For me common spelling mistakes include confusing some of these word pairs.
- loose vs. lose
- then vs. than
- were vs. where
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Australian English is based off British English but is not identical. Both are different to US English and have a lot of words that are spelled with a bit more historical contingency. That said, knowing which words have which version of suffix can be difficult.
For example, authorise or authorize. Practice or practise. Gaol or jail. English is a pain but it does make a good common language.
embarrassed to admit I mix up which and witch, and have misspelled both as wich on occasion
Nothing to be embarrassed about. I can assure you I am worse at spelling.
Diahhrheoea
Or whatever it is.
I always ALWAYS have to check separate / separation / separator. I want to put a third e in there so much.
uhm … separate is an adjective and separation is a noun I guess?
I think they were referring more to a tendency of writing seperat(e, ion, or).
Unfortunately the classification of single words is not so cut and dry:
- The separator machine uses separation algorithms to separate separate appropriately.
- separator is an adjective
- separation is an adjective
- 1st separate is a verb
- 2nd separate is a noun
- The separator machine uses separation algorithms to separate separate appropriately.
recieve vs. receive
This one’s easy, remember reecee, so it’s rEcEive.
I just try to keep the mnemonic “I before E except after C” [1] in my brain.
References
- Type: Definition (Webpage). Title: “receive”. Publisher: “Merriam-Webster”. Accessed: 2025-09-19T07:04Z. URI: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/receive.
Don’t follow those stupid rules, there are so many exceptions not even sure how that shit got coined. Welcome to English
Do you mind referencing some of the exceptions that you have in mind to the aforementioned rule?
- Guarantee
- it(')s
For the pairs you mentioned this might help:
- “loose” is a loose word, it’s extra “o” makes it lanky, but “lose” lost an “o”
- “then” is a reply to “when” and is spelt similarly rather “than” the comparison word
- “where” is a question answered by “here;” “was” has no “h” and neither does “were”
It’s and its annoy me because they both make sense for possessive. The only thing that really made me feel better is thinking of it’s like his and hers. His and hers doesn’t have an apostrophe.
Viscous vs vicious.
It’s a viscous cycle.
Sounds like a sticky situation.
Or slippery situation, depends on how viscous.
Can’t recall them, but there are some words in which I keep typing double letters even though they aren’t supposed to be there.
