How do you spell hard or difficult words?

Answer 1

Users of written language have a greater need for proper spelling (as opposed to spoken words, which are usually understandable even if mispronounced). Most of the words you spell properly (like your name and address) are correct due to continued regular use. Once you learn to spell a word correctly, you will almost always get it right. The problem is that many words are only rarely written down, even if you speak them every day. Spell checking programs will tell you if you slip up, but cannot tell if you accidentally put a different correctly-spelled word (right-write).

The best ways to develop a good spelling ability is not to memorize words. You should examine how similar words are spelled, ones you know and ones you don't know. In this way, you may even correctly guess the spelling of a word you have never seen.

Some Spelling Techniques

• Compare the sound of a word with words you know. "Scientifically" is spelled in much the same way as "science" and "unmentionable" should be close to "mention".
• Study the root words in Greek, Latin, and subsequent languages. The words "capacity", "capability", and "incapable" are all based on the Latin word capere and only differ in the way prefixes and suffixes are added.
• If you find that you are misspelling a word, write it down, and copy it by hand several times. This will ingrain the spelling in your memory and make you less likely to misspell it.