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Avoid Words That Are Hard To Spell With These Synonyms

Texts to mom. Emails to your boss. Resumes. Cover letters. Job applications. Orthography is everywhere, and, even if you’re a master speller, most folks have that one word that has proven to be their spelling kryptonite.

Now for a little good news. There’s a secret to skirting those spelling speed bumps without revealing your fatal flaw: substitute a synonym.

diarrhea

https://twitter.com/amansnivis/status/1022649758647635970

Unfortunately, even Thesaurus.com can’t ward off a case of diarrhea. But, we can give you some options to describe what’s been keeping you in the bathroom all weekend:

  • Montezuma’s revenge
  • the runs
  • the trots

necessary

Are there two Ss? Or, is necessary like occasion with the double c and single s?

You could use this mnemonic to remember how to spell it: “A shirt has one collar and two sleeves.” But, it’s not always necessary to write this one out. Try slipping one of these synonyms in its place instead:

  • crucial
  • fundamental
  • imperative
  • indispensable
  • mandatory
  • needed

separate

https://twitter.com/AdorkableWriter/status/1023010474890342400

Separate yourself from the shame of stumbling over this commonly misspelled word. Choose one of these options instead:

  • free
  • independent
  • isolated
  • detached
  • disassociated

definitely

https://twitter.com/Middleinamerica/status/1023006820678414337

Sure, you could just remind yourself that this word has “finite” in the middle, but if it’s so complicated do you really need to write it out. Most definitely not, especially when you can pull up Thesaurus.com’s ways to write around it:

  • absolutely
  • clearly
  • decidedly
  • finally
  • obviously
  • surely
  • undeniably
  • unquestionably

committee

You could try recalling that a committee is made up of multiple people, so you might as well double up on the M, the T, and the E. Or, you could call on any of these folks to help you out:

  • panel
  • task force
  • commission

acquiesce

https://twitter.com/GrandCacti/status/1022646479863906304

We concur that it can be tough to remember all of those Cs in acquiesce. Good thing you’ve got another way to say it:

  • cave in
  • comply
  • concur
  • conform
  • give in
  • go along

restaurant

Grab your fork, and dive into these other places to eat:

  • dining room
  • outlet
  • joint
  • eatery

vacuum

https://twitter.com/darlinshel/status/1023007763243388931

It’s not ridiculous to have trouble spelling the word vacuum, we promise. If you’re using the word to talk about your least favorite cleaning appliance … we don’t have many other options for you. But, if you’re talking about “a space entirely devoid of matter” then try these synonyms out instead:

  • nothingness
  • gap

exercise

https://twitter.com/LKottis/status/1023080419183472640

There’s a way around that awkward C and X conundrum. Throw on a pair of sneakers, and:

  • work out
  • condition
  • limber up

embarrassing

https://twitter.com/katganern/status/1023245253887778816

There’s nothing embarrassing about writing your way around embarrassing. Try one of these to save yourself the red face:

  • awkward
  • confusing
  • disconcerting
  • distressing
  • perplexing
  • puzzling
  • shameful