Spell it if you can

10 words you are probably spelling wrong—and why

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English is far from easy—even native speakers stumble over it! With roots in multiple languages, countless borrowed words, and a wealth of silent letters, English spelling is rarely straightforward. So, don’t feel bad if you often slip up on one of these 10 common spelling mistakes—it’s not entirely your fault. Check to see if you’ve been misspelling any of these words, or just brush up on what you already know!

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Common misspellings: Beauracracy, burocracy

With double vowels, a silent "e," and an unconventional ending, "bureaucracy" has tripped up spellers for centuries. It originates from the French word bureau, which means "desk," and was later adopted into English with the suffix -cracy, from the Greek kratos, meaning power or authority.

The main issue with this word is that, unlike similar terms like democracy, it retains the French "eau" instead of the more common linking of an "o." With such complicated spelling, we can confidently say that it fits its meaning.

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Common misspelling: Mispell

Ah, the irony! Not even "misspell" is safe from its own definition. The origin of this word lies in combining the prefix "mis-," meaning "wrong," with "spell," thus resulting in a letter repetition in the middle. Many miss the double "s" simply because they’re unfamiliar with the rule or feel that one "s" is enough (let’s be frank, maybe it should!).

This common error highlights a key spelling challenge in English: we often use prefixes like "mis-" or "dis-" that create doubled letters when combined with words starting with "s-," but the rules can sometimes be confusing, leading to embarrassing typos—especially for a word about spelling!

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Common misspelling: Pharoah

With silent letters and an unusual "ph" sound, "Pharaoh" is a notorious spelling challenge that many struggle to get right. Originating from the Egyptian word pr-’o, meaning "great house," it underwent several transformations through Greek and Latin before being incorporated into English.

However, unless you're familiar with Ancient Egypt’s monarchy, you can probably be excused for getting this one wrong.

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Common misspelling: Acomodate

Double letters are one of the usual suspects in English spelling—if you're not paying attention, you can easily miss a letter or add one where it isn’t necessary. In this case, the double "c" and "m" in "accommodate" trip up spellers constantly.

The word comes from the Latin accommodare, meaning "to make fit," and it retained its doubling when it entered English. To help remember the correct spelling, think of it as if the extra Cs and Ms need "accommodating" inside the word.

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Common misspelling: Questionair

The term "questionnaire" comes from the French questionnaire and means any type of survey or form that collects responses—just like in English.

Again, the tricky double "n" in "questionnaire" is what throws many off, and to make matters worse, the "e" ending is also quite unusual. Borrowed unchanged from French, this word retained its original structure, which explains its peculiar spelling.

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Common misspellings: Miscellanious, micellaneous

This word’s many vowels and the hard-to-place "s" make it inherently difficult to spell. Derived from Latin miscere, meaning "to mix," "miscellaneous" actually follows Latin word-building conventions, resulting in a challenging combination of letters.

Due to its unconventional vowel usage, length, and Latin phonetics, "miscellaneous" often catches people off guard.

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Common misspelling: Consciencious

"Conscientious" describes someone who’s meticulous or morally aware—a fittingly difficult word for a complex concept. This word blends the Latin roots conscire (to know) and scientia (knowledge), leading to an uncommon combination of "sci" and "tious" in the same word, which often makes it tough to spell.

As with many words that follow non-English spelling norms, it’s surprisingly easy to misspell!

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Common misspelling: Aceptable

"Acceptable" is often misspelled with only one "c," becoming "aceptable" (unacceptable, isn’t it?). Meaning "agreeable" or "satisfactory," "acceptable" follows a Latin-inspired spelling convention that doubles consonants.

The correct spelling comes from the Latin acceptabilis, meaning "worthy of acceptance." It’s the tricky double "c" that most frequently trips people up.

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Common misspelling: Rendevous

A French import, "rendezvous" retains its original spelling, which—naturally—doesn’t follow English phonetics. That would be too easy, wouldn’t it?

Originally a military term for a designated meeting point, this challenging word has a sneaky "z" right in the middle, and a silent "s" at the end, challenging spellers with its unexpected letter arrangement.

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Common misspelling: Cemetary

"Cemetery" is deceptively simple, yet often misspelled with an "a" as "cemetary." The confusion stems from other English words like "elementary" and "commentary" that follow a similar sound pattern but use the "-ary" suffix instead of "-ery."

