DELAWARE - Each year, Google Trends releases data on the "most misspelled words" across America, based on the frequency of "how to spell" searches in each state. For Delaware, the results often reflect a mix of common English "trap" words and terms that play a significant role in the state's professional life.
DELAWARE - Each year, Google Trends releases data on the "most misspelled words" across America, based on the frequency of "how to spell" searches in each state. For Delaware, the results often reflect a mix of common English "trap" words and terms that play a significant role in the state's professional life.While common words like "definitely" and "quarantine" often plague the rest of the country, Delaware's most searched spelling terms have shifted over the last few years.
The Top Contenders for Delaware's Most Misspelled Word
Depending on the specific year of data, Delaware residents consistently struggle with a few specific "heavy hitters":
1. Beautiful
In 2025 data, "Beautiful" emerged as the top-searched word for Delaware (alongside several other states). The tricky string of vowels—e-a-u—frequently trips up even the most seasoned writers. It is often misspelled as beautiful or beautiful.
2. Government
According to recent reports, "Government" has also held the top spot in the First State. It seems the "n" in the middle of the word is the primary culprit, with many residents searching to see whether it is spelled "government" or "government". Given that Delaware is home to Dover and thousands of legal entities, the word comes up often in local professional life.
3. Business
Older data pointed to "Business" as Delaware's primary struggle. This is particularly ironic given Delaware's reputation as the "Corporate Capital of the World," where more than 60% of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated. The standard error involves swapping the "i" and "u" or forgetting the double "s."
How Does Delaware Compare to Its Neighbors?
Spelling struggles tend to follow regional patterns. Here is how Delaware's neighbors fared in recent years:
- Pennsylvania: In 2025, the most searched word was "Scissors."
- New Jersey: The Garden State frequently searches for the spelling of "Congratulations."
- Maryland: Marylanders often have difficulty with the words "Character" or "Favorite."
Why These Words?
Linguists suggest that words like government and beautiful are difficult because they don't sound exactly the way they are spelled. The silent "n" in government and the French-rooted vowel cluster in beautiful are classic examples of "phonetic traps" that lead people straight to a search bar.
Quick Tips to Remember the Spelling:
- Government: Remember that a governor sets the tone.
- B-E-A-Utiful: Many people use the "Jim Carrey" method, pronouncing it "B-E-A-utiful!"
- Bus-i-ness: Think of being busy (busi) while doing ness (business).
