OHIO - In the age of autocorrect and spell-check, you might think spelling has become a lost art. But we all have that one word that makes us pause, second-guess, and quietly type "how to spell..." into our search bar.
OHIO - In the age of autocorrect and spell-check, you might think spelling has become a lost art. But we all have that one word that makes us pause, second-guess, and quietly type "how to spell..." into our search bar.So, which word trips up the Buckeye State more than any other?
According to data compiled from Google Trends, the most commonly misspelled word in Ohio is: "beautiful."
This finding comes from Google's analysis of the most-searched "how to spell..." queries by state. When Ohioans are most stumped, they are overwhelmingly looking for help with "beautiful."
Why Is "Beautiful" Such a Tricky Word?
It's a classic spelling trap for a few key reasons, and Ohioans are certainly not alone in their confusion.
-
The "eau" Vowel Combination: This trio of vowels is a borrowing from French and isn't phonetic in the way most English words are. The "e-a-u" making a "u" sound is notoriously difficult to remember.
-
The "i" Placement: The order of the vowels in the middle ("-beautiful-") is a common stumble.
-
The Suffix Rule: This is likely the biggest culprit. Many people want to spell the word "beautifull," with two L's at the end. The rule for the suffix "-ful" (meaning "full of") is that it is only spelled with one "L" when attached to the end of a word (e.g., helpful, grateful, careful).
While other words like "tomorrow" and "banana" have given Ohioans trouble in the past, "beautiful" has consistently been the state's top spelling demon in recent years.
So, the next time you have to type it out and find yourself pausing to sound out "b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l," just know you're in good company with the rest of Ohio.
