TEAS 7 English & Language Usage
Conventions of Standard English – Spelling (Commonly Misspelled Words)
Useful Tricks and High-Yield Strategies for Spelling (Commonly
Misspelled Words)
ATI TEAS Version 7 — Conventions
of Standard English
Unlike irregular plurals, spelling questions test your ability to
spot wrong letter combinations, silent letters, homophones, and common
prefixes/suffixes.
ð Trick #1: Know the TEAS “Top 30” Misspelled Words
These appear repeatedly on TEAS practice tests and the real exam.
Focus on the bolded tricky part.
|
Correct Spelling |
Common Wrong Spelling |
Trick / Memory Hook |
|
accommodate |
accomodate |
“Two c’s, two m’s” – double c,
double m |
|
occurred |
occured |
“One c, two r’s” – think cur (as in
current) |
|
separate |
seperate |
There’s a rat in separate |
|
definitely |
definately |
Contains finite – definitely finite |
|
necessary |
neccessary |
One c, two s’s – shirt has 1 collar,
2 sleeves |
|
recommend |
reccommend |
One c, two m’s |
|
embarrass |
embarass |
Two r’s, two s’s – you get red (r)
and shy (s) |
|
maintenance |
maintainance |
Mainte + nance – no “ai” after t |
|
privilege |
privelege |
No d – “privi + lege” |
|
receive |
recieve |
I before E except after C –
R-E-C-E-I-V-E |
|
believe |
beleive |
I before E – B-E-L-I-E-V-E |
|
weird |
wierd |
W-E-I-R-D – exception to I before E |
|
consensus |
concensus |
Consent + us – not “census” |
|
harass |
harrass |
One r, two s’s |
|
minuscule |
miniscule |
Minus + cule – tiny “minus” |
|
indispensable |
indispensible |
Ends in -able (not -ible) – can’t
“dispense” with it |
|
rhythm |
rythm |
Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move |
|
privilege |
priviledge |
No D – think “lege” (like college) |
|
publicly |
publically |
Public + ly – drop the e? No. It’s
just public + ly |
|
questionnaire |
questionaire |
Double n – many questions need
double the n |
|
broccoli |
brocolli |
One c, two l’s – B-R-O-C-C-O-L-I |
|
vacuum |
vaccuum |
One c, two u’s |
|
commitment |
committment |
One t – commit + ment (only one t in
total) |
|
misspell |
mispell |
Double s – mis + spell = two s’s |
|
weather |
whether |
Weather = air (has an a); Whether =
choice (has an h like “which”) |
|
their / there / they’re |
various |
Their = ownership (has heir); There
= place (has here); They’re = they are |
|
affect / effect |
various |
Affect = Action (verb); Effect = End
result (noun) |
|
lose / loose |
various |
Lose = lost the o (one o); Loose =
extra o (like a loose belt) |
|
than / then |
various |
Than = comparison (has an a like
“compare”); Then = time (has an e like “when”) |
|
your / you’re |
your |
You’re = you are (apostrophe
replaces a); Your = belonging to you |
ð§ Trick #2:
The “Silent Letter” Trap
TEAS loves words where people add
or omit silent letters.
|
Word |
Silent letter |
Common mistake |
Trick |
|
Wednesday |
d |
Wensday |
Wed + nes + day (wedding day) |
|
February |
r |
Febuary |
Feb + ruary – think “Feb-RU-ary” |
|
government |
n |
goverment |
Govern + ment – you govern |
|
environment |
n |
enviroment |
Environ + ment – iron in “viron” |
|
forehead |
— |
forhead |
Fore (front) + head |
|
handsome |
d |
hansome |
Hand + some – you have a hand |
|
castle |
t |
casle |
Cast + le – you cast a stone |
|
listen |
t |
lis en |
List + en – make a list to listen |
|
whistle |
t |
whisle |
Whist + le – like “whist” |
|
often |
t (optional) |
ofen |
TEAS often prefers silent t |
ðŠĪ Trick #3:
Homophone Traps (Sound-Alikes)
TEAS will give you a sentence with
the wrong homophone. Test meaning.
|
Homophone pair |
Meaning difference |
TEAS trick |
|
accept / except |
take in / exclude |
Except has an X |
|
advice / advise |
noun / verb |
Advice = ice; Advise = rise |
|
compliment / complement |
praise / completes |
Complement = complete |
|
desert / dessert |
dry land / sweet |
Dessert = double s |
|
principal / principle |
person / rule |
Principal = pal |
|
stationary / stationery |
not moving / paper |
Stationery = e |
|
than / then |
compare / time |
Than = a; Then = e |
|
there / their / they’re |
place / ownership / they are |
They’re = they are |
|
to / too / two |
direction / also / number |
Too = extra o |
|
whose / who’s |
belonging / who is |
Who’s = who is |
ðŊ Trick #4:
The “-ible” vs. “-able” Rule (TEAS preference)
|
Rule |
Explanation |
|
If root word is complete |
use -able |
|
If root word is not complete |
use -ible |
Examples
(-able): comfortable, dependable, remarkable, available
Examples (-ible): plausible, legible, eligible,
responsible
✅ Trick: real word root → -able,
unclear root → -ible
ð§Đ Trick #5:
Doubling Consonants – “1-2-3 Rule”
When adding -ed or -ing:
|
Base word |
Correct |
Mistake |
|
occur |
occurred |
occured |
|
refer |
referred |
refered |
|
commit |
committed |
commited |
|
begin |
beginning |
begining |
|
travel |
traveled |
travellled |
ð Trick #6:
“EI vs. IE” Rule
“I before E except after C”
|
Follows rule |
Exceptions |
|
believe, field |
weird, either |
|
receive, ceiling |
foreign, sovereign |
|
piece, niece |
height, leisure |
✅ TEAS must-know: receive, believe,
weird
ðĻ Trick #7:
Suffix Spelling – Drop or Keep Final E?
|
Rule |
Example |
|
Drop e before vowel suffix (-ing,
-able, -ous) |
coming, writing, famous |
|
Keep e before consonant suffix (-ly,
-ment, -ness) |
safely, achievement, awareness |
Exceptions:
true → truly
whole → wholly
nine → ninth
argue → argument
⚡ Trick #8: The “Final Y” Rule
|
Rule |
Example |
|
vowel + y → add s |
boys, days |
|
consonant + y → change to i + es |
flies, carries |
ðŊ Final TEAS
Strategy Summary
When unsure in spelling questions:
1.
Look for doubled letters (mm, rr, ss)
2.
Check silent letters (FebruaRY,
WedNESday)
3.
Break word into root + suffix
4.
Apply EI/IE rule
5.
Identify homophones by meaning, not
sound
6.
Trust irregular patterns over “looks
correct” spelling
ATI TEAS Version 7 – Complete Mega
Revision Pack (Irregular Plurals + Spelling Rules + High-Yield MCQs)
ðĨ
PART 1: ULTRA QUICK MASTER REVISION SHEET (ALL-IN-ONE)
ð§ A. Irregular Plural Core Rules
|
Pattern |
Change |
Example |
|
-us |
→ -i |
nucleus → nuclei |
|
-um |
→ -a |
bacterium → bacteria |
|
-a |
→ -ae |
vertebra → vertebrae |
|
-is |
→ -es |
diagnosis → diagnoses |
|
-ex/-ix |
→ -ices |
matrix → matrices |
|
-on |
→ -a |
phenomenon → phenomena |
|
Old English |
→ -en |
child → children |
⚠️
TOP TRAPS
- criterions
❌ → criteria ✔
- phenomenons ❌ → phenomena ✔
- bacterias
❌ → bacteria ✔
- nucleuses
❌ → nuclei ✔
ð§ B. Spelling Master Rules
ð
1. Silent Letter Rule
- Wednesday
(not Wensday)
- February
(not Febuary)
- government
(not goverment)
ð
2. EI / IE Rule
- believe ✔
- receive ✔
- weird ✔
(exception)
ð
3. -ABLE vs -IBLE
- able
= real root (comfortable)
- ible = unclear root (responsible)
ð
4. Doubling Rule
occur → occurred ✔
commit → committed ✔
begin → beginning ✔
ð
5. Final Y Rule
- carry → carried
- baby → babies
- play → plays
ð
6. Homophones
- their (ownership)
- there (place)
- they’re (they are)
- affect (verb)
- effect (noun)
ð§Š
PART 2: 60 HIGH-YIELD MIXED TEAS MCQs
Irregular
Plurals + Spelling + Grammar
1.
