inoculate
Correct spelling of the word meaning to vaccinate or introduce a pathogen for immunity. Often misspelled innoculate (with double n). Remember: one n.
Take This Spelling Test
Spelling Practice · Source
Step 1 of 1
Introduction
Even in the most painstakingly edited of magazines, a silly little misspelling of a perfectly common word will occasionally appear. How the error eluded the collective and watchful eyes of the editor, the associate editor, the assistant editor, the typesetter, and the proofreader, no one will ever know—for practically every reader of the magazine spots it at once and writes an indignant letter, beginning: “Didn’t you ever go to school …?”
Even if you went to school, you’re going to have plenty of trouble spotting the one misspelled word in each group below. And not one of these words will be a demon like sphygmomanometer (a device for measuring blood pressure) or piccalilli (a highly seasoned relish), which no one would ever dare spell without first checking with a dictionary. On the contrary, every word will be of the common or garden variety that you might use every day in your social or business correspondence.
Nevertheless, you’re letting yourself in for ten minutes of real trouble, for you will be working with fifty particularly difficult spelling words. So put on your thinking cap before you begin.
A half-dozen high school teachers who took this test were able to make an average score of only five proper choices. Can you do better? Six or seven right is very good, eight or nine right is excellent, and 100 per cent success marks you as an absolute expert in English spelling.
Check the only misspelled word in each group.
The Spelling Test
Score: 0 / 0 out of 10
A. Check the one misspelled word:
The correct spelling is inoculate (one n).
B. Check the one misspelled word:
The correct spelling is occurrence (double r, double c).
C. Check the one misspelled word:
The correct spelling is analyze.
D. Check the one misspelled word:
The correct spelling is drunkenness (double n).
E. Check the one misspelled word:
The correct spelling is proceed.
F. Check the one misspelled word:
The correct spelling is noticeable (keep the e).
G. Check the one misspelled word:
The correct spelling is weird.
H. Check the one misspelled word:
The correct spelling is perseverance.
I. Check the one misspelled word:
The correct spelling is irresistible (ends in -ible).
J. Check the one misspelled word:
The correct spelling is exhilarate (one l).
Answer Key
KEY: A–3 (inoculate), B–5 (occurrence), C–1 (analyze), D–2 (drunkenness), E–4 (proceed), F–2 (noticeable), G–1 (weird), H–5 (perseverance), I–4 (irresistible), J–5 (exhilarate)
Word List
The ten commonly misspelled words from this spelling test, with correct spellings.
10 words
occurrence
Correct spelling meaning an incident or event. Often misspelled occurence. Remember: double r, double c.
analyze
Correct spelling meaning to examine in detail. Often misspelled analize. One of only two non-technical words ending in -yze (the other is paralyze).
drunkenness
Correct spelling meaning the state of being intoxicated. Often misspelled drunkeness. Remember: drunken + -ness = double n.
proceed
Correct spelling meaning to go forward. Often misspelled procede. One of only three words ending in -ceed (succeed, proceed, exceed).
noticeable
Correct spelling meaning capable of being noticed. Often misspelled noticable. Keep the e before -able to preserve the soft c sound.
weird
Correct spelling meaning strange or uncanny. Often misspelled wierd. An exception to the “i before e” rule.
perseverance
Correct spelling meaning continued effort despite difficulty. Often misspelled perseverence. Ends in -ance, not -ence.
irresistible
Correct spelling meaning impossible to resist. Often misspelled irresistable. Ends in -ible, not -able.
exhilarate
Correct spelling meaning to make lively or cheerful. Often misspelled exhillarate (double l) or exhilerate. One l, like hilarity.