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Spelling – WJECCommon spelling errors and strategies

English spelling can be tricky to master, partly because of the many influences on the English language over time. Luckily, there are strategies to help you remember correct spellings.

Part of English LanguageSpelling, punctuation and grammar

Common spelling errors and strategies

There are many ways to help you remember how to spell words. If you repeatedly misspell a word, then spend some time learning and practising it so you can easily recall the correct spelling in future. Accurate spelling helps to ensure that your intended meaning is carried through your writing.

Try out the following methods to master your spelling.

Mnemonics

A is a tool that helps your memory to retrieve information you have stored in it. In spelling you might use a pattern, rhyme or saying to help you recall the way a word is put together.

For example, a mnemonic for remembering ‘necessary’ could be:

“It’s necessary that a shirt has one collar and two s𱹱.”

Finding words within words is another way to create a mnemonic.

For example, ‘Emma faced a dilemma’ might help you remember that there are two m’s in ‘dilemma’.

Another mnemonic involves creating an . These work best when you have invented them yourself.

For example:

Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants’ the initial letters form the word BECAUSE.

Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move’ is a useful way to remember RHYTHM.

Hear with your ear

Another way of remembering a tricky spelling is to sound the word out. By doing this, you break down the way the word is structured and this makes it easier to remember.

For example, you might break down the word ‘friend’ to 'fri-end' to remind you that the 'i' comes before the 'e'.