia," the fear of long words.
  • Confusion between "choose" and "chose" is highlighted by a non-native speaker, who also struggles with "advise" and "advice."
  • Several participants express challenges with bureaucratic words and the "i before e" rule, noting exceptions.
  • Discussions arise around the spelling of "miniscule," with some arguing it is widely accepted despite being historically incorrect.
  • Participants share personal mnemonics and strategies for remembering difficult spellings.
  • Some express frustration with spelling variations between UK and US English, particularly with words like "aluminum" and "neighbor."
  • Words with double letters, such as "cinnamon" and "tomorrow," are noted as problematic by multiple participants.
  • One participant discusses the historical evolution of the word "want" and its changing meanings.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share their individual experiences and challenges with spelling, but no consensus is reached on which words are the hardest or on the rules governing spelling. Multiple competing views and personal anecdotes remain throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention specific spelling rules and exceptions, but these are not universally agreed upon. The discussion reflects a variety of personal experiences and does not resolve the complexities of English spelling.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in language, spelling challenges, and the nuances of English orthography may find this discussion relevant.

  • #121
jack action said:
tsk? Or the big reference on the web comes from the book "Misoso: Once Upon a Time Tales from Africa", by Verna Aardema who uses tlick. Though, I think it is to define the clicking sound heard in some African languages.
What about G-up or Giddy-up?
 
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  • #122
Stephen Tashi said:
"Dining" as in "dining room". I often spell it "dinning" and the spell checkers don't object.
The double consonant after an i vowel usually changes the vowel's sound, and similar for some other vowels, although I can't think of any examples.

So slimer (think Ghostbusters) would be pronounced differently from slimmer -- long i in the first, and short i in the second. Another example would be griper vs. gripper, or miler vs. miller.
 
  • #123
Mark44 said:
The double consonant after an i vowel usually changes the vowel's sound, and similar for some other vowels, although I can't think of any examples.
An example would be 'below' and 'bellow'. Also 'folic' and 'follow'.
 
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  • #124
lieutenant
 
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  • #125
TIL, cleidoic meaning of an egg. : enclosed in a relatively impervious shell which reduces free exchange with the environment. The eggs of birds are cleidoic.
 
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  • #126
Hornbein said:
lieutenant
Not so hard if you understand the origin...
https://www.etymonline.com/word/lieutenant said:
from Old French lieu tenant "substitute, deputy," literally "place holder" (14c.), from lieu "place" (see lieu) + tenant, present participle of tenir "to hold,"
 
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  • #127
Mark44 said:
Not so hard if you understand the origin...
So a lieutenant is a substitute for a leader.
 
  • #128
Hornbein said:
So a lieutenant is a substitute for a leader.
In the Army, not only a Lieutenant, but a Sergeant or a Corporal or a Private First Class, can and should, if he's of the highest rank still alive, take command on the field of battle.
 
  • #129
sysprog said:
In the Army, not only a Lieutenant, but a Sergeant or a Corporal or a Private First Class, can and should, if he's of the highest rank still alive, take command on the field of battle.
Maybe so, but thanks to Mark44 and his mnemonic, I will never again not know how to spell lieutenant.

(Now if only there were a mnemonic for spelling lieu...
 
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  • #130
DaveC426913 said:
Maybe so, but thanks to Mark44 and his mnemonic, I will never again not know how to spell lieutenant.
It wasn't a mnemonic -- what I gave was the etymology.
DaveC426913 said:
(Now if only there were a mnemonic for spelling lieu...
Isn't French one of the two main languages where you are? Lieu is a French word that's now part of English.
 
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  • #131
Mark44 said:
It wasn't a mnemonic -- what I gave was the etymology.
Fair enough. I'm using it as a mnemonic.

Mark44 said:
Isn't French one of the two main languages where you are? Lieu is a French word that's now part of English.
Why would you think I'm any better at spelling in French than in English? :wink:
 
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  • #132
Hornbein said:
So a lieutenant is a substitute for a leader.
Right, like when you see "Lieutenant Governor"
 
  • #133
Greg Bernhardt said:
There are some words even though not really difficult often require me to spell check in Google. For me it's "maintenance", "ecstasy", "conscience", "entrepreneur", "unnecessary".

"Necessary" is a problem child of mine. But then again English is my second language. (Which doesn't prevent me from beating the natives in scrabble. I don't know who(m?) that says most about? Probably the small weird (weird small?) 2-3 letter words no one ever use(s?).
 
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