How to Improve English Spelling: Tips & Techniques

It’s no secret that English spelling is hard to master—not only for those who learn the language but for native speakers as well. The reason for this is that English is a language with roots in multiple language families. Despite being a West Germanic language, it was isolated from the rest of the family’s languages, and it also has evident influences from Old Norse (North Germanic family) and Norman French (Romance family).

As a result, English has numerous ways to spell a single sound and many different sounds for each spelling. However, it is not impossible to learn this language’s unique spelling. If you’re wondering how to improve your spelling in English, we have compiled a list of helpful tips and techniques!

Why English spelling is important

Learning how to spell in English is not just important—it is necessary.

English is an international language and the de facto default language to use when communicating in any country where neither speaker understands the other’s native language. It is also a widely used language in industry, academia, social media, and many other areas of everyday life.

It is critical that we write correctly in any language we are using. That is not a whim or a fixation on “correctness.” This is because different spellings can often convey completely different meanings. Furthermore, learning spelling and etymology will prepare you to understand and pronounce new words more accurately.

Let’s take a look at some important aspects of learning how to spell words in English.

What you should pay attention to when learning English spelling

If you wonder how to learn English spelling, then you should focus on many different aspects of the language. Let’s go through some of them.

Consistency in spelling by country

Before you memorize spelling rules, you should decide which country’s spelling you want to learn. There are two spelling systems: British and American. Furthermore, while Australian English adheres more closely to British spelling, Canadian English employs both spellings.

A good strategy is to learn both spellings and remember the differences between them when determining which one you need for each context. For instance, learn the difference between the -or/-our and -ise/-ize suffixes, and remember that the former is British and the latter is American.

Learn the rules & the exceptions

To learn how to spell words correctly, certain rules must be followed. While it is easier said than done, you can still start by identifying common word patterns, for instance, or the typical conjugation patterns. While English appears to be a language gone rogue, there are some spelling rules to follow.

Of course, it is also important to learn each exception to the rule you are learning. For example, a common English rule dictates that suffixes beginning with a vowel (e.g., -ous or -able) when added to words ending in -e, cause the -e to drop (e.g., argue à arguing). However, that is not the case with words ending in -ge or -ce, where the -e is retained (e.g., interchange à interchangeable). Try to learn these exceptions by memorizing them.

Check word origins

Learning about the origins of a word might be a very useful way to learn how to spell it correctly. You will realize that a lot of English words have Greek, Germanic, or Latin roots. Knowing the etymology of words may make it easier for you to remember spelling rules. For example, the Latin root word mal- means “bad,” and its meaning is retained in English words such as “malicious,” “malpractice,” “maladjusted,” and others. This makes it easier to learn the spelling and meaning of English words.

Prefixes and suffixes

Learning common prefixes, i.e., the parts added at the beginning of a word, will open the door to a world of new meanings! As we mentioned above, mal- signifies something that is inherently bad. In the same way, you have ben- for anything “good,” un- for the opposite of something, e- for everything digital, and so on.

The same goes for suffixes, i.e., the parts added to the end of a word to form a new type of word or word class. So, learning the spelling of suffixes that are from gerunds (-ing) or adjectives (e.g., -ous) will make it easier to memorize the spellings of similar words.

Homophones

Last but not least, pay attention to homophones. Homophones are words that have identical or very similar pronunciations but different spellings and meanings. Homophones are one of the trickiest parts of each language’s vocabulary, even for native speakers!

Some common English homophones to pay attention to are:

• accept // except
• affect // effect
• cite // sight // site
• compliment // complement
• eminent // imminent
• ensure // insure
• its // it’s
• lose // loose
• right // rite // write
• there // their // they’re
• whose // who’s
• your // you’re

10 Tips and techniques to improve your English spelling

All of the above may appear intimidating but don’t worry. There are several techniques and tips on how to get better at spelling in English. Below, you will find 10 effective tips for improving your English spelling!

Constant practice with an English tutor

When you learn a new language, it’s really hard to make it on your own. On LiveXP, you can choose an English teacher to guide you through the process. Why to do it? An English tutor can recognize a learner’s weaknesses and build a strategy to strengthen them. Who can help you better than a teacher?! On LiveXP, you can also get a Personalized Learning Path to master all English skills. It is a customized lesson plan for 1-on-1 lessons and self-study exercises in the app. In online 1-on-1 lessons, students practice all English skills or focus on the most important ones. In addition, you can choose a tutor who shares your interests to make the lessons more interesting and helpful. With private lessons and AI-powered exercises in the app, a learner will definitely succeed.

