Common Website Spelling Errors and How to Fix Them
Learn about the most common spelling mistakes found on websites and how to avoid them.
Why Spelling Errors Happen
Spelling errors on websites occur for many reasons: typos while typing, autocorrect mistakes, copy-paste errors, or simply not proofreading content before publishing. Even professional writers make mistakes, which is why automated spell checking is essential for maintaining website quality.
Top 20 Most Common Website Spelling Errors
"recieve" instead of "receive"
The "i before e" rule is tricky. Remember: "receive" has the "i" before the "e".
"seperate" instead of "separate"
Think "a rat" in the middle: sep-A-rat-e.
"definately" instead of "definitely"
Remember it has "finite" in it: de-finite-ly.
"accomodate" instead of "accommodate"
Double "c" and double "m": ac-comm-odate.
"occured" instead of "occurred"
Double "r" in the past tense: occur-red.
"teh" instead of "the"
Common typo from fast typing. Always double-check common words.
"adn" instead of "and"
Another common typing error. Spell checkers catch these easily.
"their" vs "there" vs "they're"
Homophones are tricky. "Their" = possession, "there" = location, "they're" = they are.
"your" vs "you're"
"Your" = possession, "you're" = you are. If you can replace it with "you are", use "you're".
"its" vs "it's"
"Its" = possession, "it's" = it is. If you can replace it with "it is", use "it's".
Homophones
Words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings:
- • their / there / they're
- • your / you're
- • its / it's
- • affect / effect
- • then / than
- • to / too / two
Common Typos
Typing errors that occur from fast typing:
- • teh → the
- • adn → and
- • taht → that
- • waht → what
- • hte → the
- • fro → for
How to Prevent Errors
- Use automated spell checking tools like our website spell checker
- Set up automated checking to catch errors as content is published
- Always proofread content before publishing, even after using spell checkers
- Train your content team on common mistakes and how to avoid them
Impact of Spelling Errors
Trust
Spelling errors damage your brand's credibility and make your website look unprofessional.
Conversions
A single typo can reduce conversion rates by up to 20%, directly impacting your revenue.
SEO
While not a direct ranking factor, error-free content improves user experience signals.