Quiz on 25 Commonly Misspelled Words

Marshmallows on a red surface.

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In each of the following pairs, only one is a word; the other is a common misspelling of that word. Guided by the brief definition, see if you can identify the correctly spelled word in each set. Then, compare your answers to the ones on the bottom of the page.

Commonly Misspelled Words Quiz

  1. The act or process of absorbing something; occupying the full attention or interest: (a) absorbtion (b) absorption
  2. Happening unexpectedly or by chance: (a) accidentally (b) accidently
  3. Lying beyond what is evident; deliberately and deceptively concealed: (a) alterior (b) ulterior
  4. Relating to the North Pole or the region near it: (a) Arctic (b) Artic
  5. The character * used as a reference mark in printing: (a) asterick (b) asterisk
  6.  At a basic level or in a basic manner: (a) basically (b) basicly
  7. Acknowledging someone's achievements or good fortune: (a) congradulations (b) congratulations
  8. Certain, clearly defined, having distinct limits: (a) definate (b) definite
  9. Terrible, calamitous: (a) disasterous (b) disastrous
  10. To cause someone to feel self-conscious or ill at ease: (a) embarass (b) embarrass
  11. A perfect example of a class or type: (a) epitome (b) epitomy
  12. The systematic study and description of a language: (a) grammar (b) grammer
  13. Serious, grave, causing pain or anguish: (a) grievious (b) grievous
  14. A sweet white confection: (a) marshmallow (b) marshmellow
  15. The science of numbers and their operations: (a) mathematics (b) mathmatics
  16. A low indistinct sound; an abnormal sound of the heart: (a) murmer (b) murmur
  17. A legislative body or a formal conference for the discussion of public affairs: (a) parliament (b) parliment
  18. A right or privilege held by a person or group: (a) perogative (b) prerogative
  19. Within the limits of ability: (a) possible (b) possable
  20. A right or immunity granted as a benefit or favor: (a) priviledge (b) privilege
  21. Endorse as fit or worthy: (a) recommend (b) recomend
  22. Irreverence toward a hallowed person, place, or thing: (a) sacreligious (b) sacrilegious
  23. Not fully worked out or agreed on: (a) tenative (b) tentative
  24. A disastrous event: (a) tradegy (b) tragedy
  25. Wordiness: (a) verbage (b) verbiage

Answer Key

  1. (b) absorption
  2. (a) accidentally
  3. (b) ulterior
  4. (a) Arctic
  5. (b) asterisk
  6. (a) basically
  7. (b) congratulations
  8. (b) definite
  9. (b) disastrous
  10. (b) embarrass
  11. (a) epitome
  12. (a) grammar
  13. (b) grievous
  14. (a) marshmallow
  15. (a) mathematics
  16. (b) murmur
  17. (a) parliament
  18. (b) prerogative
  19. (a) possible
  20. (b) privilege
  21. (a) recommend
  22. (b) sacrilegious
  23. (b) tentative
  24. (b) tragedy
  25. (b) verbiage
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Your Citation
Nordquist, Richard. "Quiz on 25 Commonly Misspelled Words." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/quiz-on-commonly-misspelled-words-1692340. Nordquist, Richard. (2020, August 29). Quiz on 25 Commonly Misspelled Words. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/quiz-on-commonly-misspelled-words-1692340 Nordquist, Richard. "Quiz on 25 Commonly Misspelled Words." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/quiz-on-commonly-misspelled-words-1692340 (accessed March 29, 2024).