Writing: Spelling Strategies and Common Errors

This lesson covers DfE content statement L2.22 — spelling words used most often in work, study, and daily life, including specialist words.

Spelling accounts for a significant portion of the SPaG marks in the writing exam. The good news is that most spelling errors follow predictable patterns, and there are practical strategies you can use to improve. This lesson covers the most commonly misspelled words, the rules that help, and the techniques that work.

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How Spelling Is Assessed

In the Functional Skills Level 2 writing exam, spelling is assessed as part of the Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) marks, which typically account for about 40% of the writing marks.

Performance Level	What It Looks Like
Strong	Most words spelled correctly, including some complex or specialist words. Very few errors.
Adequate	Common words spelled correctly. Some errors with more complex words, but meaning is clear.
Weak	Frequent errors, including common words. Errors sometimes make meaning unclear.

You do not need to spell every word perfectly to pass. But you do need to spell common words consistently and demonstrate that you can handle workplace and everyday vocabulary with reasonable accuracy.

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The Most Commonly Misspelled Words

These words appear frequently in everyday writing and are often spelled incorrectly. Learn them — they come up again and again.

Homophones (Words That Sound the Same but Are Spelled Differently)

Words	Meanings	Memory Aid
there / their / they're	there = a place ("over there"); their = belonging to them ("their car"); they're = they are ("they're coming")	"they're" — can you replace it with "they are"? If yes, use they're. "their" — does it show ownership? If yes, use their. Otherwise, use there.
your / you're	your = belonging to you ("your coat"); you're = you are ("you're welcome")	Can you replace it with "you are"? If yes, use you're. Otherwise, use your.
its / it's	its = belonging to it ("the dog wagged its tail"); it's = it is or it has ("it's raining")	Can you replace it with "it is" or "it has"? If yes, use it's. Otherwise, use its (no apostrophe).
to / too / two	to = direction or part of a verb ("to the shop", "to run"); too = also or excessively ("me too", "too expensive"); two = the number 2	too has too many o's (it means "too much"). two is the number. Everything else is to.
affect / effect	affect = verb (to influence: "it will affect results"); effect = noun (a result: "the effect was dramatic")	Affect = Action (verb). Effect = End result (noun).
practice / practise	practice = noun ("football practice"); practise = verb ("I need to practise")	In British English: practice = noun (like "advice"). Practise = verb (like "advise").
where / wear / were	where = a place; wear = to put on clothes; were = past tense of "are"	Where has "here" in it (both about places). Wear has "ear" — you wear things near your ears (hats, earrings).
passed / past	passed = verb ("she passed the exam"); past = everything else ("in the past", "walk past")	If you can replace it with "went by" or "succeeded", use passed (verb). Otherwise, past.

Other Commonly Misspelled Words

Correct Spelling	Common Error	Memory Aid
definitely	definately	There is "finite" in the middle: de-finite-ly
separate	seperate	There is "a rat" in separate
necessary	neccessary	One collar, two socks: necessary
accommodate	accomodate	Two cs, two ms: accommodate
occurrence	occurence	Two cs, two rs: occurrence
receive	recieve	"I before E except after C": receive
believe	beleive	"I before E" (no C before it): believe
business	buisness	There is a "bus" and then "iness": business
environment	enviroment	There is "iron" in the middle: environment
government	goverment	There is "govern" in it: government
beginning	begining	Double n: beginning
immediately	immediatley	Ends in -ately: immediately
occasion	occassion	Two cs, one s: occasion
recommend	reccommend	One c, two ms: recommend
until	untill	One l at the end
successful	succesful	Two cs, two ss, one l: successful

Exam Tip: Keep a personal spelling list. Every time you notice a word you consistently get wrong, add it to the list. Review it regularly. Over time, the correct spelling will become automatic.

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Spelling Rules That Help

While English spelling has many exceptions, some rules are reliable enough to be genuinely useful.

Rule 1: The Doubling Rule

When adding a suffix that starts with a vowel (-ing, -ed, -er, -est) to a word that ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, double the final consonant if the word:

• Has one syllable, OR
• Has the stress on the last syllable

Base Word	+ Suffix	Result	Why?
run	+ ing	running	One syllable, ends in consonant after single vowel
begin	+ ing	beginning	Stress on last syllable (be-GIN)
stop	+ ed	stopped	One syllable
refer	+ ed	referred	Stress on last syllable (re-FER)
open	+ ing	opening	Stress NOT on last syllable (O-pen) — no doubling
visit	+ ed	visited	Stress NOT on last syllable (VI-sit) — no doubling

Rule 2: The i Before e Rule

i before e, except after c (when the sound is "ee"):

Follows the Rule	Exception After c
believe, achieve, field, piece	receive, deceive, conceive, perceive

Exceptions to know: weird, seize, neither, either, caffeine, protein. These do not follow the rule — learn them individually.

Rule 3: Dropping the Silent e

When adding a suffix that starts with a vowel to a word ending in silent e, drop the e:

Base Word	+ Suffix	Result
make	+ ing	making
hope	+ ing	hoping
use	+ able	usable
value	+ able	valuable

When adding a suffix that starts with a consonant, keep the e: