Ways to remember how to spell tricky words.

Ways to remember those tricky words.

In the English language there are several words which are so similar it can be difficult to remember which one you use or even how to spell them. Each person will, of course, experience problems with different words. Here are just a few I have come across, but I am sure you will have some of your own, so please let us know. Send them into us at june@hintsandthings.co.uk so we can add them to this page and help others -

RHYTHM - Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move

Rhythm Has Your Two Hips Moving (Amante Darmanin)

Amante Darmanin also suggests the following way to remember how to spell CHURCH

CH on the right CH on the left and (you are) U R in the middle.

Rhonda Courtney has sent in this way to remember the spelling of the word GEOGRAPHY:-

Gary Eats Old Grey Rats And Paints House Yellow

or Amante Darmanin suggests

George Eliot's old grandmother rode a pig home yesterday.

Maxine Dorot has kindly shared the following tricks with us:-

People frequently spell "cemetery" with an 'a', in order to spell it correctly, simply remember that late at night all the ghosts come and and go "eeeeeeeee"!
Can't remember how many s's there are in the word "dessert" (pudding), well just think, when you eat dessert you always want "one more".
In the U.S. (and sometimes in the U.K.) the headmaster is called the Principal. To remind you that the ending of this word is 'p-a-l' and not 'p-l-e' remember he/she is your 'pal'.

The word principle means a personal code of conduct or fundamental truth.

Diana suggests the following way to remember the word "diarrhoea" -

Dash In A Real Rush, Hurry Or Else Accident!

Nikki Chaplin has sent in the following two tips used by her children -

To remind children that a Q is followed by the letter U - the Queen always carries an Umbrella.

BECAUSE - Big Elephants Can Add Up Sums Easily

or

Big Elephants Can't Always Use Small Exits!

Caroline Noon

or

Big Elephants Cause Accidents Under Small Elephants

Gillian Jackson

or

Big elephants can always understand small elephants.

Amante Darmanin

To distinguish between PRACTISE (verb) and PRACTICE (noun)
think of ADVISE and ADVICE. To ADVISE is the verb so PRACTISE is the verb.

Jordan Walters

To distinguish PRACTICE (noun) from PRACTISE (verb) and

ADVICE (noun) from ADVISE (verb),

just remember that ICE is a noun and IS is a verb.

John Mihaljevic

PractiSe - verb, spelt with an s, S for sports.

Moe

STATIONERY meaning paper and Envelopes

Mary Ihla

STATIONARY meaning "not moving"

This can be remembered if you think of "E" stands for Envelopes, therefore, Stationery with an "e" is paper etc. and a CAR not moving, therefore, the word meaning "still" ends in ARY.

StationAry - StAnd still

StationEry - PEns, PEncils

Moe

THEIR meaning "belonging to them".

THERE meaning "in that place"

This can be remembered by "HERE and THERE", therefore, "in that place" is the one ending in the word "here".

STALAGMITE meaning a deposit of calcium carbonate formed by the dripping of water into the shape of a large inverted icicle rising from the floor of a cave.

STALACTITE meaning a deposit of calcium carbonate formed by the trickling of water from the roof of a cave.

There are several ways to remember which is which -

Remember this by a stalagmite pushes up with all it's might and a stalactite holds on tight to the roof.

Perhaps an easier way to remember these has been sent in by Vineet -

STALAGMITE      - From the Ground

STALACTITE       - From the Ceiling

Or as Alan Ashmole suggests StalagMites Mount

A slightly risqué method of remembering the difference between stalaGmites and stalaCtites.

Gee, the mites fly up and see the tights fall down!

(I would point out to non-English English speakers that tights are pantyhose).

In fabric which direction do the warp and weft run.

WEFT goes left to right across the fabric.

WARP goes vertically top to bottom.

Weft = left to right, therefore, warp must be top to bottom.

NECESSARY

It is NECESSARY to have one (C)ollar and two (S)leeves

Katie Sassoon

Or you can use the following phrases to remember how to spell this word.

Never Eat Cucumber Eat Salmon Sandwiches And Remain Young

or

Never Eat Crisps Eat Salad Sandwiches And Remain Young

Jaimie Ramsay

or

Never Eat Chips Eat Salad Sandwiches And Raspberry Yoghurt. Unlike the variants on your web site, this carries a very sensible health message that does not breach trade description legislation!

or

Never Eat Cress Eat Salad Sandwiches And Remain Youthful.

or

A vicar has one collar and two socks. - NECESSARY

Amante Darmanin

I can't guarantee the sandwiches work, but hope the phrases help!

ARITHMETIC - another phrase -

A Red Indian Thought He Might Eat Toffee In Church

Kate Williams.

It has been brought to my notice that the term "Red Indian" is offensive to some people so perhaps the following is a less sensitive alternative.

A Rat In The House May Eat The Ice Cream

Don't forget if you have any of these little "tricks" or your own, please share them with the rest of us.

A way to remember how to spell DIFFICULTY sent in by Fiona Flynn

Mrs D, Mrs I, Mrs FFI, Mrs C, Mrs U, Mrs LTY

Amante Darmanin also sent in the following suggestions:-

FRIEND

If you "fri" your friend he'll come to an "end".

or

Friends end in end.

BELIEVE/BELIEF

There is a lie in the middle of believe and belief

SECRETARY

A Secretary has a secret.

ACCOMMODATION

Two cots need two mattresses in any accommodation.

SEPARATE

There is a rat in separate.

or

There is a parachute in separate.

MANOEUVRE

Old elephants usually manoeuvre poorly.

BUSINESS

You take the bus to business.

Other examples can be see here!