Spelling UnforgivablesWhat you need to know before you write ANYTHING. Part I

Accept and Except

•Accept: to agree to, acknowledge, or understand

“I happily accept this award!”

•Except: to exclude or to hold separateHint: the “x” is like crossing something out“Everyone except Dana wore sneakers

today.”

Desert and Dessert

•Desert: a barron regionThe desert was hot and dry.

•Dessert: a yummy treat Hint: “ss” means more dessert for youI cannot wait to eat banana cream pie for

dessert.

Here and Hear

•Here: Where you are; nowHint: “here” and “there” are both locationsMrs. Ritt’s desk is right here.

•Hear: listen toHint: “hear” has the word “ear” in itI hope you can hear my voice in the back of

the room.

Hole and Whole

•Hole: gap, opening, punctureBe careful not to step in the hole!

•Whole: entire, complete, totalMrs. Ritt can eat a whole bag of popcorn by

herself.

Its and It’s

•Its: possessive pronoun without an apostrophe (its, his, hers, my, ours, theirs, yours)

Let’s give the dog its bath.Its tail is wagging!

•It’s: short for it is or it hasIt’s time to catch that fly! (it is) It’s been nice talking with you. (it has)

No and Know

•No: rejection, refusal, vetoNo, you cannot eat my dessert!

•Know: recognize, identify, be acquainted with

I know your older sister very well.

A lot

•A lot: many, a large number, a great dealHint: “a lot” has two words and that’s a lot

for so few lettersThis weekend, Mrs. Ritt pulled a lot of

weeds in her garden.

About

•About: approximately, almost, roughly; concerning, on the subject of

My library has about 400 books in it.I would like to talk to you about the math

test.

Aloud and Allowed

•Aloud: out loud, noisilyMrs. Ritt reads aloud to us each day.

•Allowed: permitted, acceptable, toleratedWe are allowed to sit wherever we want

during independent work.

Alright and All Right

•Alright is NOT A WORD! But surprisingly, you will see it used in books from time to time!

•All Right: all correctMrs. Ritt said we got the answers all right!

Always

•Always: forever, at all time, constantlyMrs. Ritt always enjoys chocolate as a

dessert.

Beautiful

•Beautiful: fine-looking, attractive, handsome

Beauty is the name of the beautiful girl in Beauty and the Beast.

Because

•Because: since, as, for the reason thatMrs. Ritt was not in school because she had

a meeting.

Beginning

•Beginning: start, opening, creation ofAt the beginning of the school year, we had

a lot of rules to remember.

Different and Difference

•Different: unlike, special, diverseThe house looked a lot different after the

storm.

•Difference: distinction, variation, diversity

What’s the difference between navy and pale blue?

Does and Doesn’t

•Does: doHow does that idea sound to you?

•Doesn’t: Short for does notDoesn’t she look like someone famous?

Enough

•Enough: an adequate or sufficient amount

I’ve eaten enough, thank you!

Friend

•Friend: pal, buddy, associate, comradeMy friend and I walked to school together.

Now

•Now: at this time, this moment, currentlyNow you may begin your assignment.

Spelling UnforgivablesPart II

Morning and Mourning

•Morning: dawn, daybreak, sunriseThis morning, Mrs. Ritt went for a run.

•Mourning: grief, sorrow, sadnessI was in mourning after my cat died.

Hour and Our

•Hour: 60 minutesYou have an hour to complete this

assignment.

•Our: possessive for usI hope our project is a success.

Principle and Principal

•Principle: code, standard, beliefTo treat others the way you would want to

be treated is a good principle to live by. •Principal: chiefHint: Principal has the word pal in itMrs. Klimpl is the principal of our school.

Peace and Piece

•Peace: harmony, calm, tranquility, quietWe all enjoyed the peace after a hectic

school week.

•Piece: part, section, portionHint: Piece has the word pie in itMrs. Ritt ate a piece of pizza for lunch.

There, Their, and They’re

•There: near, hereHint: There has the word here in itYou will find scissors over there.

•Their: possessive for themTheir house is on the corner.

•They’re: short for they areThey’re going to the movies after school.

Your and You’re

•Your: possessive for youYour puppy is so adorable!

•You’re: short for you areI hope you’re enjoying this nice day.

Two, To, and Too

•Two: one plus oneI have two bunnies.

•To: on the way to, towardMrs. Ritt drives less then one mile to

school.

•Too: also, as well, besides, in additi0nHint: too has two Os (extra)I’d like to read that book too.

Threw and Through

•Threw: past tense for throwMr. Ritt threw the football but Mrs. Ritt

intercepted it.

•Through: from beginning to end, in the course of

We moved quickly and quietly through the hallway.

Buy, By, Bye

•Buy: to purchaseMrs. Ritt would like to buy an air

conditioner for her classroom.

•By: near, with, in through, as a result ofPlease sit by the fan so you can stay cool.

•Bye: short for good-bye, farewellBye Charlie, see you later.

Though

•Though: while, however, despite the fact, although

Mrs. Ritt likes football, though she likes ice hockey more.

Were, We’re, and Where

•Were: to have been, past tense of areWe were at the baseball field until dark.

•We’re: short for “we are”We’re going to take a break during the

seventh inning stretch.

•Where: someplace, here, thereWhere can I find a really good bakery?

Of and Off

•Of: indicates distance or separationWe are within a mile of downtown

Doylestown.

•Off: so as to be no longerTurn the lights off when you leave the

classroom.

Once and Often

•Once: one time, a long time agoI once was afraid of the dark.

•Often: a lot, frequently, regularlyI walk into town often.

Separate

•Separate: divide, disconnect, undo, take apart

Mrs. Ritt kept her vegetables separate from her chicken.

Mrs. Ritt had to separate two students who were arguing.

Could

•Could: past tense of can, possiblyCould you please hand me those papers?

Hurray!You are now a spelling unforgivable expert! Your writing will be impeccable!