Spelling

Ways to lock in a spelling

• Break it into syllables: ac-com-mo-date is four small, easy chunks instead of one long word.
• Say it the "wrong" way in your head: pronouncing every silent letter ("Wed-nes-day") can help it stick.
• Spot the smaller word inside: "sep-a-rate" has "a rat" in the middle; "definite" has "finite."
• Learn the root: knowing a word's origin (Latin/Greek roots, prefixes, suffixes) explains a lot of "odd" spellings.
• Write it, don't just read it: typing or writing a word a few times builds muscle memory that reading alone doesn't.
• Use it in a sentence of your own right after you learn it — context makes it stick far better than the word alone.
• Notice the pattern, not just the word: many "-ance/-ence," "-able/-ible," and double-letter mistakes follow rules you can learn once and reuse.