Memory Aids for Spelling Correctly

[Gonk the Insane]

The one that always sticks in my mind is from school, that old rule "i before e except after c", which is probably a bad example as I seem to recall there are lots of exceptions to that particular one.

One I always find difficult is stationary/stationery. But... I think I've just invented a way to help myself remember which is which:

Stationary with an "a" because you aren't going anywhere*.

Maybe it's not that great, but I know I'll remember it now.

*And yes, I had to check a dictionary again to make sure that was actually right and avoid terminal embarrassment

 

[tinkerdan]

And::
stationery with an e because you could have sent an email instead of wasting the paper.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Business - bus-i-ness.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Standard one taught in my day was "station-e-ry = e-nvelope". Although there is a printing business down the block from me that's been there forever and has the wrong one spelled very large in their window. I have so far resisted telling them, since it's probably been there longer than I've been alive. But I don't order printing from them.

 

[VinceK]

A stationary object.

 

[HareBrain]

As long as you remember it's "object" and not "cupboard"!

 

[VinceK]

As long as you remember it's "object" and not "cupboard"!

You mean a stationary stationery cupboard?

 

[thaddeus6th]

My RS teacher used to say 'disc-i-ples' for disciples. Also, symmetrical vowels help me remember separate and Peloponnesian [must say I don't use the latter every day].

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Not that I need it too often, but I can't get out of my mind "A rat in the house may eat the ice cream" = arithmetic.