Overview
Spelling errors are some of the most common types of errors to find when editing an essay. Some words are often misspelled, while other words are commonly confused. Strategies to fix spelling errors include looking up the correct spelling, using mnemonics to remember usage, and underlining words to check later. Although the spell-check feature in the computer program can catch many misspellings, it does not always catch the error if the misspelling results in a word.
Look Up the Word
It is often helpful to have a dictionary handy, especially if a word looks incorrect. Students often have a large hardback dictionary as well as a smaller paperback that can be kept in a locker or backpack for quick checks. There are also specialized dictionaries for specific subjects, such as medical dictionaries or dictionaries of scientific terms. Small pocket guides of commonly misspelled words can be useful, as they list words without definitions.
Break the Word into Parts
Many words with multiple syllables use prefixes, suffixes, or both. Prefixes often do not change the spelling of the base word, such as mis + spell as misspell or inter + related as interrelated. Suffixes often do, such as run +ing as running, or pronounce +ing as pronouncing. Sometimes the spelling of the suffix changes, such as contempt + able becomes contemptible. Any word with three or more syllables can be spelled more easily if it is broken into manageable pieces. The word manageable can be divided as manage and its suffix able.
Focus on Correct Usage
Many groups of words are commonly confused. Some of them are homonyms, such as their and there; to, too, and two; witch and which. Others are close such as accept and except; affect and effect, advice and advise. Students can use memory tricks on some of them. For example, among is to compare more than two and between is used to compare two. If two books were used between friends, then there are only two friends using them. There are two ee’s in between, and nothing can come between them, not even another letter.
Check Later
While writing the draft essay, it is often more important to get ideas on paper than worry about correct spelling, and stop the flow of words by checking the dictionary. The word can be underlined or circled at that point. Similarly, a questionable word can be redlined by the spell-checking program, to be corrected later during the editing phase of the essay.
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