Spelling Words

Week 1

Taken from Dictionary of Misspelled and Easily Confused Words

1. a while – a short time

It might be a while before he returns from his errand.

2. awhile – for a short time

We will rest awhile before continuing our hike.

3. acts – plural of act

She acts differently when she is with her family.

4. axe – a hand-held chopping tool

He cut the wood with the axe.

5. ad – abbreviation of advertisement

I answered the ad for a job.

6. add – to increase in number

I add money to my piggy bank each week.

7. addition – an increase

We will have a new addition to our family when my little brother is born.

8. edition – a version of a published book

I own the first edition of Winnie the Pooh.

9. adze – a sharp cutting tool with a curved blade.

An adze is one of the tools used by a ship’s carpenter.

10. affect – (verb) to have an influence on

She was ill the day she took the CRCT; her illness affected her score.

11. effect - (noun) result

The effect of her illness was a low test score.

12. aid – to help

We aided the victims of the flood.

13. aide – a helper

She was a nurse’s aide during the summer.

14. air – the stuff you breathe

The air was fresh and clean after the rain.

15. err – to make a mistake

To err is human.

16. heir – a person who inherits something

Charlie is the heir to his father’s dry-cleaning business.

17. aired – to broadcast something

The President’s speech was aired on all the channels.

18. aisle – a path usually between rows of seats

The bride walked up the aisle.

19. isle – a small island

This summer we visited an isle off the coast of Mexico.

20. all – the whole of a number

All of my friends were at the party.

21. Awl – a sharp pointed tool used to puncture or etch.

To create the fine details in her work, the artist used an awl.