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Punkybrewster Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

What are the most difficult English words to spell?

Let us know what you think are the most difficult English words to spell. Try not to include words such as phuemonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoiosis, but rather words we do use every once in a while.
Looking forward to getting some feedback, we're planning to write an article about it Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

I've worked in both American English and British English situations. To me, (a native speaker) difficulties arise in applying the different spelling rules correctly. I can imagine that learners would also be confused by the different spelling paradigms.

— AlpheccaStars

  • I've worked in both American English and British English situations.
  • To me, (a native speaker) difficulties arise in applying the different spelling rules correctly.
  • I can imagine that learners would also be confused by the different spelling paradigms.
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29 Answers
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I've worked in both American English and British English situations.

To me, (a native speaker) difficulties arise in applying the different spelling rules correctly. I can imagine that learners would also be confused by the different spelling paradigms.
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You mean other than grammar? Some of the ones I always have to experiment with:

cemetery
weird
conscientious
bizarre

occurrence

ventriloquy
onomatopoeia
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The words that I often misspell are:

necessary
embarrass
maneuver

.... hmm that's all I can think of right now.
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I find these quite hard ...

Separate
Definitely
wierd

...and I'm English!
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luxurous, dinosaur, receive, excerciseEmotion: big smile
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I'm Vietnamese and these words are difficult:

Circumstance
Cemetery
Emphasize
Embarrass
Psychology...
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I'll throw in a couple more

Specious (usually it's uou)

Obsequious

They're not used often though
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AnonymousI find these quite hard ...

wierd

...and I'm English!
Weird! Emotion: wink
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Dear comrades, fellow forumsmen and forumswomen! (Nothing political, friends)

For the students to be aware of all the intricacies of English spelling (which, in fact, can scarcely be regarded as a regular system with a transparent set of rules), they need to be guided to use fundamental, authoritative works on the subject, such as the American Spelling book by Noah Webster,
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Anonymousexcercise
I usually spell this word (exercise) that way! Emotion: stick out tongue

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