- Home
- Lessons
- GCSE & IGCSE English Language
- Spelling and commonly confused words
Spelling and commonly confused words
Accurate spelling is assessed in every writing task (AO6 in the GCSE, AO5 in the International GCSE). A small set of words causes most mistakes.
Commonly confused
Tricky spellings
necessary (one collar, two sleeves: one c, two s)
definitely (contains 'finite')
separate (there is 'a rat' in separate)
accommodation (double c, double m)
beginning, embarrass, government, environment, believe, receive ('i before e except after c' works for believe and receive)
definitely (contains 'finite')
separate (there is 'a rat' in separate)
accommodation (double c, double m)
beginning, embarrass, government, environment, believe, receive ('i before e except after c' works for believe and receive)
Ambitious and accurate
Use ambitious vocabulary, but spell it correctly: examiners reward a wide vocabulary that is used and spelled accurately.
Leave time to proofread: read your work slowly, word by word.
Leave time to proofread: read your work slowly, word by word.
Correct: 'Its definately going to effect there plans.'
- 'Its' should be 'It's' (it is).
- 'definately' should be 'definitely'.
- 'effect' should be 'affect' (verb).
- 'there' should be 'their' (belonging to them).
Answer: It's definitely going to affect their plans.
Learn the confused pairs (their/there/they're, your/you're, its/it's, affect/effect, practice/practise) and the tricky spellings. Proofread word by word at the end.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
Check you have got it
Answer 6 quick questions with instant marking. If you get one wrong, GCSE-ready shows you why and gives you another go. It is free, and you do not need an account.