# What words do you ALWAYS misspell? Be honist! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069 "2002-06-26T17:48:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Daerlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Daerlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daerlyn)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/21 "2002-06-27T13:11:57Z")
I rarely misspell things . . . mistype, on the other hand . . . Oi. ---
**Author:** ![Pigtails](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecae2f/32.png) [@Pigtails](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pigtails)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/22 "2002-06-27T15:21:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hello Again \* > \*\*I have a real problem with its/it’s. It’s awful (did I get that right?). I also chronically misspell “wierd.” I remember, when I was a kid away at summer camp, my friend Becca writing to me and asking me to use “strange” instead, because my frequent misspelling drove her nuts. 🙂 \*\* That’s “weird,” unless you were joking when you spelled it “ie” (in which case, my bad). ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/23 "2002-06-27T22:56:55Z")
nickle/nickel, pick one I was the only child in the fourth grade class to miss this one on a spelling test and the humiliation has made me unable to do le/el words at all lable table label tabel HELP ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/24 "2002-06-28T01:04:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sublight \* > **separate or seperate, I always have to look it up.** I was taught as a child to remember that there’s “a rat” in separate. Helps. Me? I spell cancelled with two l’s and spellcheckers have fits with it, though the dictionary says it’s ok… ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/25 "2002-06-28T02:02:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hello Again \* > I have a real problem with its/it’s. This is (by a wide margin) the most common problem that I encounter. And it’s strange that it should be, because it’s one of the easiest things to remember: it’s (with apostrophe) = it is (always, without fail) So, if you’re trying to say “it is”, use “it’s”; otherwise, it’s “its”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/26 "2002-06-28T03:01:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xema \* > it’s (with apostrophe) = it is (always, without fail) > > So, if you’re trying to say “it is”, use “it’s”; otherwise, it’s “its”. “It’s” can also mean “it has” as in “It’s been a long time.” The words I misspell is too long to list. I hate spelling. Virtually yours, **DrMatrix** ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/27 "2002-06-28T03:21:33Z")
I always spell **originally** wrong. I tend to spell it **origionally**. Not entirely sure why? ---
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/28 "2002-06-28T03:42:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lno \* > \*\*Every other word, though, just comes out naturally and _feels_ wrong if I mistype it. \*\* _Nods knowingly_ My teen friends drive me nuts because they type that… that… cyber-teen-speak way, and I can’t help but notice _every single one_ of their “mistakes”. I just _know_ it’s wrong, whether it’s me or them, and it grates on my nerves… :mad: Mayberrydan, I do that too, especially when I’m writing - maybe because that’s almost how I pronounce it? (I tend to remember how to spell by pronouncing the words mentally) I also spell Buddha “Bhudda” for some reason… again, stupid mental pronounciations. “Weird” trips me up a lot too… it just looks “wierd” both ways. Worse yet, when I’m typing in a hurry and turn it into “wired”, which usually makes absolutely no sense in context. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/29 "2002-06-28T06:38:24Z")
I feel so much better now, knowing I’m not the only one that screws up “weird”. And I also tend to use "strange’ instead! I misspelled “tomorrow” until earlier this year. I always spelled it “tomarrow” and never even realized it was wrong. I also occasionally mistype desperate and separate–I had to fix separate just now. ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/30 "2002-06-28T07:33:19Z")
“wheather, weather, whether?” always mistype “teh, the” I used to have a problem with together until I realised its just “to get her” joined together 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@kase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kase)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/31 "2002-06-28T11:53:16Z")
I hardly dare open my mouth. My English is bad. Thanks for the “its” vs. “it’s” Also; can anyone help me with “off” vs. “of”? Thanks 🙂 \*To pronounce, I have difficulties with the word “everything”. I haven’t the slightest why. \* ---
**Author:** ![Broodha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Broodha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broodha)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/32 "2002-06-28T13:17:13Z")
Great responses! Here are a couple more of my word enemies: _Rhyme_: What is the deal with the H - Y - M baloney? Oh yeah - _Baloney/Bologna_ _Familiar_ and _Similar_: I cannot remember which has the “lar” and which has the “liar” Anyway, that’s enough honisty for now… ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/33 "2002-06-28T13:38:42Z")
I KNOW there’s a rat in separate, but I still think that separate and seperate are two different words with different pronunciations and should therefore be spelled differently. \*Those are two _separate_ things. and \*I need to _seperate_ those two children. See? To me, that makes sense, and it took me forever to get it into my head that I’m wrong (and deep in my heart I still think I’m right despite all evidence to the contrary.) I rarely have trouble with other homophones or homonyms, so go figure. As for “off” and “of” – off is pronounced OFF, as in get OFF the sofa. Of is pronounced OV as in she’s one OF them. Does that help, **kase**? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/34 "2002-06-28T13:47:56Z")
receive. or, possibly, _rec **ie** ve_. I forget. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@kase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kase)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/35 "2002-06-28T14:14:54Z")
Hey! Yes! Thanks **LifeOnWry** 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/36 "2002-06-28T21:43:09Z")
I’m an excellent speller and grammarian. Always have been. And yet, whenever I write the word “embarrass,” I have to pause and think: one R or two? For similar reasons, I also have to think about “sheriff” and “graffiti.” Other than those, I’m golden. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/37 "2002-06-29T00:25:11Z")
It’s comforting to see quite a few people are in the same boat as me - generally pretty good at spelling, but with just one or two strange and inexplicable blank spots. Mine include words like ‘independent’ which I tend to end with ‘-ant’ instead of ‘-ent’. I have to catch myself and correct the error each time. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/38 "2002-06-29T12:51:04Z")
I was having trouble with “guarantee” until Sapphire Bullet set me straight…now when spelling it I repeat in my head “I guarantee there are no e’s until the end of that word.” Maintanance…maintanence? Maintenence? Maintenance? One of those is right. I’m damned if I know which one. Because comes out Becasue for me all the time, too. I know how to spell it; that one’s purely typographical. There are, of course, the quickly mistyped “teh” and “og” words… And “occuring” always has two r’s when I type it. Except here. Occurring. And half the time I put two c’s AND two v’s in “vacuum” (so…“vaccuum”) because I never used to remember which letter was doubled so I always doubled both. I suppose I figured you can’t have too much of a good thing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/39 "2002-06-29T13:28:30Z")
**aparrently**. I never can remember if it’s the p or the r (or both) that gets doubled. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069/40 "2002-06-29T13:44:45Z")
I always misspell “excersise” and “suprise”. What really annoys me about those words is that I misspell them in a way that spellcheckers generally cannot find, and it takes a few tries before I can get the correct spelling to pop up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-misspell-be-honist/116069.md?page=3)