Misspelled words can make you appear careless, less competent, and unprofessional. One survey found that 43% of hiring managers discard resumes with spelling errors, while another revealed that 79% of recruiters consider spelling and grammatical mistakes major deal breakers.
Getting your spelling right is crucial to maintain a polished and professional image. Here’s a comprehensive list of commonly misspelled words you should watch out for.
Accommodate
Misspelled as: Acommodate, accomodate
Accommodate is frequently misspelled due to its double “c” and “m.” Remember that it has room to accommodate both pairs of letters. It’s one of those words that, if misspelled, can quickly undermine your credibility, especially in formal writing.
Definitely
Misspelled as: Definately, definitley
A common misspelling because the word “definite” often leads people astray. It’s definitely not as hard as it looks—just remember there’s no “a” in “definitely.” It is one of the most commonly misspelled words.
Separate
Misspelled as: Seperate
A simple trick to get this right is to remember that “a rat” is separate from others. This mnemonic helps ensure you don’t fall into the common trap of using an “e” instead of an “a.”
Occurrence
Misspelled as: Occurence, ocurrence
Double letters often trip people up. Occurrence has two “c”s and two “r”s. Correcting this spelling can make your records appear more reliable and professional when documenting events or incidents.
Publicly
Misspelled as: Publically
Despite its phonetic sound, “publicly” omits the extra “a” that many mistakenly add. Spelling this correctly in professional communication, especially when addressing public statements or information, ensures your message is taken seriously.
Embarrass
Misspelled as: Embarass, embarras
Remember that the word is embarrassed by its own double “r” and “s.” Misspelling this word can ironically lead to embarrassing situations, particularly in formal documents or emails.
Consensus
Misspelled as: Concensus
There’s no “c” in consensus after the initial “con.” Achieving consensus is crucial in professional settings, and spelling it correctly reinforces your authority on the matter.
Supersede
Misspelled as: Supercede
While it may sound like “cede,” the correct spelling is supersede with an “s.” This word is often used in legal and corporate environments, and spelling it correctly can avoid misunderstandings.
Liaison
Misspelled as: Liason
This French-origin word contains two “i”s, not one. Given the role of a liaison in connecting people or groups, spelling it correctly reflects your attention to detail in such crucial tasks.
Privilege
Misspelled as: Priviledge, privelege
Despite what it sounds like, there’s no “d” in privilege. Recognizing and spelling privilege correctly, especially in HR and legal documents, underscores your precision in language use.
Calendar
Misspelled as: Calender
It’s easy to get mixed up, but remember that a calendar is a timekeeper, not a machine that coats paper (a calender). In scheduling and planning contexts, this distinction is vital.
Necessary
Misspelled as: Neccessary, necesary
The trick is to remember it’s necessary to have one “c” and two “s”s. This word often appears in formal documents, making its correct spelling essential for professionalism.
Acknowledgment
Misspelled as: Acknowledgement
In American English, it’s common to drop the “e” before the “ment.” Proper acknowledgment in reports or emails demonstrates respect and correctness.
Entrepreneur
Misspelled as: Entreprenuer, entrepeneur
A challenging word due to its French roots. It starts with “entre” and ends with “preneur.” For business professionals, spelling this correctly can enhance your credibility.
Jewelry
Misspelled as: Jewellry, jewelery
In American English, it’s simply jewelry, not jewellry. This is important for those in the fashion and retail industries where precision matters.
Misspell
Misspelled as: Mispell
Ironically, misspell is often misspelled. It has a double “s.” Ensuring you don’t misspell “misspell” shows your attention to linguistic details.
Questionnaire
Misspelled as: Questionaire, questionnare
The word has two “n”s in the middle. Correct spelling is crucial in survey and research documentation to maintain professionalism.
Referred
Misspelled as: Refered
Remember, when referring to something, you double the “r.” In referral letters and recommendations, accuracy in spelling is key.
Recommend
Misspelled as: Reccomend, recomend
It’s essential to recommend with a double “c.” In endorsements and suggestions, this correct spelling is a mark of reliability.
Judgment
Misspelled as: Judgement
In American English, the correct form is judgment, without the “e” after “g.” In legal and evaluative contexts, this spelling is particularly important.
Rhythm
Misspelled as: Rythm
Rhythm, often misspelled due to its unusual consonant cluster, is critical in contexts ranging from music to daily routines.
Maintenance
Misspelled as: Maintenence, maintanance
Keeping maintenance logs or notes correct can ensure professional documentation.
Playwright
Misspelled as: Playwrite
Despite sounding like “write,” playwright is correct. This is important for those in literary fields.
Bureaucracy
Misspelled as: Beaurocracy, bureacracy
Essential for government or corporate documents, bureaucracy must be spelled correctly to maintain a formal tone.