The correct plural of criterion
is:
A) criterions
B) criteria
C) criterias
D) criteriones
2.
Which is correct?
A) phenomenons
B) phenomena
C) phenomina
D) phenomenaes
3.
The nurse recorded multiple ______
in the sample.
A) bacterias
B) bacteria
C) bacterium
D) bacteriums
4.
Correct spelling:
A) accomodate
B) accommodate
C) acommodate
D) accommondate
5.
Correct plural of diagnosis:
A) diagnosises
B) diagnoses
C) diagnosae
D) diagnose
6.
Which is correct?
A) seperate
B) separate
C) separete
D) seperete
7.
The plural of nucleus is:
A) nucleuses
B) nuclei
C) nuclea
D) nucleons
8.
Correct spelling:
A) definately
B) definitely
C) definitly
D) definatly
9.
The plural of cactus is:
A) cactuses
B) cacti
C) cactae
D) cactii
10.
Correct:
A) reciept
B) receipt
C) receit
D) reseipt
11.
Plural of child:
A) childs
B) children
C) childes
D) childrens
12.
Correct spelling:
A) embarras
B) embarass
C) embarrass
D) embaress
13.
Plural of matrix:
A) matrixes
B) matrices
C) matrixi
D) matricies
14.
Correct:
A) wierd
B) weird
C) weired
D) wiered
15.
Plural of ox:
A) oxes
B) oxen
C) oxies
D) oxs
16.
Correct spelling:
A) priviledge
B) privilege
C) privilige
D) privelege
17.
Plural of fungus:
A) funguses
B) fungi
C) fungae
D) fungii
18.
Correct:
A) occuring
B) occurring
C) occurrring
D) occuringg
19.
Plural of stimulus:
A) stimuluses
B) stimuli
C) stimulae
D) stimulii
20.
Correct spelling:
A) questionaire
B) questionnaire
C) questinnaire
D) questionnare
21.
Plural of analysis:
A) analysises
B) analyses
C) analysi
D) analyzis
22.
Correct:
A) goverment
B) government
C) govermentt
D) governmant
23.
Plural of appendix:
A) appendixes
B) appendices
C) appendics
D) appendx
24.
Correct spelling:
A) beleive
B) believe
C) belive
D) beleev
25.
Plural of vertebra:
A) vertebras
B) vertebrae
C) vertebres
D) vertebrum
26.
Correct:
A) mispell
B) misspell
C) mispel
D) misspel
27.
Plural of phenomenon:
A) phenomenons
B) phenomena
C) phenomina
D) phenomens
28.
Correct spelling:
A) seperate
B) separate
C) separet
D) seprate
29.
Plural of bacterium:
A) bacteriums
B) bacteria
C) bacteriae
D) bacterion
30.
