Rules and Procedures

acceptable Just remember to accept any table offered to you and you will spell this word OK.

accidentally  When It is an adverb the ending is ally and al in case of adjective ("accidental" in this case). 

accommodate Remember, this word is large enough to accommodate both a double "c" AND a double "m".

acquire Try to acquire the knowledge that this word and the next began with the prefix ad- but the [d] converts to [c] before [q].

Acquit See the previous discussion. a lot Two words! Hopefully, you won't have to allot a lot of time to this problem.

amateur Amateurs need not be mature: this word ends on the French suffix -eur 

apparent A parent need not be apparent but "apparent" must pay the rent, so remember this word always has the rent.

argument Let's not argue about the loss of this verb's silent [e] before the suffix -ment.

atheist Lord help you remember not to commit a heist.

believe You must believe that [i] usually comes before [e] except after [c] 

bellwether Often misspelled "bellweather."

calendar This word has an [e] between two [a]s. The last vowel is [a]. category This word is not in a category with "catastrophe" even if it sounds like it: the middle letter is [e].

cemetery Don't let this one bury you: it ends on -ery.  

changeable The verb "change" keeps its [e] here to indicate that the [g] is soft, not hard.

collectible Another -ible word. You just have to remember.

column Silent final [e] is commonplace in English but a silent final [n] is not uncommon, especially after [m].

committed if you  are committed to correct spelling, you will remember that this word doubles its final [t] from "commit" to "committed."

conscience do not con your science

conscientious your spelling conscientiously and remember this word with [ch] spelled two different ways: "sc" and "ti". English spelling!

conscious Try to be conscious of the "sc" [ch] sound and all the vowels in this word's ending and i-o-u a note .

consensus The census does not require a consensus, since they are not related.

daiquiri  this is a funny word-the name of a Cuban village.

definite (ly) This word definitely sounds as though it ends only on -it, but it carries a silent "e" everywhere it goes.

discipline A little discipline, spelled with the [s] and the [c] will get you to the correct spelling of this one.

drunkenness You would be surprised how many sober people omit one of the [n]s in this one.

dumbbell Even smart people forget one of the [b]s in this one. (So be careful who you call one when you write.)

embarrass (ment) This one won't embarrass you if you remember it is large enough for a double [r] AND a double [s].

equipment This word is misspelled "equiptment

exhilarate Remembering that [h] when you spell this word will lift your spirits and if you remember both [a]s, it will be exhilarating!

exceed Remember that this one is -ceed, not -cede. (To exceed all expectations, master the spellings of this word, "precede" and "supersede" below.)

existence No word like this one spelled with an [a] is in existence.

experience Don't experience the same problem many have with "existence" above in this word: -ence!

fiery The silent "e" on "fire" is also cowardly: it retreats inside the word rather than face the suffix -y.

foreign Here is one of several words that violate the i-before-e rule. (See "believe" above.)

gauge You must learn to gauge the positioning of the [a] and [u] in this word. Remember, they are in alphabetical order (though not the [e]).

grateful You should be grateful to know that keeping "great" out of "grateful" is great.

guarantee I guarantee you that this word is not spelled like "warranty" even though they are synonyms.

harass This word is too small for two double letters but don't let it harass you, just keep the [r]s down to one.

height English reaches the height (not heighth!) of absurdity when it spells "height" and "width" so differently. hierarchy The i-before-e rule works here, so what is the problem?

humorous Humor us and spell this word "humorous": the [r] is so weak, it needs an [o] on both sides to hold it up.

ignorance Don't show your ignorance by spelling this word -ence!

immediate  remember it has two Ms.

independent Please be independent but not in your spelling of this word. It ends on -ent.

indispensable Knowing that this word ends on -able is indispensable to good writing.

inoculate Remember it as in+oculate

intelligence Using two [l]s in this word and ending it on -ence rather than -ance are marks of . . . you guessed it.

its/it's The apostrophe marks a contraction of "it is." Something that belongs to it is "its."

jewellery remember the word has two Ls preceded and followed by E.

judgement The word has been misspelled judgment in all forms of the English language. In the US at least, judgment is still preferred and judgement is considered incorrect by many American style guides.

kernel (colonel) There is more than a kernel of truth in the claim that all the vowels in this word are [e]s. So why is the military rank (colonel) pronounced identically? English spelling can be chaotic.

leisure Yet another violator of the i-before-e rule. You can be sure of the spelling of the last syllable but not of the pronunciation.

