“Nothing you can’t spell will ever work.” Will Rogers (1879–1935)

I have modified that quote to: (1) acomodate, (2) accomodate, (3) accommodate, or (4) acommodate my sense. The correct answer: (3) accommodate, with two c’s and two m’s. My rule: “I never buy or eat anything I can’t spell,” which unfortunately eliminates many delicious French desserts.

A. Surprisingly, many commonly used words remain difficult to spell. Consider the word that indicates when a word is spelled incorrectly. Try your hand at selecting the correct spelling of: (1) mispel, (2) mispell, (3) misspel, or (4) misspell. The correct answer: (4) misspell, a double consonant word with two s’s and two l’s, remains a frequent miscue. To misspell the word ”misspell” remains a faux-pas, for which I had to research the correct spelling and pronunciation; “fox pass” will never do. A quick tip: place “mis” in front of “spell,” and you will spell “misspell” correctly every time.

B. From spells to smells, select the correct spelling of: (1) crysantheium, (2) chrysanthium, (3) chrysantheum, or (4) chrysanthemum. The correct answer is (4) chrysanthemum, proving that “ A chrysanthemum by any other name would be easier to spell.” William J Johnston (1918-1990.)

C. Whenever we misspell a word, the error may: (1) embarrass, (2) embarass, or (3) embaress. The correct answer: (1) embarrass, another double consonant word with two r’s and two s’s. To be sure, misspelling “embarrass” may prove embarrassing.

D. We are now on a roll, reaching a comfortable (1) rhythm, (2) rythm, (3) rhyhym, or (4) rhythum. The correct answer: (1) rhythm. This word, borrowed from the Greek language, is most unusual, as it avoids using any of the five vowels, but substitutes a “y,” sandwiched between “h”’s.

E. When a double consonant word arises, as in misspell and embarrass, we may call it an (1) ocurrence, (2) occurence, (3) occurrence, or (4) occurrance. The correct answer: (3) occurrence, hosting two c’s and two r’s. Words that contain double consonants present several potential variations, like: (1) committed, (2) comitted, (3) commited, or (4) comited. The correct answer: (1) committed, with two m’s and two t’s. Both words embody two double consonants, but other words may not. All in all, I earnestly (1) reccommend, (2) reccomend, (3) recommend, or (4) recomend memorizing the correct usage. The correct answer: (3) recommend, with a single double “m” consonant.

All the above identifies words that I have misspelled before. I collect them as an unusual (1) past time, (2) pastime, or (3) pasttime. The correct answer: (2) pastime. It sure FOOLLED me!