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. What is the ONE word you can never spell correctly?”
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.