Quiz on 25 Commonly Misspelled Words

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