liaison Another French word throwing us an orthographical curve: a spare [i], just in case. That's an [s], too, that sounds like a [z].

library It may be as enjoyable as a berry, but that isn't the way it is spelled. That first [r] should be pronounced, too.

license Where does English get the license to use both its letters for the sound [s] in one word?

lightning Learning how to omit the [e] in this word should lighten the load of English orthography a little bit.

maintenance The main tenants of this word are "main" and "tenance" even though it comes from the verb "maintain."

manoeuvre Man, the price you pay for borrowing from French is high. This one goes back to French main + oeuvre "hand-work”.

mediaeval the best way to remember this word is to add EVAL to MEDIA.

memento Why would something to remind of you of a moment be spelled "memento?" Well, it is.

millennium Here is another big word, large enough to hold two double consonants, double [l] and double [n].

miniature Since that [a] is seldom pronounced, it is seldom included in the spelling. This one is a "mini ature;" remember that.

minuscule Since something minuscule is smaller than a miniature, shouldn't they be spelled similarly? Less than cool, or "minus cule."

mischievous This mischievous word holds two traps: [i] before [e] and [o] before [u]. Four of the five vowels in English reside here.

misspell What is more embarrassing than to misspell the name of the problem? Just remember that it is mis + spell and that will spell you the worry about spelling "spell."

neighbour The word "neighbour" breaks the i-before-e rule and includes the silent "gh".

noticeable you should be ABLE to NOTICE.

occasionally Writers occasionally tire of doubling so many consonants and omit one, usually one of the [l]s. Don't you ever do it.

occurrence Remember not only the occurrence of double  consonants in this word, but that the suffix is -ence, not -ance.

pastime Since a pastime is something you do to pass the time, you would expect a double [s] here. Well, there is only one. 

perseverance All it takes is perseverance and you, too, can be a (near-)perfect speller. The suffix is -ance for no reason at all.

personnel remember the word has "Two Ns, one L."

playwright  Well, since they write plays, they should be "play-writes," but Remember “WRIGHT"

possession Possession possesses more [s]s than a snake.

precede What follows, succeeds, so what goes before should, what? No, no, no, you are using logic. Nothing confuses English spelling more than common sense. "Succeed" but "precede." (Wait until you see "supersede.")

principal/principle The spelling principle to remember here is that the school principal is a prince and a pal. A "principle" is a rule.

privilege According to the pronunciation (not "pronounciation"!) of this word, that middle vowel could be anything. Remember: two [i]s + two [e]s in that order.

pronunciation Nouns often differ from the verbs they are derived from. This is one of those. In this case, the pronunciation is different, too, an important clue.

publicly Let me publicly declare the rule (again): if the adverb comes from an adjective ending on -al, you include that ending in the adverb; if not, as here, you don't.

questionnaire The French doing it to us again. Double up on the [n]s in this word and don't forget the silent [e]. Maybe someday we will spell it the English way.

receive/receipt I hope you have received the message by now: [i] before [e] except after . . . .

recommend I would recommend you think of this word as the equivalent of commending all over again: re+commend. That would be recommendable.

referred remember to add RED TO REFER.

reference Refer to the last mentioned word and also remember to add -ence to the end for the noun.

relevant The relevant factor here is that the word is not "revelant," "revelent," or even "relevent." [l] before [v] and the suffix -ant.

restaurant 'Ey, you! Remember, these two words when you spell "restaurant." They are in the middle of it.

rhyme remember to add ME TO RHY.

rhythm remember there are no vowels in this word.

schedule If perfecting your spelling is on your schedule, remember the [sk] is spelled as in "school."

separate How do you separate the [e]s from the [a]s in this word? Simple: the [e]s surround the [a]s.

sergeant  Remember that, and the fact that [e] is used in both syllables, and you can write your sergeant without fear of misspelling his rank.

supersede This word supersedes all others in perversity. As if we don't have enough to worry about, keeping words on -ceed and -cede ("succeed," "precede," etc.) straight in our minds, this one has to be different from all the rest. The good news is: this is the only English word based on this stem spelled -sede.

their/they're/there They're all pronounced the same but spelled differently. Possessive is "their" and the contraction of "they are" is "they're." Everywhere else, it is "there."

threshold This one can push you over the threshold. It looks like a compound "thresh + hold" but it isn't. Two [h]s are enough.

twelfth Even if you omit the [f] in your pronunciation of this word (which you shouldn't do), it is retained in the spelling.

tyranny If you are still resisting the tyranny of English orthography at this point, you must face the problem of [y] inside this word, where it shouldn't be. The guy is a "tyrant" and his problem is "tyranny." (Don't forget to double up on the [n]s, too.)

until  stop  using the  extra [l] for the last time!

vacuum  spell this word with two [u]s and not like "volume."

weather Whether you like the weather or not, you have to write the [a] after the [e] when you spell it.

weird It is weird having to repeat this rule so many times: [i] before [e] except after...? (It isn't [w]!)

