How do you help students tackle words with multiple accepted spellings (like “gray” vs. “grey”)?
3 answers from our tutors
Best answer
This would depend on their goals. If they are learning English for academic purposes it would be important to ask what version (British or American) their curriculum follows and take that route. But if it is just for casual conversational English I don't think it would so much of a big deal. But make sure you clarify this with them first. Let them know the difference and ask whether their future achievement goals will be affected by this.
There are many techniques: contextual learning, teaching difference in usage, memory aids and many more.
The difference between the words is their spellings but the meaning is the same. So, the difference between the spellings depends on where you are at the moment.If you live in America, most of the time you will find its spelling “Gray”. However, if you are in any other English-speaking nation other than America, the spelling “Grey” will be preferred.
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