Commonly Misspelled Words For Different Banking & Govt Exams

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Spelling mistakes are common in English, especially during exams like SSC CGL, CHSL, IBPS PO, SBI Clerk, and other government job tests. Many English words look tricky because of double letters, silent letters, or confusing rules. Knowing the correct spellings can help you score better in the English section, especially in questions like error spotting, fill in the blanks, and descriptive writing. In this blog, we’ve shared a list of important and commonly misspelled words that often appear in competitive exams.

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Tips and Tricks to Avoid Spelling Mistakes

Spelling errors can cost you marks in competitive exams like SSC and Banking. Use these simple tips to improve your accuracy and confidence in the English section.

Learn Commonly Misspelled Words
Keep a personal list of tricky words and revise them regularly.
Use Mnemonics
Use memory aids like: “i before e except after c” – e.g., believe, receive, Necessary has 1 collar (c) and 2 sleeves (s)

Break the Word into Parts
Divide big words into syllables.
Example: En-vi-ron-ment, Sep-a-rate
Practice with Dictation
Regularly write words you hear. It improves listening and spelling together.
Read Daily
Reading newspapers and books helps you visually recognize the correct spelling of words.
Use Spell-Check During Practice
Write on Word or any editor with a spell-check. Note the errors and learn from them.
Revise Word Families
Learn root words and related forms.
Example: decide, decision, decisive
Avoid Over-Reliance on Auto-Correct
Practice writing without any spell-check tools. This prepares you for exams where there’s no help.
Focus on Homophones
Words that sound the same but are spelled differently, like their, there, they’re. Understand their usage.
Revise Before Submitting
If your exam includes writing, always leave a minute or two to proofread your work.

Most Commonly Misspelled Words for Competitive Exams

Spelling mistakes can cost marks in SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO, SBI Clerk, and other exams. Below is a list of high-frequency words often misspelled. The correct spelling is given alongside. Review these regularly to improve accuracy in the English section.

Incorrect Spelling	Correct Spelling	Notes
absense	absence	Watch the silent “e”
adress	address	Requires two “d”
advise / advice	advise (verb) / advice (noun)	Different spellings for verb and noun
alot	a lot	Always two words
aquit	acquit	Double “c” and “t”
arguement	argument	No extra “e”
artic	arctic	Includes a “c”
begining	beginning	Double “n”
beleive	believe	“i before e except after c”
broccolli	broccoli	Two “c”s and one “l”
calender	calendar	Ends with “-ar”
cemetry	cemetery	Ends with “-ery”
cieling	ceiling	Spelled “cei”
changable	changeable	Keep the “e”
collegue	colleague	Ends with “-gue”
concious	conscious	Often missing letters
decieve	deceive	“i before e after c”
definately	definitely	No “a” in the middle
embarass	embarrass	Double “r” and “s”
enviroment	environment	Includes an “n”
experiance	experience	Ends with “-ence”
Febuary	February	Don’t omit the “r”
goverment	government	Includes “n”
gratefull	grateful	One “l”
harrass	harass	One “r”
independant	independent	Ends with “-ent”
liason	liaison	Tricky “ia”
libary	library	Includes an “r”
maintainance	maintenance	Ends with “-ance”
millenium	millennium	Double “l” and “n”
miniture	miniature	Spelled “-ature”
mispell	misspell	Double “s”
neccessary	necessary	One “c,” double “s”
occassion	occasion	One “s”
occurence	occurrence	Double “r” and “c”
peice	piece	“i before e” rule
recieve	receive	“e before i after c”
rythm	rhythm	Only one “h”
sissors	scissors	Double “s”
seperate	separate	Ends with “-arate”
sinserely	sincerely	“c” instead of “s”
truely	truly	No “e” after “l”
untill	until	One “l”
Wensday	Wednesday	Silent “d”
wierd	weird	“e before i” in this case

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Commonly Misspelled Words for Competitive Exams -FAQs

Q1. Why are spelling mistakes common in SSC and banking exams?

Ans: High pressure and complex word patterns (double letters, silent letters) often lead to errors under time constraints.

Q2. How can I remember “necessary” spelling?

Ans: Think “one collar (c) and two sleeves (s)” to recall the correct form.

Q3. How do I avoid mixing up “its” and “it’s”?

Ans: Remember its is possessive; it’s is a contraction of “it is.”

Q4. How often should I revise my personal word list?

Ans: Daily or bi-weekly reviews ensure you retain the correct spellings under exam pressure.

Q5. What’s the best way to practice commonly misspelled words?

Ans: Use dictation exercises, write the words repeatedly, and test yourself in timed quizzes.

Aadib Nagori

Hello, I’m a content writer working at Oliveboard. I focus on creating blogs, articles, and educational content that’s simple, clear, and saves time for readers. I believe in writing that adds real value without overcomplicating things. I also have strong knowledge of banking and government exams, which helps me create content that is both accurate and easy to understand. With experience and consistency, I aim to make preparation smoother for every learner.