Irreversible has double r, and ends with –ible not -able.

Harass has single r, double s.

Florescence (flowering) has two cs.

Fluorescence has two cs.

Expatriate not ‘expatriot’.

Haemoglobin is the British spelling (American hemoglobin).

Connoisseur has double n and double s.

Assassin has double ss.

Asthma has –th- in the middle.

Benefited, Benefiting are preferable to the spelling with double t.

Chequer is the British spelling (American checker).

Chilli (pepper) is the preferred form; chili is the usual American spelling.

Diphtheria is spelt with -ph- (should be pronounced dif, not ‘dip’).

Embarrass has double r, double s.

Encyclopedia is now preferred to encyclopaedia.

Fulsome not ‘fullsome’.

Furore is the British spelling (American furor).

Inadvisable has no e in the middle.

Incandescent ends with –ent, not ‘–ant’.

Honours, Honourable are British spellings (American honor, honorable).

Glycerine is the British spelling (American glycerin).

Government has an n in the middle.

Irresistible has double r, and ends with –ible not –able.

Irresponsible has double r, and ends with –ible not –able.

Burglary not ‘burglery’.

Blameable has an e in the middle.

Authoritative not ‘authoritive’.

Dismissible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Dispensable is spelt –able, ‘-ible’.

Colloquial has double l.

Battalion has double t and one l.

Baulk (noun and verb) is usual British spelling; balk is chiefly American.

Disappoint has single s and double p.

Ethereal is preferred to ethereal.

Exaggerate has double g.

Innocuous has double n, single c and two us.

Innovate has double n.

Hypocrisy not ‘hypocracy’.

Idiosyncrasy should not be spelt ‘-carcy’. as if it were connected with words such as democracy and autocracy.

Incise is always spelt –ise, not ‘ize’. The noun derivative is incisor (usually meaning a front tooth), not –er.

Incubator is spelt –or, not ‘-er’.

Incur has only one r.

Gauge is the British spelling; gage is American.

Flavour is spelt –our in British English (American flavor).

Espresso is preferred to expresso.

Endeavour (noun and verb) is the British spelling (American endeavor)

Invincible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Invisible is spelt ‘-ible’, not ‘-able’.

Irrepressible has double r, and ends –ible, not ‘-able’.

Colonnade has single l, double n.

Colossal has double s and two single l.

Colonnade has single l, double n.

Colossal has double s and two single l.

Auxiliary has single l.

Avocado has single c.

Investigator ia spelt –or not ‘-er’.

Investor is spelt –or not ‘-er’.

Focused, Focusing are preferable to the spellings with double s. Fusillade has double l.

Erroneous has double r.

Exhaustible is spelt –ible. not ‘-able’.

Dissipate has double s, single p.

Dissociate not ‘disassociate’.

Generator is spelt –or in all its meanings. Not ‘-er’.

Guerrilla is preferred to the common variant guerilla.

Indigestible ends –ible, not ‘-able’.

Indispensable is spelt –able, not ‘-able’.

Commit, commitment has double m. committee has double m and double t.

Conscientious has two ‘is’.

Archaeology is the British spelling (American archeology).

Affidavit has double f.

Broccoli has double c, single l.

Discernible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Discussible is spelt –ible, not’-able’.

Install has double l (likewise installed, installing). However, instalment is spelt with one l in British English.

Instructor is spelt –or, not ‘-er’.

Faecal, faeces are the British spellings (American fecal, feces).

Homogeneous (of same kind) is commonly misspelt ‘homogenous’.

Inoculate has no double letters.

In so far is written as three separate words.

Coolie (asian labourer) has single l and ends –ie.

Corollary has double l and single r.

Abattoir has single b, double t.

Abductor is spelt –or, not ‘-er’.

Aggressor has double g, and ends –or, not ‘-er’.

Agitator is spelt –or, not ‘-er’.

Interchangeable is spelt with an e in the middle to preserve the soft sound of the g.

Intermittent is spelt –ent not ‘-ant’.

