This tag is for questions which a dictionary cannot answer concerning the written representation of the English language, especially spelling and word breaks (including hyphenation).
Questions tagged [spelling]
254 questions
59
votes
4 answers
"Conveince": A word commonly used in Pakistan having to do with transportation but no English person knows about it
In Pakistan, when we don't have any transportation then we say "I don't have any conveince". This spelling is wrong but I never used in written English so I don't know.
None of my English fellows in London knows about it. And secondly since I only…
adeel41
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54
votes
6 answers
How do I avoid misspelling "receive" as "recieve"?
As a non-native speaker and before the advent of the panaceas called spell-checkers and auto-correct, I used to often misspell words like receive ( as "recieve") and achieve (as "acheive").
I still make the mistake sometimes and thanks to…
BiscuitBoy
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43
votes
4 answers
"I can't login" or "I can't log in"?
Which is correct:
I can't login?
I can't log in?
I'm confused if that's with a space or no space?
Rolan
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18
votes
4 answers
Why do they use small van in van Gogh?
There seems to be two ways of spelling for ‘van Gogh’: with small v or big V. It may have some reason I do not know having small van in the middle of Vincent van Gogh, but why do they still spell small van in the first part of his shortened name Van…
Listenever
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16
votes
1 answer
"the US." or "the US"
When I said
"in my field, people earn triple in the US. for the same work in China."
a native speaker told me I should have got rid of that ".", is it a more modern style to refer to America?
JJJohn
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15
votes
2 answers
Does the notion of check word exist in English?
It is interesting if in English there is the notion of the check word? In Russian if we don't know how to spell a certain unstressed vowel in some cases we can find the check word ( проверочное слово ) which prompts us how to spell the word. For…
Fatimahon
- 395
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10
votes
1 answer
Is there a strategy Japanese ELLs can use to spell English words derived from Japanese?
I would like native speakers of Japanese, when writing in English, to use the correct English spelling of words that are derived from Japanese.
For example, I'd like them to write "tsunami" rather than "tunami". I'd also like them to write "Kyushu",…
Golden Cuy
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8
votes
2 answers
Which one is correct? "cancelled" or "canceled"
I am confused about the spelling of the past tense of the verb "cancel".
I googled a bit but everyone has a different opinion apparently. I need to know the correct standard spelling.
Maryam
- 2,375
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7
votes
1 answer
Spelling: "number", "enum(b)erate", "num(b)erator", and so on
Why has the English language preserved the letter "b" in the word "number", but not in words like "enumerate" or "numerator" or "numerology" and so on?
user114
7
votes
1 answer
Why is innovation spelt with 2 n's while renovation is spelt with 1?
Is there a consistent rule when you double the n's ?
user44445
- 71
- 2
4
votes
2 answers
Why "truly" instead of "truely"?
Is there any reason, historical or grammatical etc? Why isn't this tolerated like "judgement" or "blueish"?
I couldn't find related posts around here or EL&U forum as far as I searched. I'd truely appreciate your answers...
broccoli forest
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4
votes
2 answers
Have words' spellings anything to do with its origin? How to make a spelling by knowing its origin?
I love watching brilliant kids performing at contests. And, Spelling Competition is one of my favorite shows (no matter which country it's held in).
Check this video.
The kid on fifth minute of the video asks for the origin of the word. And not…
Maulik V
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3
votes
7 answers
Why can't I write a space between "an" and "other"?
Every time I have a space between them my answer or question gets edited. This answer suggests it's not a big deal.
Terve
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3
votes
3 answers
"accidentally" - Is "accidently" also acceptable?
I did some research and "accidentally" seems to be the proper spelling. However, some discussions mention that "accidently" is acceptable in informal writing and it is used quite frequently.
The reason "accidently" has become popular seems to be…
Rev
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3
votes
3 answers
Optimalization or optimization?
I am a little confused when I should be using Optimalization or optimization. Some dictionaries say Optimization is a noun of Optimalization, but I have no idea what they mean by that.
Some of the sentences I would like to use it in:
I am writing…
Summer
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