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Hard Words to Spell – A One-on-One Guide to Spell It Out

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Like every language, English also has simple and complex words. Many English words may sound the same but have different spelling. There are also certain words that sound simple but are really hard to spell. So, this is a guide for all those students who find themselves tangled in spelling errors frequently. Keep reading!

Why Are Some Words Hard To Spell?

You must have wondered why some words are hard to spell in English. The English language follows a set of rules when it comes to spelling. If you don’t know these rules, you will find more hard words to spell. Even simple words will seem confusing and challenging to spell. You should understand that there is such a thing as the world’s toughest spelling if you remember the rules. So, let me show you some common reasons why English words often seem hard to spell –

  • Differences in British and American English
  • English words with silent letters
  • Long words with multiple vowels
  • Homophones
  • Double consonants
  • Homonyms
  • Homographs
  • Confusion between “I” and “E”
  • “K” and “C” sound similar
  • Double vowels
  • Difficulty in understanding “EE” and “Y”
  • Confusion with “AE” and “EA”

List of a Few Hard Words with Meaning

WordTypeMeaning
ElucubrateVerbComposing something while working the whole night studiously
SmaragdineAdjectiveHaving the same colours as emeralds or related to emeralds
OdontalgiaNounToothache
EuonymNounA name that suits a person, place, or thing well
VivisepultureNounThe practice of burying alive
LogorrheaAdjectiveUsing excessive words incoherently
AutochthonousAdjectiveOriginating in the same place where it is native of
ProspicienceNounThe act of looking forward or foresightedness
LaodiceanAdjectiveIndifferent about politics or religion
EudaemonicAdjectiveCreating happiness
CymotrichousAdjectiveHaving curly or wavy hair
PrecociousAdjectiveAbnormally matured in terms of mental development
Questionnaire A list of survey questions
UnconsciousAdjectiveNot conscious or lacking awareness
Appoggiatura A tone coming before a melodic note
Ursprache A reconstructed parent language hypothetically. For example, Proto-Germanic is the parent language of all Germanic languages
Pococurante Nonchalant or indifferent
ChiaroscuristNounAn artist specialist in chiaroscuro
SuccedaneumNounA substitute
Xanthosis The yellowish discolouration of degenerative tissues
AcquiesceVerbComplying passively, accepting the inevitable
Antediluvian Describing the era before the Great Flood of the Bible
VengeanceNounPunishment for wrongdoings
ConscientiousAdjectiveParticular, careful, taking care
DemitasseNounA small-sized coffee cup
ChauffeurNounA person hired to drive private automobiles
OnomatopoeiaNounWords that resemble sounds of actions, like the mooing of a cow, or the meowing of a cat
ChrysanthemumNounWidely-cultivated plant with bright and colourful flowers
IdiosyncrasyNounA habit or mannerism that is peculiar to an individual

These are some of the hard words with meaning in English I can remember off the top of my mind. I am sure you will find some words familiar while others are not. Read these hard English words with meaning, and you will soon find yourself getting familiar with the hardest vocabulary.

Tips on How to Spell Hard Words

hard words to spell

So, you should have realised by now how easy it is to make spelling mistakes. But let me tell you that it is equally easy to become better at spelling. You don’t have to spend hours every day learning the most difficult English words or remembering the 10 most difficult words in English. You simply have to remember three basic rules –

1. Watch what others do

The first rule tells you to consider looking at what others people are doing. Different people use different techniques to spell different words. Observe the student who is competing in the spelling bee contest. They have to continuously spell out the most difficult spellings within a limited time. You will understand how to spell uncommon and challenging words correctly by following a sequence.

2. Consider the origins

The origin of the words is known as an etymology study. This study traces the lineage of the words and discovers them since when it was known to humans. By tracing the origins, you can learn about the root words, making it easier to spell out any challenging word.

3. Use your palms to spell

You can also try jotting down the spelling structures in your palm or on a piece of paper before spelling it out. Many words in English sound similar. Writing it down helps you be as close to the correct spelling as possible. Then you can make minor tweaks and spell out even the most difficult English words.

List of Hard Words to Spell in English

Usually, the English language takes inspiration from several languages to develop its words. There are traces of English in Latin, French, Greek, German, and many other languages. This is a reason why certain words are spelt differently in different countries. So, I have listed down some of the world’s toughest spellings for you –

Easy Words but Hard to Spell

  • Pharaoh
  • Misspell
  • Weird
  • Cemetery
  • Accommodate
  • Occasion
  • Intelligence
  • Calendar
  • Handkerchief
  • Pronunciation

Long Hard Words to Spell

  • Abgesang
  • Pochemuchka
  • Gobbledegook
  • Abacaxi
  • Kierkegaardian
  • Minuscule
  • Coelacanth
  • Sacrilegious
  • Fuchsia

