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