Align, Alignment do not be misled by word line to write ‘aline’, alinement’.

Alliteration has double l, single r.

Aught (‘anything’) not ‘ought’.

Barbecue not ‘barbeque’.

Intercede not ‘-sede’.

Interceptor (fighter aircraft) is spelt –or, not ‘-er’.

Ecstasy is spelt –asy, not ‘-acy’. The drugs meaning is spelt with a capital initial.

Eighth is spelt eight + h.

Diarrhoea is the British spelling (American diarrhea).

Dietitian is recommended spelling, not dietician.

Insomuch is written as one word.

Inspector is spelt –or, not ‘-er’.

Haemorrhage is the British spelling (American hemorrhage).

Dilettante has single l, double t and single t.

Disastrous not ‘-erous’.

Abetter has double t and ends –er (but –or in legal terminology).

Abridgement is preferred British spelling; abridgment is the usual American form.

Abscess has –sc- in the middle.

Inflexible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Inheritor is spelt –or, not ‘-er’. It can be used of both a man and a woman.

Heterogeneous (‘of different kinds’)is commonly misspelt ‘heterogenous’.

Humour is spelt –our in British English (American –or).

Caffeine is an exception to the ‘i before e’ rule.

Calibre is the British spelling (American caliber).

Armour is spelt –our British spelling (American armor).

Artefact is usual British spelling (American artifact).

Enthrall is spelt with single l in British English.

Entrench is spelt en, not ‘in-‘.

Ambidextrous not ‘-terous’.

Ambience is preferable to ambiance.

Adaptor is the preferred spelling for the electrical device; adapter is preferred in more general contexts.

Cheque (‘order to a bank’) is the British spelling; the American form check also means ‘bill’ (in a restaurant etc.).

Annihilate has double n.

Anomalous has no double letters.

Enroll is spelt with single l in British English.

Antecedent not ‘anti’.

Antechamber not ‘anti’

Circumcise is always spelt –ise, not ‘-ize’.

Coconut not ‘cocoa-‘.

Diaphragm has a g.

Dissect has double s.

Aluminium is usual British spelling. The American spelling is aluminum.

Amoeba is British spelling (American ameba)

February has an r in the middle.

Fiery not ‘firey’.

Biased the spelling with one s is preferred.

Indistinguishable is spelt –able, not ‘ible’.

Indivisible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Carburettor is preferred spelling in British English (American carburetor).

Carcass is the preferred form (rather than carcase) and has the plural carcasses.

Debonair has no r on the end.

Destructible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Accelerate has double c, single l.

Accessible has double c, double s, and ends –ible, not ‘-able’

Accessory is now preferred to accessary in all meanings (but –ary is still sometimes used for the legal sense).

Effervescence has double f and –sc- in the middle.

Eligible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Adjudicator has a d near the beginning and ends –or

Admissible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Eraser is spelt –er, not ‘-or’.

Erogenous has no double letters.

Independent is never spelt ‘-ant’.

Indict (charge and crime) has a c.

Accommodate, Accommodation are among the most commonly misspelt words in English: there are cs and two ms.

Acknowledgement is to be preferred in British English, although acknowledgment is the more usual American form.

Icicle has no e in the middle.

Icon is preferable to ikon or eikon.

Cosy is the British spelling (American cozy).

Devise is always spelt –ise, not ‘-ize’.

Adieu can have the plural adieus or adieux.

Adolescence not ‘adolesense’ etc.

Asphalt not ‘ash-‘

Attendant has double t and ends –ant, not ‘–ent’.

Aeon (‘long period of time’) is spelt with initial ae- in British English (American eon or aeon).

Aerial not ‘airial’.

Aesthete, Aesthetic are spelt with initial ae- in British English; in American English they are often spelt esthete, esthetic. Aficionado has single f.

Ageing is preferable to aging, although both are in use.

Aisle (of a church) not ‘isle’.

Indefatigable is spelt –able, not ‘-ible’.

Indefensible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Ait(‘small river island’) is preferable to eyot.

Anaemia, anaemic are spelt –ae- in British English and –e- or –ae- in American English.

Commemorate has double m then single n.

Commissionaire has double m, single n.

Annex, Annexe in British English the verb is annex and the noun annexe; in American English the noun is usually spelt annex too.

Expressible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Fledging is recommended spelling, not fledgeling.

Advantageous has an e.

Advertise is always spelt –ise, not ‘ize’.

