About this quiz

Some English words are misspelled so often that the wrong version starts to look right. This quiz picks twenty of the most commonly misspelled words, such as separate, necessary and accommodate, and asks you to spot the correct spelling among three convincing mistakes.

After each answer you'll get a simple memory trick to help you get it right next time. It's a quick way to check your spelling and pick up a few tips that stick.

Answers explained

Show the answers (spoilers)

  1. Which spelling is correct?

    Definitely. Tip: definitely has the word “finite” hiding inside it.

  2. Which spelling is correct?

    Separate. Tip: there’s “a rat” in separate.

  3. Which spelling is correct?

    Necessary. Tip: one collar and two sleeves. One c, two s’s.

  4. Which spelling is correct?

    Receive. This one follows the rule: i before e, except after c.

  5. Which spelling is correct?

    Embarrass. Tip: you go really red and smile shyly. Two r’s, two s’s.

  6. Which spelling is correct?

    Accommodate. Tip: it’s big enough to accommodate two c’s and two m’s.

  7. Which spelling is correct?

    Occurrence. Double c, double r, and it ends in “-ence”.

  8. Which spelling is correct?

    Millennium. From the Latin mille (thousand) and annus (year), so double l and double n.

  9. Which spelling is correct?

    Liaise. It starts the same way as liaison: l-i-a-i.

  10. Which spelling is correct?

    Conscientious. Tip: conscientious has “science” hiding inside it.

  11. Which spelling is correct?

    Rhythm. Tip: Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move.

  12. Which spelling is correct?

    Calendar. It ends in -ar. A calender (with an e) is a machine for pressing cloth or paper.

  13. Which spelling is correct?

    Questionnaire. It comes from French, which is where the double n comes from.

  14. Which spelling is correct?

    Privilege. There’s no d in it, however it sounds.

  15. Which spelling is correct?

    Mischievous. It has three syllables, mis-chiv-us, so there’s no extra i before the -ous.

  16. Which spelling is correct?

    Pronunciation. The verb is pronounce, but the noun drops the o.

  17. Which spelling is correct?

    Restaurant. Tip: rest, then au, then rant.

  18. Which spelling is correct?

    Guarantee. Tip: there’s a silent u straight after the G, just like in guard.

  19. Which spelling is correct?

    Weird. Weird breaks the “i before e” rule, which is fitting.

  20. Which spelling is correct?

    Bureaucracy. It joins the French bureau (desk) with the Greek -cracy (rule).