295a while: It should only take a little while to learn that this expression is two
words, not one.
awhile: With the two words joined, this is an adverb. Be sure the adverb has a
verb, adjective, or another adverb to modify. “Earth takes us in awhile as
transient guests.. .”
acceptable: Unfortunately, there is no rule that predicts when to use -able and
when to use -ible. But if you can accept a table in a cafe, you should be able to
remember this one.
accidentally: It is no accident that if an adjective may end with the suffi x -al,
this suffi x must be in the adverb—that is the al-rule. Theatric may be theatri-
cal, so the adverb must be theatrically. There is no publical, so publicly is OK.
accommodate: This word is large enough to accommodate two c’s and two m’s.
Don’t forget.
accordion: Since accordions do not come from Accordia, you spell the ending
on this word -i-o-n, not -i-a-n.
acquire: You should acquire the habit of adding a silent c before the q in this
word.
acquit: Don’t quit before adding a c before the q in this word, either.APPENDIX A Most Commonly Misspelled Words
The text below of the most commonly misspelled words in English is copyrighted
© 2008 by Lexiteria LLC. It was created by Prof. Robert Beard of Bucknell Univer-
sity and alphadictionary.com and is used here by permission.