Advice is correct spelling of the noun, advise of the verb

Adviser is still the more common spelling in British English, although the American form advisor has gained ground.

Anaesthetic is spelt -ae- in British English (American anesthetic).

Gullible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Gynaecology is the British spelling (American gynecology).

Ardour is spelt –our in British English (American ardor).

Asinine has only one s.

Immovable is spelt without an e in the middle.

Improvable is spelt without an e in the middle.

Behove is the British spelling (American behoove).

Besiege like siege, is spelt –ie.

Consensus not ‘-census’.

Convertible is spelt –ible and not –able.

Analyse is spelt –yse in British English (American analyze).

Ancillary the misspelling (and mispronunciation) ‘ancilliary’ is common.

Antediluvian not ‘anti’.

Appal is the British spelling American appall.

Appreciate has double p.

Apprise is always spelt –ise, not ‘-ize’.

Caribbean is spelt with one r and double b.

Caviar is preferred to caviare.

Chancellor is spelt –or (but note the correct spelling chancellery).

Chimera (mythological being, ‘illusory thing or idea’) is the recommend spelling, not chimaera.

Cookie is established spelling, not ‘cooky’.

Corrector (‘person who points out faults’) is spelt –or, not ‘-er’.

Correspondence has double r.

Dialogue is the British spelling (American dialog).

Ebullient has single b and double l.

Eccentric has double c.

Enforceable not ‘enforceable’.

Envelop (verb) but Envelope (noun).

Exhilarate has a in the middle not e.

Harbour is spelt –our in British English (American harbor).

Jeopardy not ‘jeoprady’ as it is often mispronounced.

Loathsome has no e in the middle.

Longitude not ‘longtitude’.

Necessary has single c, double s.

Negligible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Neighbour is spelt –bour in British English (American neighbor).

Labour is the British spelling (American labor).

Lascivious has a c.

Leukaemia is the British spelling (American leukemia).

Kilometre is spelt –metre in British English (American –meter).

Knowledgeable has an e in the middle.

Orator is spelt –or, not ‘-er’.

Oscillate has double l.

Meager is the British spelling (American meager).

Merchandise (noun and verb) is always spelt –ise in British English.

Metre is the British spelling for unit of length (American meter).

Jewellery is the British spelling (American jewelry).

Judgement is the spelling use in British English; judgment is dominant in legal contexts and in American English.

Mistakable has no e in the middle.

Mnemonic starts with silent m.

Moneys is preferred to ‘monies’.

Oesophagus is the British spelling (American esophagus).

Offence is spelt –ence in British English (American offense).

Omelette is the British Spelling; omelet is more common in American English.

Niece is the most commonly misspelt word in English.

No one is always written as two words and with out a hyphen.

Noticeable has an e in the middle.

Literature has no double letters.

Litre is the British spelling for the metric unit (American liter).

Liveable is the preferred form, not livable.

Minuscule the incorrect spelling ‘miniscule’

Mischievous not ‘-ious’ as often mispronounced.

Misspell has double s.

Obsequious has six vowels.

Occasionally has double c and l.

Occurred, occurring, occurrence have double c and double r.

Odyssey has double s and ends –ey.

Liaison has two is.

Library has two rs.

Licence, license in British English, the noun is spelt licence and verb license. In American English, both the noun and the verb are spelt license.

Likeable is preferred form, not likable.

Manoeuvrable has no e before the –able suffix in British spelling (American maneuverable).

Marriageable has no e in the middle.

Mileage is recommended spelling, not milage.

Millionaire has single n.

Linchpin is preferred to lynch-.

Knowledgeable has an e in the middle.

Paid not payed.

Vapour is the British spelling (American vapor).

Lascivious has a c.

Leukaemia is the British spelling (American leukemia).

Pronunciation not ‘pronounces’.

Proprietor not ‘er’.

Protector not ‘er’.

Linchpin is preferred to lynch-.

Literature has no double letters.

Omelette is the British Spelling; omelet is more common in American English.

Orator is spelt –or, not ‘-er’.

Sufficient has double f and an i in the last syllable.

Supervise is always spelt-vise, not ‘-vize’.

Manoeuvrable has no e before the –able suffix in British spelling (American maneuverable).

Kilometre is spelt –metre in British English (American –meter).

Jeopardy not ‘jeoprady’ as it is often mispronounced.

Panellist is the British spelling.

Paralyse is the usual British spelling; the variant paralyze is chiefly American.

Parliament has –ia- in the middle.

Responsible is spelt –ible, not’-able’.

