Memory helpers to help you spell

Mnemonics (memory helpers)
Memory helps or mnemonics (pronounced ne-mon-icks) can be used to help one remember how to spell tricky words by making up a phrase or rhyme to remind one of the correct spelling.

Here is a table that displays examples from "The Spelling Skills Handbook", By John Barwick and Jenny Barwick*.

Word	Mnemonic	Comment
bear	a bear bit my ear	homonym: bear/ bare
business	there is a bus in business	also: I am in business
cemetery	three e's are in the cemetery	confused with -ary ending
colour	our favourite colour	reminds you to include the u**
diary	a diary begins with 'I'	confused with dairy
environment	three n's in environment	middle n often omitted
government	two n's in government	first n often omitted
hear	hear with your ear	homonym: hear/ here
island	an island is land	silent letter: s
loose	a loose tooth	confused with 'lose'
meat	animals eat meat	homonym: meat/ meet
parallel	the middle I's are parallel	reminds you to include double I
sail	I ail when I sail	homonym: sail/ sale
separate	a rat is separate	also: separate ends with rate
theatre	the, at, re	tricky spelling

**Please note that these tips are for Australian English. This means there may be slight variations of words that you are familar with. For example, the word colour is spelt, "colour" in Australian and British English, whereas in American English this is spelt, "color".

Related links

• Spelling rules
• English spelling patterns based on Etymology
• "Chucking words" to help with spelling
• Memory helpers to help you spell
• Words with silent letters

References:

*Barwick, J (1999). The Spelling Skills Handbook. Sydney: Horwitz Education, p32.