Commonly Mispelled Words

Which sentence uses the correctly spelled word?

• Please seperate the recyclables from the trash.

• We need to separate the white clothes from the colored ones.

• Let's seporate into groups for the project.

• Can you seperat the eggs from the flour?

Answer explanation

The correct spelling is 'separate'. A common trick to remember this is that there is 'a rat' in sep-a-rat-e. The other options use common misspellings.

Which sentence correctly completes the thought: "My friends are coming over later..."?

• ...their excited to see the new game.

• ...they're bringing their own controllers.

• ...we will play over they're.

• ...I hope there day was good.

Answer explanation

'They're' is a contraction for 'they are,' while 'their' is possessive. This sentence correctly uses both: 'they're' (they are) bringing 'their' (possessive) controllers.

Match each commonly confused word to its correct meaning or usage.

• Not including; other than

• principle

• A fundamental rule or belief

• affect

• To influence or change (verb)

• except

Answer explanation

'Affect' is a verb meaning to influence. 'Principle' is a noun for a rule or belief. 'Except' is a preposition meaning 'not including.' These are often confused with 'effect' (a noun), 'principal' (a person), and 'accept' (to receive).

Sort these words based on their double letter patterns. Categories: Has Two Sets of Double Letters, Has One Set of Double Letters.

Groups:

(a) Has Two Sets of Double Letters

,

(b) Has One Set of Double Letters

• recommend

• tomorrow

• committee

• accommodate

• necessary

• occasion

Answer explanation

Words like 'accommodate' (cc, mm), 'committee' (mm, tt), and 'recommend' (cc, mm) have two sets of double letters. 'Necessary', 'tomorrow', and 'occasion' each have only one set.

Which sentence uses the word 'conscience' correctly?

• After falling, he was not conscience for several minutes.

• My conscience told me that lying was the wrong thing to do.

• She made a conscience effort to be on time for class.

• I am very conscience of the noise I'm making.

Answer explanation

'Conscience' (noun) refers to your inner sense of right and wrong. 'Conscious' (adjective) means being awake or aware. The correct sentence uses 'conscience' to describe a moral guide.

Match each misspelled word on the left to its correct spelling on the right.

• surprise

• goverment

• definitely

• suprise

• weird

• wierd

• government

• definately

Answer explanation

Each word on the left is a common misspelling. The correct spellings are 'weird' (an exception to the 'i before e' rule), 'definitely' (contains 'finite'), 'government' (includes 'n'), and 'surprise' (starts with 'sur-').

Which sentence uses the correct word to show that the dog is happy?

• The dog is wagging it's tail.

• Its a very happy dog.

• The dog is wagging its tail.

• Its wagging it's tail.

Answer explanation

'Its' is a possessive pronoun that shows ownership (the tail belongs to it). 'It's' is a contraction for 'it is.' The sentence correctly uses 'its' to show the tail belongs to the dog.

Which of the following words is spelled correctly?

• neccessary

• necesary

• necessary

• neccesary

Answer explanation

The correct spelling is 'necessary'. A helpful mnemonic is that a shirt has one 'c'ollar and two 's'leeves.

Sort these sentences based on which word ('to', 'too', or 'two') should be used in the blank. Categories: Needs 'to', Needs 'too', Needs 'two'.

Groups:

(a) Needs 'to'

,

(b) Needs 'too'

,

(c) Needs 'two'

• She has ___ dogs.

• We are going ___ the park.

• I ate ___ much pizza.

• Can I come along, ___?

Answer explanation

'To' is a preposition indicating direction. 'Too' means 'also' or 'excessively.' 'Two' is the number 2. Each sentence requires a different homophone to be correct.

Which of the following sentences has no spelling errors?

• I will definately be there to help you move.

• Their going to the movies without us.

• He has alot of homework to finish tonight.

• The weather will certainly affect the game's outcome.

Answer explanation

This sentence is spelled correctly. The other options contain common errors: 'definately' should be 'definitely', 'Their' should be 'They're' (they are), and 'alot' should be two words, 'a lot'.