Reprehensible is spelt –ible, not’-able’.

Minuscule the incorrect spelling ‘miniscule’

Mischievous not ‘-ious’ as often mispronounced.

Mnemonic starts with silent m.

Moneys is preferred to ‘monies’.

Taxiing is preferable to taxying.

Vigour is the British spelling (American vigor).

Necessary has single c, double s.

Negligible is spelt –ible, not ‘-able’.

Obsequious has six vowels.

Occasionally has double c and l.

Storey (‘level of building’) is the British spelling story is an American variant.

Succeed has double c, double e.

Neighbour is spelt –bour in British English (American neighbor).

Niece is the most commonly misspelt word in English.

No one is always written as two words and with out a hyphen.

Noticeable has an e in the middle.

Licence, license in British English, the noun is spelt licence and verb license. In American English, both the noun and the verb are spelt license.

Likeable is preferred form, not likable.

Occurred, occurring, occurrence have double c and double r.

Odyssey has double s and ends –ey.

Oesophagus is the British spelling (American esophagus).

Marriageable has no e in the middle.

Meager is the British spelling (American meager).

Offence is spelt –ence in British English (American offense).

Oscillate has double l.

Jewellery is the British spelling (American jewelry).

Metre is the British spelling for unit of length (American meter).

Predecessor has doubles.

Pronounceable has an e in the middle.

Sumptuous has three us.

Supersede is the standard spelling, not ‘supercede’.

Paediatric is the British spelling (American pediatric).

Partisan is now preferred to partizan.

Millionaire has single n.

Penicillin has single n, double l.

Perennial has double n.

Liaison has two is.

Library has two rs.

Permissible has double s and ends –ible, not ‘able’.

Personnel has double n.

Phlegm has silent g.

Playwright not ‘-write’.

Labour is the British spelling (American labor).

Misspell has double s.

Mistakable has no e in the middle.

Reflector not ‘er’.

Recommend has double m.

Protester not ‘or’.

Purveyor not ‘er’.

Racket is preferred to raquet. The game is always spelt rackets.

Rarity has no e.

Receipt has silent p.

Merchandise (noun and verb) is always spelt –ise in British English.

Judgement is the spelling use in British English; judgment is dominant in legal contexts and in American English.

Teetotaller is spelt with two ls in British English, but has American variant teetotaler.

Televise has a back-formation from television, this is always spelt –ise not ‘-ize’.

Queue has two us and two es.

Reproducible is spelt –ible, not’-able’.

Seize is an exception to the ‘i before e rule’.

Sizeable with an e in the middle is preferred to sizable.

Reversible is spelt –ible, not’-able’.

Rhythm has two hs.

Rigour is generally spelt-our in British English and –or in American.

Pavilion has single l.

Mileage is recommended spelling, not milage.

Primeval is now the dominant spelling, not primaeval.

Promoter not ‘or’.

Parlour is the British spelling.

Partisan is now preferred to partizan.

Millionaire has single n.

Privilege not ‘privelege’.

Promissory has double s and no e.

Parlour is the British spelling.

Valour is the British spelling (American valor).

Skilful is the usual British spelling; the variant skill- is mainly American.

Resistible is spelt –ible, not’-able’.

Reminiscence has two cs in the last syllable.

Resuscitate has –sc- in the middle.

Squalor is spelt –or in both British and American English.

Surreptitious has double r and I in the last syllable.

Theatre is the British spelling (American theater).

Today, tomorrow, tonight are never hyphenated or written in two words.

Possession has two double ss.

Practice, practise in British spelling, practise is used for the noun and practise for the verb, whereas in American English practice is used for both.

Surveillance has double l.

Pavilion has single l.

Mileage is recommended spelling, not milage.

Litre is the British spelling for the metric unit (American liter).

Liveable is the preferred form, not livable.

Loathsome has no e in the middle.

Thank you is written as two words (but hyphenated in thank-you letter).

Vaccination has two c.

Visitor is spelt –or, not ‘-er’.

Visor is the preferred spelling, not vizor.

Vocal cord not chord.

Sceptic is the British spelling (American skeptic).

Longitude not ‘longtitude’.

Temperament not ‘tempra-’

Yogurt is preferred to yoghurt.

Weird is an exception to ‘i before e rule’.

Welfare not ‘well-‘.

Willful is the British spelling, but willfull is also used in America.

Symmetry has double m.

Vacuum has double u.

Splendour is the British spelling (American splendor).