Super Hard Words to Spell

  • Discernible
  • Condescend
  • Contemptuous
  • Unanimous
  • Acerbic
  • Penurious
  • Resplendent
  • Saccharine
  • Presbyterian
  • Bourgeois

Immensely Hard Words to Spell

  • Spectrophotofluorometrically
  • Antidisestablishmentarianism
  • Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
  • Floccinaucinihilipilification
  • Hepaticocholangiogastrostomy
  • Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
  • Psychoneuroendocrinological
  • Tergiversation
  • Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis
  • Trichotillomania
  • Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

Tricky Homophones to Spell

  • Hair and hare
  • Week and weak
  • Dear and deer
  • Flour and flower
  • Blue and blew
  • Die and dye
  • Hole and whole
  • Morning and mourning
  • Complement and compliment
  • Knot and not

Hard Words to Spell for School Students

  • Pneumonia
  • Chaos
  • Corollary
  • Liaison
  • Defalcation
  • Confetti
  • Braggadocio
  • Bizarre
  • Panache
  • Echelon

Hard Words to Spell for College Students

  • Discernible
  • Condescend
  • Contemptuous
  • Unanimous
  • Expunge
  • Insidious
  • Presbyterian
  • Boulevard
  • Teutonic
  • Superintendent

Hard Words to Spell for Adults

  • Andragogy
  • Acquiesce
  • Incongruous
  • Obfuscate
  • Malapropism
  • Juxtaposition
  • Soliloquy
  • Courvoisier
  • Cnemidocoptes
  • Connoisseur

Most Popular Questions Searched By Students

Q1. How can I remember the correct spelling of difficult words?

Ans. The right way to remember the correct spelling of challenging words is –

  • Develop short phrases for difficult words. For example, Necessary – 1 collar, 2 socks, because two S and one C in necessary.
  • Spell the mnemonics like a phrase. For example, Rhythm – Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move
  • Come up with rhyming words.

Q2. What are some common spelling mistakes that students make when trying to spell difficult words?

Ans. Some of the most common spelling mistakes students make are –

  • Single/Double Letters
  • Common Spelling Errors
  • Position of “e” and “i”
  • Confusion between “er” and “or”
  • Writing how you speak
  • Similar sounding words

Q3. Should I break down a difficult word into smaller parts to help me spell it?

Ans. If you want to spell the most difficult spellings, you can always break them down into manageable parts. It is easier to process and memorize a complex word once it is broken down.

Q4. Are there any tricks for mnemonics that can help me remember the spelling of difficult words?

Ans. If you find any hard words to spell, follow these mnemonics –

  • Big Elephants Can’t Always Use Small Exits
  • There’s always “A Rat” in Separate
  • Your Principal is Your Pal
  • A Dessert is a Sickly Sweet
  • Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move

Q5. What should I do if I’m not sure how to spell a word?

Ans.

  • First, look at the dictionary to find the meaning of the words
  • Observe how people pronounce the words and learn to say them accurately
  • Break complex words into syllables
  • Spell the broken-down words

Q6. How can I improve my spelling skills for difficult words?

Ans.

  • Use mnemonics
  • Learn the spelling rules
  • Revise words that are commonly misspelled
  • List down the words you find difficult to spell
  • Check the origin of the words from the dictionary
  • Speak it aloud

Q7. Are there any online tools or resources that can help me with difficult spelling?

Ans. Some online tools you can use to get help with challenging spelling are –

  • Language Tool
  • Typograf
  • Grammalecte
  • Thesaurus

Q8. What should I do if I keep misspelling the same difficult word?

Ans. If you keep misspelling a difficult word multiple times, follow these steps –

  • Check the convention you are writing in
  • Check any confusing suffixes
  • Come up with a customized “difficult to spell” list
  • Learn the correct pronunciations of the misspelled words

Q9. Why are some English words spelt differently than they sound?

Ans. The English language consists of borrowed sound patterns from various languages. So, many English words are spelt differently than in their original languages.

Q10. Are there any common prefixes or suffixes that can help me spell difficult words?

Ans. Yes, there are quite a few commonly used prefixes and suffixes in the English language that can help you spell different words. Some common prefixes are “re”, “dis”, “over”, “un”, “out”, and “mis”. Some common suffixes are “ise”, “en”, “(i)fy”, and “ate”.

Hi, I am Mark, a Literature writer by profession. Fueled by a lifelong passion for Literature, story, and creative expression, I went on to get a PhD in creative writing. Over all these years, my passion has helped me manage a publication of my write ups in prominent websites and e-magazines. I have also been working part-time as a writing expert for myassignmenthelp.com for 5+ years now. It’s fun to guide students on academic write ups and bag those top grades like a pro. Apart from my professional life, I am a big-time foodie and travel enthusiast in my personal life. So, when I am not working, I am probably travelling places to try regional delicacies and sharing my experiences with people through my blog. 

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