Quick answer: Complicated words to spell usually have silent letters (pneumonia), double letters (accommodate), unusual vowel pairs (maneuver), sounds that do not match the letters (colonel) or spellings borrowed from other languages (rendezvous). The fastest fix is to find the trap in each word and attach a memory tip to it. For example, perseverance is simply persevere + ance.
Why Some Words Are So Hard to Spell
English borrows words from Latin, Greek, French and dozens of other languages, and it often keeps their original spellings. Pronunciation has also changed over the centuries while spellings stayed the same. The result is words that look nothing like they sound. Grouping hard words by the trap they share makes them far easier to learn.
60 Complicated Words to Spell, Grouped by Trap
Silent letters
You write these letters but never hear them.
| Word | How to remember it |
|---|---|
| pneumonia | Silent p, from Greek pneuma (breath) |
| psychology | Silent p, psych = mind |
| mnemonic | Silent m at the start |
| subtle | Silent b |
| indictment | Silent c |
| rhythm | Silent h and no regular vowel |
| yacht | Silent ch |
| debt | Silent b, like doubt |
| solemn | Silent n at the end |
| Wednesday | Silent d: Wed-nes-day |
Double letters
Double consonants are the most common source of mistakes.
| Word | How to remember it |
|---|---|
| accommodate | Room for two c's and two m's |
| committee | Double m, double t, double e |
| embarrass | Two r's and two s's |
| millennium | Double l and double n |
| occurrence | Double c, double r |
| possession | Two pairs of s |
| questionnaire | Double n |
| recommend | One c, double m |
| unnecessary | un + necessary |
| occasionally | Double c, single s |
Vowel traps
Unstressed vowels sound alike, so the eye has to remember them.
| Word | How to remember it |
|---|---|
| separate | There is a rat in separate |
| definitely | It contains finite |
| cemetery | Three e's |
| privilege | No d, -ege ending |
| independent | Ends in -ent |
| maintenance | main + ten + ance |
| category | Ends in -gory |
| grammar | Ends in -ar, not -er |
| calendar | Ends in -ar |
| existence | Ends in -ence |
Sounds that do not match the letters
These words are spelled one way and said another.
| Word | How to remember it |
|---|---|
| colonel | Sounds like kernel |
| choir | Sounds like quire |
| lieutenant | lieu + ten + ant |
| quay | Sounds like key |
| victuals | Sounds like vittles |
| February | Two r's: Feb-ru-ary |
| ptarmigan | Silent p |
| sergeant | ser + geant |
| bologna | Sounds like baloney |
| island | Silent s |
Borrowed spellings
Words from French, Italian and Greek keep their original letters.
| Word | How to remember it |
|---|---|
| rendezvous | Silent z and s |
| silhouette | Silent h, -ette |
| connoisseur | Double n, double s, -eur |
| entrepreneur | Ends in -eur |
| bourgeois | The -geois ending |
| liaison | Two i's |
| cappuccino | Double p, double c |
| broccoli | Double c, single l |
| onomatopoeia | The -poeia ending |
| hors d'oeuvre | oeuvre has oeu |
Tricky endings
Endings that sound alike but are spelled differently.
| Word | How to remember it |
|---|---|
| perseverance | persevere + ance |
| supersede | The only -sede word |
| irresistible | Ends in -ible |
| indispensable | Ends in -able |
| conscientious | sci + -tious |
| mischievous | Only three syllables |
| ecstasy | Ends in -asy |
| idiosyncrasy | Ends in -asy |
| maneuver | The -euver ending (US) |
| jewelry | US spelling, no extra e |
How Do You Spell…? Quick Answers
| Word | Spelling | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| perseverance | P-E-R-S-E-V-E-R-A-N-C-E | persevere + ance, no extra r |
| necessary | N-E-C-E-S-S-A-R-Y | One collar (c), two sleeves (s) |
| definitely | D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-L-Y | definite + ly |
| separate | S-E-P-A-R-A-T-E | A rat in the middle |
| rhythm | R-H-Y-T-H-M | Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move |
| conscientious | C-O-N-S-C-I-E-N-T-I-O-U-S | con + science + tious |
How to Learn Complicated Words Faster
- ➥Find the trap. Underline only the part that causes trouble, such as the sede in supersede.
- ➥Split the word. Break it into syllables or roots: bu-reau-cra-cy.
- ➥Use a memory hook. The sillier the hook, the better it sticks.
- ➥Say it as it is spelled. Pronounce Wed-nes-day in your head while writing it.
- ➥Review after a gap. Test yourself again after three days and after a week.
For spelling bee preparation, pair this list with our hardest spelling bee words guide and the spelling bee practice routine.
Practice With Word Puzzles
Word puzzles train the pattern spotting that helps with hard spellings. In Spelling Bee Game, you build words from seven letters, and long words earn the most points. Spotting roots and endings in the hive is the same skill that makes words like conscientious easier to remember. Try today’s daily puzzle.
Final Thoughts
Complicated words are not random. Each one has a reason it is hard, from silent letters to borrowed French spellings. Learn the reason, add a memory tip, and review a few words every week. Before long, even onomatopoeia and perseverance will feel easy.