The everyday words that people MUST know how to spell

There are all kinds of embarrassing Google searches. A weird rash, your ex, general knowledge you really should know… and all the words you can’t spell.

Many people today use search engines as a dictionary.

But which words are the hardest to spell?

The folks at Deciphered Words – a Scrabble cheater/helper site – looked at a year’s worth of Google search data to spill the beans.

Restaurant – 95,000 searches

It’s as simple as pie, right? Think again! That cluster of vowels in the middle makes this one challenging. Divide it into syllables: rest-tau-rant. Or, hey, imagine taking a rest, holding a “U” sign and ranting about something.

Pneumonia – 13,000 searches

The silent “p” will get you every time. Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs. The word itself is full of annoying extra letters. Hey, at least you probably don’t have to spell it very often.

Rate – 11,000 searches

How many people who did a Google search on this one gave up and said thank you? It starts awkwardly with the double “P.” Imagine someone hands you an apple as a thank you.

Reception – 9,700 searches

Finally one with a classic rule you’re probably familiar with: ‘I’ before ‘E’, except after ‘C’. This ticks the boxes, although that “PT” combination at the end is also tricky. Sorry, you’ll just have to memorize it.

Beautiful – 9,400 people

Yes, a little harder than beautiful. It helps to focus on the “beau” part – pretty or attractive. After that it goes pretty smoothly.

Cousin – 9,200 searches

Fear not, dear aunts and uncles, there’s a phrase you already know for this one: “I” for “E.” The “C” might scare you, but it’s after the “IE” combo.

Maintenance – 8,500 searches

You’re in complicated territory when multiple spots could be one letter or another. It doesn’t help that maintain – a word that feels like it should be spelled the same – is a little different. Break this word into syllables: maintenance.

Spark plug – 8,300 searches

This slang term means fancy or characteristic of luxury. And you will see many people spell it “boujee”. Remember it’s a fancy word and a “G” feels a bit fancier than a “J”, right? Right. After all, it comes from the word “bourgeoisie.”

Diarrhea – 8,200 searches

Bet you knew one was coming. Imagine the urgency with which Google users typed those letters. There is no shortage of ways to spell this error. Remember the double “R” + “H” to correctly spell this stomach-churning word.

Congratulations – 7,100 searches

We’re willing that it’s that “T” in the middle that trips people up the most. As most of us pronounce it, it could be a “D” instead. Just remember “congratulations” or that you are “congratulations”, and you’re on the right track.