Mnemonic devices

Mnemonics are an excellent way to help you remember, well, anything. It’s always more enjoyable to find or create something that helps you remember how the word is written. This could be a rhyme, a song, an acronym, or anything that helps you retain the information needed. A really fun mnemonic is: “Rhythm – Rhythm helps your two hips move.”

Break it down into chunks (syllables)

Sometimes, words are just downright long and difficult. An excessively long and complicated series of letters with seemingly no way to be remembered. In that case, you should break the word down into smaller chunks or to its syllables and learn them individually. That way, you can remember each sound separately and then combine them all together to get the final result.

Write out spellings and generally write

Even though it’s a widely known learning technique, we felt compelled to repeat it here: writing something down is one of the most effective ways to learn it. Do you see a word that seems difficult to remember? Write it down. Does this phrase sound strange? Write it down. You can’t remember the days of the week? Write them down!

And don’t limit your writing practice to learning a word’s spelling. You should try to write in your target language as much as possible. By writing constantly, you “force” yourself to remember the words and spellings you’ve already learned. Seek out opportunities to write in English, use the words you’ve learned, and look up any spelling you don’t know as you go.

The Word Trainer on LiveXP can easily help you learn words’ spelling and meanings. Just open the LiveXP app, go to the Word Trainer tab, add a new word or a phrase, and save it to learn later. Word Trainer helps you learn vocabulary with a spaced repetition method. You will not only see the word with its meaning on your phone’s screen, but you will also practice it to recognize it by hearing and using it in the context. This way, you will memorize the meaning and spelling of these words.

Keep a list of spellings

At the end of the day, certain words will just be your Kryptonite. There will be no possible way to memorize them, and you will constantly mix them up or make mistakes. But this is not a problem! Many writers, and even editors, keep a list of words they frequently misspell, so why shouldn’t you?

Create your own “difficult-to-spell” list and keep it with you at all times. That way, you won’t become frustrated if you forget something.

Don’t rely on spellcheckers

Built-in spellcheckers in text editors and messaging apps are extremely useful and can assist you with words that you spell incorrectly. However, they are not always dependable. Not in the sense that they will not correct any mistakes you have made. However, in some cases, a word may be misspelled, but it is still a valid word. So, it is incorrect in the given context of the sentence, but spellcheckers will not flag it. This is particularly common with abbreviations, pronouns, and possessives such as “your” and “you’re.”

Put flashcards everywhere

The second half of our list addresses the question of how to learn spelling while having fun. A fun way is to make posters and flashcards of the words you frequently misspell and display them around the house. Try to study them for a couple of minutes each day or try to remember them without looking. You can even decorate them with drawings or use your mnemonic devices to make learning more fun.

Read, read, read

To improve your English spelling, make a habit of reading in English. Every day, we come across something written in English, whether on social media or in signs and advertisements. But that is insufficient for learning the language. Reading English-language books, short stories, or even blog articles is an excellent way to learn the language while also memorizing spelling. Reading on a regular basis will undoubtedly improve your vocabulary and spelling skills.

Do crossword puzzles and spelling quizzes

Puzzles and crosswords are a great way to improve your spelling while also challenging your brain. There are numerous types of such quizzes to practice spelling, including:

• crosswords, where you complete boxes horizontally and vertically with words given some clues;
• codewords, basically crosswords with extra numbers;
• word search, where you try to find hidden words horizontally, vertically, and diagonally in a table of letters;
• online spelling quizzes.

You can also use online trainers, such as LiveXP’s Word Trainer, which helps you memorize words effectively through the spaced repetition method.

Play word games

If you are a person who values spending time with friends, then you can elevate your learning experience to another level by playing with others! For instance, you could organize spelling competitions with friends or play games like Hangman, where you can practice your vocabulary spelling. Of course, if you want to step up your game, you can opt for a classic game of Scrabble that will have you struggling to find the perfect and more difficult word to win.

Watch TV with subtitles

Last but not least, why not turn a pastime activity into a passive learning opportunity? As music and podcasts help with listening, subtitles in movies help with spelling. Not only should you turn on the English subtitles when watching a movie or a TV series in English, but you can also do the same when watching a program in your native language. This could be even more beneficial because you won’t have to pay as much attention to what is said and can instead focus on what is written.

How to improve English spelling—one last thing

If you’re wondering how to improve spelling in English, the tips and techniques listed above can be a great starting point on your journey to fluency. Still, the most effective way to learn all English skills – particularly rules – is through a lesson with an English tutor. The experienced tutors of LiveXP can help you perfect your English spelling, and you can benefit from one-on-one learning tailored to your specific needs. Keep on learning, and best of luck!