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.
*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 b
ear bit my
ear
|
homonym: b
ear/ bare
|
|
business
|
there is a
bus in
business
|
also:
I am in business
|
|
cemetery
|
three
e's are in the c
em
et
ery
|
confused with -
ary ending
|
|
colour
|
our favourite col
our
|
reminds you to include the
u**
|
|
diary
|
a diary begins with '
I'
|
confused with
dairy
|
|
environment
|
three
n's in e
nviro
nme
nt
|
middle
n often omitted
|
|
government
|
two
n's in gover
nme
nt
|
first
n often omitted
|
|
hear
|
h
ear with your
ear
|
homonym: h
ear/ here
|
|
island
|
an island
is land
|
silent letter:
s
|
|
loose
|
a l
oose t
ooth
|
confused with 'lose'
|
|
meat
|
animals
eat m
eat
|
homonym: m
eat/ meet
|
|
parallel
|
the middle
I's are para
lle
l
|
reminds you to include double
I
|
|
sail
|
I
ail when I
sail
|
homonym: sail/ sale
|
|
separate
|
a rat is sep
arate
|
also: sepa
rate 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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References:
