How Good Is Your Spelling?

By: Isadora Teich
Estimated Completion Time
1 min
How Good Is Your Spelling?
Image: Morsa Images/ DigitalVision/gettyimages

About This Quiz

Are you a spelling genius who can't be fooled by even English's trickiest words? While some languages are generally phonetic, meaning that they sound like they are spelled with only a small number of exceptions, the English language is not. Letters combine in unique ways to make unique sounds, and in some cases and in many words, some letters seem to not be pronounced in different ways. English words are full of silent letters. Often, two words can look similar and be pronounced completely differently. Frequently, they even look different but sound roughly the same.   

English is such a tricky language to learn that new students of it are often in for a struggle. Even lifelong speakers can struggle with it, and many native speakers cannot spell very well. This is because English can seem to have almost no constant rules at times. For example; they're, their and there all sound exactly the same. However, these words all are spelled very differently and mean very different things when used in the proper context.  

If you are a spelling whiz who loves a good spelling bee, put your English language skills to the ultimate test with this HowStuffWorks spelling quiz! 

Mesopotamia was home to an ancient ___________.
sivilisation
civillizatian
civilization
ssiveliesatian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Civilization is a noun. It is considered the most advanced stage of human development.

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An _______ was watching over me.
anjell
angill
angle
angel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Angel is a noun. An angel is a celestial being.

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Work is his _________.
prioritie
priarity
priority
proterty
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Priority is a noun. It is something considered more important than other things.

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He has good __________.
cualties
qualities
quallitees
quailities
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Qualities is a plural noun. A quality is a standard, level or degree of excellence.

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He's an ________ musician.
enfluenshial
influential
anfulential
innfluental
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Influential is an adjective. It describes someone who has had a big influence on someone or something.

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The caterpillar built a ________.
cocoon
cuckoon
cachoon
kockune
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cocoon is a noun. In this context, it's a case larvae spin for protection so they can grow.

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That's not __________.
acurate
acurite
ackurrate
accurate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If something is accurate, it is correct. Accu+rate=accurate.

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That's your ________.
oppinian
opinonion
opinion
opanian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Opinion is a noun. It's a view or judgement of something that is not necessarily based in fact.

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She's a talented ________.
athlete
athaleet
athelete
athlite
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Athlete is a noun. An athlete is someone who is proficient in sports or some other kind of physical activity.

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We went to her favorite _________.
restaurant
rusturent
restuarant
restorrent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Restaurant is a noun. It's also a place to go when you're too tired to cook.

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He filled the tank with _________.
gassoline
gasolean
gasoline
gasollien
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gasoline is a noun. It is used to fuel vehicles and more.

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They aren't _________.
religious
rellegos
reeligious
realijus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Religious is an adjective. It relates to the belief or doctrine of religion.

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I am a _________.
surgeon
sirgin
soorgun
surjon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Surgeon is a noun. It is someone qualified to practice surgery.

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He's __________ my brother.
basickally
bacecly
basically
bassicalie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Basically is an adverb. It means fundamentally.

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This information is ___________.
konfidental
confidential
canfiedental
connfidentail
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Confidential is an adjective. This word describes something that is meant to be kept secret.

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Some take ________ vitamins.
escental
essential
excental
esentall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Essential is an adjective. It describes something that is incredibly necessary or important.

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__________ is important.
exercise
eksorsize
exorsise
exorsize
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Exercise is a noun. It is activity which requires physical effort.

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I am a _________.
foriner
forregner
fourinur
foreigner
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Foreigner" is a noun. It a person who was not born in the country they are currently in.

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Basic _________ is important.
higene
hygeine
highjeine
hygiene
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hygiene is a noun. It is the practices which lead to maintaining health and cleanliness.

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I ___________ books.
illustrate
ilustait
illistrat
illustrant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Illustrate is a verb. It can mean to provide something written with pictures or to explain something.

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She has a great _________.
inntelect
intellect
intelekt
intellict
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Intellect is a noun. It is someone's ability to reason or understand abstract or academic matters.

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They live on an _______.
eyeland
island
issland
ieland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Island is a noun. An island is a piece of land surrounded by water.

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Some people keep a ___________.
jurnalle
journal
jernalle
jirnul
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Journal is a noun. It can be either a newspaper or magazine that deals with a professional activity or a personal diary.

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There's thunder and _________.
llightning
lightening
lightning
leyetning
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lightning is a noun. It is a natural occurrence, often during storms, where a high voltage electrical discharge occurs in the clouds.

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He lives in a ________.
mannsion
mansian
mansion
manshin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A mansion is a large, impressive house. It is a noun.

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He overcame the _________.
obstacle
obstickle
obbstakle
obstickul
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Obstacle is a noun. An obstacle is anything that blocks the way or prevents progress.

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It's an _______ T-shirt.
hordinarie
ordinary
ordinerry
orrdinarry
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ordinary is an adjective. It is used to describe something common or normal.

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Let's go on a ________.
picnic
picknic
piccnick
pecnec
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Picnic can be a noun or verb. It is a meal eaten outdoors or taking part in an occasion where a meal is eaten outdoors.

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She drank ________.
poeson
poison
poisin
piosine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Poison is a noun or verb. It is a substance capable of causing harm or death or the act of using such a substance.

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The child is full of ________.
kuriosity
curiositie
curiosity
kuriocity
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Curiosity is a noun. It is a strong desire to know something or learn.

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What's the __________?
solution
sollushun
soulutin
sallushin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Solution is a noun. It is the way to solve a problem or handle a situation.

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The student left school due to a ________ emergency.
midicall
medical
medicle
medicalle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Medical is an adjective. It relates to the science of medicine or to the treatment of ailments and injuries.

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I'm so _________.
grateful
greatful
gratfull
graetfill
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Grateful is an adjective. It means feeling or showing appreciation for others' kindness.

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I gave my __________.
anallasis
analysis
unalisis
analliesiss
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Analysis is a noun. It is a detailed examination of the parts or structure of something.

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Knitting is her favorite ________.
passtime
pasttime
pasteim
pastime
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pastime is a noun. A pastime is a hobby.

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