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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)

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.
Worked example

Correct: 'Its definately going to effect there plans.'

  1. 'Its' should be 'It's' (it is).
  2. 'definately' should be 'definitely'.
  3. 'effect' should be 'affect' (verb).
  4. 'there' should be 'their' (belonging to them).

Answer: It's definitely going to affect their plans.

Key idea

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

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