Correct:
A) recieve
B) receive
C) receeve
D) receiv
1. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Accomodate
B) Acommodate
C) Accommodate
D) Accomodatte
2. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Seperate
B) Separate
C) Seporate
D) Seperrate
3. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Definitly
B) Definetly
C) Definitely
D) Definately
4. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Neccessary
B) Necessary
C) Necesary
D) Necessery
5. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Embarrass
B) Embarass
C) Embarras
D) Embaras
6. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Maintenance
B) Maintenence
C) Maintenence
D) Maintanance
7. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Priviledge
B) Privelege
C) Privilege
D) Priveledge
8. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Recieve
B) Receive
C) Reiceve
D) Receeve
9. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Occurence
B) Occurrence
C) Occurence
C) Ocurrence
10. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Recommend
B) Reccommend
C) Recomend
D) Reccomend
11. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Vacum
B) Vacuum
C) Vaccuum
D) Vacume
12. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Calendar
B) Calender
C) Calandar
D) Calenddar
13. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Immediately
B) Immediatly
C) Immediatelly
D) Immediateley
14. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Consensous
B) Consensus
C) Concensus
C) Consenssus
15. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Restaraunt
B) Restaurant
C) Restaurnt
D) Restarant
16. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Miniscule
B) Minuscule
C) Miniscule
D) Minuscule
17. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Perseverance
B) Perseverence
C) Perseverance
D) Perseverence
18. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Rhythym
B) Rhythm
C) Rythm
D) Rhythim
19. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Publicly
B) Publically
C) Publicley
D) Publicaly
20. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Truely
B) Trully
C) Truly
D) Trueley
21. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Niece
B) Neice
C) Neece
D) Niese
22. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Achieve
B) Acheive
C) Achiev
D) Acheve
23. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Belief
B) Beleif
C) Belife
D) Beeleif
24. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Weird
B) Wierd
C) Weard
D) Wiered
25. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Foreign
B) Foriegn
C) Foreing
D) Forreign
26. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Goverment
B) Government
C) Govermment
C) Govemment
27. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Environment
B) Enviroment
C) Enviroment
D) Environmant
28. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Argument
B) Arguement
C) Argumment
D) Arguemint
29. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Commitment
B) Comitment
C) Committment
D) Comittment
30. Which of the following is spelled correctly?
A) Independent
B) Independant
C) Indepent
D) Indipendent
Answer Key with Explanations
1. C — “Accommodate” has double “c” and double “m”
2. B — Correct spelling: separate
3. C — Definitely is the correct form
4. B — Necessary is the correct spelling
5. A — Embarrass has double “r” and double “s”
6. A — Maintenance is correct
7. C — Privilege is correct spelling
8. B — Receive follows “i before e except after c” rule
9. B — Occurrence has double “c” and double “r”
10. A — Recommend has only one “c” after prefix re-
11. B — Vacuum is correct
12. A — Calendar is correct spelling
13. A — Immediately has double “m” and double “l” pattern
14. B — Consensus is correct
15. B — Restaurant is correct spelling
16. B — Minuscule is correct spelling
17. A — Perseverance is correct spelling
18. B — Rhythm is correct spelling
19. A — Publicly is correct spelling
20. C — Truly is correct spelling
21. A — Niece follows “i before e” rule
22. A — Achieve is correct spelling
23. A — Belief is correct spelling
24. A — Weird is correct spelling
25. A — Foreign is correct spelling
26. B — Government is correct spelling
27. A — Environment is correct spelling
28. A — Argument is correct spelling
29. A — Commitment is correct spelling
30. A — Independent is correct spelling
TEAS 7 English & Language Usage: Spelling (Commonly Misspelled Words)
1. B) Achievement
Explanation: The correct spelling is achievement (follows the rule: "i" before "e" except after "c" – here it's "ie" after "h").
2. C) Address
Explanation: Address has two "d"s and two "s"s.
3. B) Advisable
Explanation: Even though advise has an "s," the adjective advisable keeps the "s" but drops the "e" – no "z."
4. C) Affection
Explanation: Affection has two "f"s, one "c," and one "t."
5. A) Aggressive
Explanation: Two "g"s, two "s"s – aggressive.
6. B) Allot
Explanation: Allot means to assign; a lot is two words. Allot has one "l" then two "l"s.
7. A) Amendment
Explanation: Amendment comes from amend + ment – no double "m."
8. B) Analyze
Explanation: U.S. spelling is analyze (with "z"); analyse is British.
9. A) Annual
Explanation: Annual has two "n"s but only one "u" and one "a."
10. A) Apparent
Explanation: Apparent has one "p," two "r"s? Wait – no: apparent = double "p," single "r"? Actually check: A pp a r ent – two "p"s, one "r." Yes.
11. A) Appetite
Explanation: Appetite – double "p," single "t," single "e" at end.
12. A or B or C? The options are identical: A) Arguing, B) Arguing, C) Arguing, D) Argueing.
Correct is Arguing (drop the "e" from argue). So A/B/C are correct; D is wrong. Likely a typo in the question – but choose any of A/B/C.
