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 a few mnemonics, shortcuts and phrases 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 -

FRIEND

Five Red Indians Eating Nuts Downstairs

Meggan & Justin Robertson

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

or

Friends end in end.

Amante Darmanin

Friday is the end of the school week.                                                                       Luan Carter

 

ANSWER

RHYTHM  

Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move

or

Rhythm Has Your Two Hips Moving                                                                     Amante Darmanin)

SIGNIFICANT

SIGN IF I CAN'T

Amber Patupis-Retsas

CARRIAGE

Carry A Royal Rooster In A Gold Egg

JAMES and Tracey Glendinning-Smith

CHURCH 

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

Amante Darmanin

GEOGRAPHY

Rhonda Courtney

CEMETERY

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"!

DESSERT

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".

Darcy has sent in the following comments -

Remembering the difference on how to spell dessert and desert. One usually wants seconds of dessert so there are 2 s's. One usually wants less desert (I know I do, I live in one) so there is only one s.

PRINCIPAL

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'. 

DIARRHOEA

Diana

I have a feeling the children are going to remember this one although I appreciate it could be somewhat distasteful to some (sorry)

Doesn't It Always Really Run Horribly Over Each Ankle

Sarah Brown

QUEEN

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

Nikki Chaplin

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

or

Betty Eats Cake And Uncle Sells Eggs

Meggan & Justin Robertson

or

BEC Always Uses Silly Excuses

Loretta

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PRACTICE / PRACTISE

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

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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

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

Moe

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PractICE - I went to the doctor’s practice and he put ice on my leg.

Ice is in practice.

Debbie Aicken

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STATIONERY / STATIONARY

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.

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StationAry - StAnd still

StationEry - PEns, PEncils

Moe

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