Many students often make spelling mistakes due to confusion or uncertainty about the correct spellings of certain words. These spelling errors can be costly in the IELTS exam as they contribute to the overall number of errors in your writing tasks.

Some students struggle to overcome spelling errors and find it challenging to eliminate them. These mistakes may include missing or incorrectly using single or double letters in words.

Let’s explore the common types of spelling errors students make so that you can learn from these mistakes and avoid making them:

Common Spelling Errors:

1. Single/Double Letters:

Sometimes, you may be unsure whether a word requires a single letter or double letters. For example:

Embarasment – Incorrect

Embarrassment – Correct

2. Silent Letters:

In English, certain letters may be silent when pronouncing a word, but they must still be included when writing. For example:

Hankerchief – Incorrect

Handkerchief – Correct

3. Position of ‘i’ and ‘e’:

Certain words require the letters ‘i’ and ‘e’ to be placed in a specific order. In some words, ‘i’ comes before ‘e,’ while in others, it is the reverse. For example:

Recieve – Incorrect

Receive – Correct

4. Confusion with ‘or’ and ‘er’:

Some words end with ‘or,’ while others use ‘er.’ It’s easy to get confused, so be careful with these words. For example:

Travellor – Incorrect

Traveller – Correct

5. Writing How You Speak:

As a non-native speaker, you may unintentionally borrow words from your native language or pronounce words with a local accent, leading to incorrect spellings. For example:

Modren – Incorrect

Modern – Correct

6. Words That Sound Similar:

Many words in the English language sound alike but have different meanings. This similarity can result in spelling mistakes. For example:

Accept/Except

Accept – Kindly accept my apology.

Except – I work every day except Sunday.

Their/There/They’re

Their friends are really good people.

There are many friends of mine.

They’re my friends, and I love them.

How to Avoid Spelling Errors:

There are effective strategies to avoid spelling mistakes, and by working on them, you can improve your accuracy.

1. Read and Write: People who write without spelling errors typically read and write extensively. Cultivate the habit of reading articles in magazines, newspapers, or on websites.

2. Practice: Focus on writing the words where you commonly make mistakes repeatedly. This practice will help you learn the correct spellings and reinforce them in your memory.

3. Spelling Games: Engage in online spelling games that make learning words a fun experience.

4. Learn from Mistakes: Whenever you make a spelling error, confidently remember the correct spelling and make a conscious effort to avoid repeating the same mistake.

Exercise:

Write the correct spelling of the following words, which are incorrectly written:

Multidisiplinery

Modren

Etiquite

Carreer

Favouraite

Whealthy

Attractes

Northen

Tutourial

Buisness

Ciggar

Fullfillment

Accomodation

Avaliable

Begining

Intrest

Affectivily

Aera

Requried

Beleive

Seperate

Furthremore

Repitition

Immidiately

Acknowlegment

Foriegner

Fourword

Confidantly

Faithfuly

Sincerly

Answer:

Multidisciplinary

Modern

Etiquette

Career

Favorite

Wealthy

Attracts

Northern

Tutorial

Business

Cigar

Fulfillment

Accommodation

Available

Beginning

Interest

Affectively

Area

Required

Believe

Separate

Furthermore

Repetition

Immediately

Acknowledgment

Foreigner

Forward

Confidently

Faithfully

Sincerely