This term comes from the Greek koimeterion, meaning "sleeping place," via Latin. Despite its somber meaning, it’s one of the most commonly misspelled words.

Knock on wood

You're probably guilty of some: 10 unlucky habits and symbols!

We don't want to alarm you, but there are a huge number of habits, actions, words, objects, and even calendar dates that, according to various traditions, can bring bad luck. You probably already know it's best to be extra cautious with mirrors and avoid walking under a ladder, but other "unlucky" items and actions might surprise you. In fact, chances are you're doing some of them without knowing it! If you want to avoid misfortune, check out these 10 things commonly thought to cause bad luck. Keep your fingers crossed!

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The world of sailing is steeped in customs, beliefs, and superstitions. It's understandable; the sea can be unpredictable, so seeking ways to attract or preserve good fortune makes sense.

One long-standing superstition, which has been around for centuries, claims that changing the name of a boat brings extreme bad luck. According to this tradition, replacing the name is believed to anger the spirits that protect the boat, bringing tragedy to whoever dares to do it.

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While it's always nice to give and receive gifts, there are some restrictions when it comes to luck.

According to many traditions, giving knives as gifts is a bad idea: the object is said to "cut" the bond between the giver and the receiver, distancing them emotionally. However, another custom has emerged as a solution to this belief! If a friend gives you a nice cooking knife, you can simply give them a penny or some other coin in return. The small amount of money turns the gift into a "transaction," effectively warding off bad fortune.

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Many people set a specific day each week to change the sheets. Some prefer to do it on Mondays, to start the week fresh, while others prefer to leave that task for the weekend. Sadly, we have to announce bad news for those in the latter group.

Some cultures around the world consider it bad luck to flip your mattress or change your sheets on weekends, especially on Sundays. This superstition is linked to the meaning of Sunday in many religions, where it's seen as a day of rest and reflection.

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No one can deny the mesmerizing beauty of a rainbow. Something about this phenomenon amazes us and makes us all want to look at it, admire it, and take pictures of it.

But some traditions warn us that pointing at a rainbow can cause bad luck. In fact, according to some beliefs, misfortune could particularly affect the pointing finger, causing it to rot, swell, bend, or even become paralyzed!

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Bad luck doesn't always appear unexpectedly; it sometimes warns you beforehand. But how?

According to this belief, a bad omen can manifest through your body, particularly your nose. While sneezing is a common and everyday act, it is believed to be a sign of misfortune if it happens on the first day of the month or right before starting an important task or process. But don't worry! There's also a solution. Believers claim that you can protect yourself with the famous "bless you."

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We love birthdays! Celebrating another year with the people you love is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful moments. But even in these instants of joy, you have to watch your luck.

Superstition recommends that you should be patient and wait until after midnight to wish a loved one a happy birthday. According to this belief, wishing someone a happy birthday too early can tempt fate. Just in case, let's not take any chances!

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What do you do with your bag or backpack as soon as you enter a place? While most of us hang it up, some might simply place it on the floor. If you're superstitious, it's best to avoid the latter!

It's believed that leaving your backpack, purse, or wallet on the floor invites financial misfortune. Specifically, it's said that this gesture drives away money and abundance, and who would want that, right?

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Unlike your bag, your shoes should always stay on the floor. Or, at least, tucked away in a closet or shoe cabinet. But why?

Shoes are constantly in contact with the ground and the dirt on it. For that reason, it's said that putting shoes on a clean surface—such as a table or countertop—can bring bad luck to the owner of the shoes.

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Often, when we're in a good mood, we go around the house singing, dancing, or whistling. No one can deny that it's great fun, right? However, one of these actions comes with a superstition.

According to many cultures, whistling indoors can have serious consequences. It’s said to attract evil spirits and negative energies into the house. Do you believe it? Just in case, we'll be saving the whistling for open spaces!

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There is a widespread belief among sailors and those who frequent the sea, though it's little known to the general public.

Many ingredients and foods are brought onto boats. However, one fruit is specifically avoided: bananas. It's considered bad luck to bring bananas on board a ship. According to some historians, this belief may have originated because bananas are among the first fruits to spoil, attracting insects and pests.