Accurate spelling matters in exams and in life. Common errors in teenage writing include definately (definitely), seperate (separate), occurence (occurrence), accomodate (accommodate) and embarass (embarrass).
Some advanced words have unusual spellings: conscientious, millennium, liaison and acquiesce. Learn them by breaking them into parts and spotting patterns: ac + quiesce; mill + ennium (Latin mille, thousand; annus, year).
In timed writing, leave a few minutes to proofread. Read slowly, focusing on each word rather than the meaning.
Worked example
Which is correct: occurence, occurrence or ocurrence?
- Occur ends in a stressed syllable with one r.
- Double the r before -ence: occurr + ence.
Answer:occurrence
Key words
- proofread
- check carefully for errors
- high-frequency
- used very often
- pattern
- a regular way of spelling
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: L.9-10.2c