13. C) Arithmetic
Explanation: Arithmetic – no "k," no space, no second "t" in the middle.
14. A) Article
Explanation: Article – "i" after "t," not "c" or "k."
15. A) Atheist
Explanation: Atheist – "a" then "the" then "ist" – not "ae" or "ie."
16. A) Attorney
Explanation: Attorney – double "t," double "n"? No: two "t"s, one "n," one "y." Actually attorney = two "t"s, one "r," one "n," one "e," one "y."
17. A) Beginning
Explanation: Beginning – double "n" before "ing"? Wait: begin + n + ing = beginning – double "n" in middle. A) Beginning has double "n"? Yes.
18. A) Believe
Explanation: Believe – "ie" not "ei."
19. A) Beneficial
Explanation: Beneficial – "c" not "t" after "fi."
20. A) Bureaucracy
Explanation: Bureaucracy – "eau" then "cracy." A is correct spelling.
21. A) Business
Explanation: Business – "i" before "n" then "e" then "ss."
22. A) Calendar
Explanation: Calendar – ends with "ar," not "er."
23. A) Campaign
Explanation: Campaign – "paign" not "pain" or "pane."
24. A) Canceled (U.S. standard)
Explanation: TEAS expects U.S. spelling: one "l" before -ed.
25. A) Category
Explanation: Category – "e" after "g," then "o," then "r," then "y."
26. A) Ceiling
Explanation: Ceiling – "ei" after "c" (exception to i-before-e rule).
27. A) Cemetery
Explanation: Cemetery – all "e"s: c e m e t e r y – not "a."
28. A) Changeable
Explanation: Keep the "e" before -able to keep soft "g" sound.
29. A) Character
Explanation: Character – "ch," then "a," then "r," then "a," then "c," then "t," then "e," then "r."
30. A) Colonel
Explanation: Colonel – pronounced "kernel," spelled "colonel."
31. A) Committed
Explanation: Commit + ed – double "t" before adding -ed.
32. A) Committee
Explanation: Committee – double "m," double "t," double "e"? No: double m, double t, single e at end.
33. A) Comparative
Explanation: Comparative – "a" after "r," not "i."
34. A) Competent
Explanation: Competent – "e" after "t," not "a" or "i."
35. A) Concede
Explanation: Concede – "c" then "o" then "n" then "c" then "e" then "d" then "e" – no double "e" in middle. (C is same as A – likely typo; choose A or C.)
36. A) Conscience
Explanation: Conscience – "sc" then "i" then "e" – not "ie."
37. A) Conscious
Explanation: Conscious – "sc" then "i" then "o" then "u" then "s."
38. A) Controversy
Explanation: Controversy – "o" after "v," not "a."
39. A) Convenient
Explanation: Convenient – "e" after "v," not "a."
40. A) Criticize (U.S. spelling)
Explanation: TEAS expects U.S. criticize with "z."
41. A) Deceive
Explanation: Deceive – "ei" after "c" (exception: receive, deceive, perceive).
42. A) Decide
Explanation: Decide – "c" then "i" then "d" then "e."
43. A) Descend
Explanation: Descend – "sc" not "ss" or "cc."
44. A) Desperate
Explanation: Desperate – "e" after "p," not "a" – and no second "e" before "r"? Actually d e s p e r a t e – yes, "e" then "e."
45. A) Different
Explanation: Different – "e" after "f," then "r," then "e," then "n," then "t."
46. A) Dilemma
Explanation: Dilemma – double "m" – not "mn."
47. A) Disappear
Explanation: Disappear – one "s," double "p"? Wait: dis + appear = disappear – one "s," double "p"? No – appear has double "p" – yes, so disappear has double "p." But A says "Disappear" – that’s correct. D says same? Typo in options – A and D identical. Choose A.
48. A) Discipline
Explanation: Discipline – "sc" then "i" then "p" then "l" then "i" then "n" then "e."
49. A) Easily
Explanation: Easy → easily – change "y" to "i" + "ly."
50. A) Ecstasy
Explanation: Ecstasy – "ec" not "ex," and "sy" not "cy" at the end.
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