Some of the most commonly misspelled words in the UK have been revealed.
New search data compiled by Kelvinside Academy shows that even familiar words like "favourite," "colour," and "behaviour" regularly lead people to double-check their spelling with a quick Google search.
The analysis found "how to spell colour" is typed into the search engine around 1,600 times each month, while "favourite" follows closely behind at 1,400 searches.
Fiona Kennedy from Kelvinside Academy said: "A lot of the words have silent letters, or double consonants in the middle.
"Words like business and jewellery regularly cause confusion because of repeated letters.
"The influence of American spelling online can also be seen, with words such as colour and favourite often misspelt when people drop the 'u'.
"Words with lots of the vowels, like gorgeous and beautiful, or a where a lot of vowels are close together can further be confusing."
She also pointed to broader changes in how people communicate.
Ms Kennedy said: "People now often write in abbreviations, shorthand, or informal styles, and you’re starting to see that coming through in written writing.
"With the rise in spellcheck and autocorrect, there’s a definite decline in being able to spell things correctly."
Other tricky words generating high monthly search volumes included "diarrhoea" at 1,300, "beautiful" at 1,200, and "definitely" at 1,100.
More unusual entries like "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" also made the list.
The top 10 was rounded out by everyday challenges such as "aunty," "business," "jewellery," "gorgeous," and "behaviour."
Despite the rise of digital tools, Ms Kennedy stressed that spelling remains a skill that can be developed through regular exposure to language and engaging learning methods.
She offered practical tips for improving spelling at any age, starting with reading.
Ms Kennedy said: "Those who engage more with books typically having a better grasp of English language skills and spelling.
"Regular exposure to words, sentence structure, and storytelling helps to reinforce understanding in a natural and consistent way.
"In fact, it doesn't even have to be a physical book.
"Audiobooks, or having somebody read to you, can also help.
"Being surrounded and immersed in language has a significant and positive effect."
She also suggested making spelling practice more interactive.
Ms Kennedy said: "It doesn't have to be sitting copying out lots and lots of spelling lists.
"There’s lots of other ways that it can be done in a more fun way."
Games, creative exercises, and visual techniques can make learning more memorable and enjoyable.
She acknowledged that technology can be a double-edged sword.
Ms Kennedy said: "Because we live in such a digital world now, we can actually use this to our advantage.
"For example, you could identify the correct spelling from a list of words or look at different texts and try to identify mistakes."
She recommended using spelling tools not only for correction but as a way to build familiarity over time.
When it comes to punctuation, her advice was to keep things simple.
Ms Kennedy said: "If in doubt, leave it out.
"People often apostrophise anything that's plural, when in reality apostrophes are not used for standard plurals."
She also spoke about the importance of removing the stigma around spelling errors.
Ms Kennedy said: "It’s creating an environment where people aren’t judged on making mistakes.
"The fear of getting things wrong can often hold people back from practising or trying new words, so a more relaxed approach, where mistakes are seen as part of the learning process, can help build confidence over time."
By focusing on progress rather than perfection, she believes people can become more comfortable with spelling and continue to improve.
