Over on Language Log there’s a post on America’s Most Misspelled Words. 

They did an analysis of Google search data using the following methodology:

We used Google Trends to discover the most misspelled words and Ahrefs to find the number of searches. Americas most misspelled words can be discovered in Google Trends by searching for “How do you spell” and “How to spell”. Ahrefs shows many variations of misspelling searches like ‘spell beautiful’ or ‘how do I spell beautiful ‘. We added up 120 search variations of top spelling searches.

OK. Whatever.

Anyway here are the most common misspelled words in the United States:

1. Definitely – 33,500 searches.
2. Separate – 30,000 searches.
3. Necessary – 29,000 searches.
4. Believe – 28,500 searches.
5. Through – 28,000 searches.
6. Gorgeous –  27,000 searches.
7. Neighbor – 25,500 searches.
8. Business – 24,200 searches.
9. Favorite – 23,000 searches.
10. Restaurant – 22,500 searches.

Hmmm. I think I would have guessed that “separate” would be number one given how often I see that misspelled; so many people seem to think that an “e” should follow the “p”. I know I still have trouble spelling “restaurant”; I’m never sure just where the “u” should go. I don’t think I ever have occasion to use “gorgeous”; that word just isn’t in my vocabulary. (I have to retract that statement; I just did a search on my blog posts and I’ve used “gorgeous” at least twice.)

Even more interesting are the misspellings by state. 

Some of the words make perfect sense. There’s “luau” in Hawaii, for example, and “pneumonia” in Maine. In Indiana they need to be carefully “taught”.

But then we come to my state, Pennsylvania, and the most frequently misspelled word is “scissors”? Say what?! 

And I promise you ain’t never ever gonna guess what the word is for Vermont!

Here’s the list:

• Alabama – Different
• Alaska –  Tomorrow
• Arizona – People
• Arkansas – Quesadilla
• California – Appreciation
• Colorado – Sergeant
• Connecticut – Schedule
• Delaware – Beautiful
• Florida – Compliment
• Georgia – Necessary
• Hawaii – Luau
• Idaho – Definitely
• Illinois – Congratulations
• Indiana – Taught
• Iowa – Through
• Kansas – Different
• Kentucky – People
• Louisiana – Through
• Maine – Pneumonia
• Maryland – Character
• Massachusetts – Beautiful
• Michigan – Scratch
• Minnesota – Successful
• Mississippi – Beautiful
• Missouri – Temperature
• Montana – Appreciate
• Nebraska – Beautiful
• Nevada – School
• New Hampshire – Protective
• New Jersey – Congratulations
• New Mexico – Appreciate
• New York – Different
• North Carolina – Secret
• North Dakota – Daughter
• Ohio – Crochet
• Oklahoma – Patience
• Oregon – Business
• Pennsylvania – Scissors
• Rhode Island – Cancelled
• South Carolina – People
• South Dakota – Beautiful
• Tennessee – Broccoli
• Texas – Protect
• Utah – Definitely
• Vermont – Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
• Virginia – People
• Washington – Appreciation
• West Virginia – Beautiful
• Wisconsin – Different
• Wyoming – Beautiful