First spelling list

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Here is the first spelling list for GED practice. No doubt it looks pretty easy to you, but make sure that you don't make the common mistakes that many people do!

Spelling wordSentenceCommon mistakes
II am working on my spelling.Don't forget to capitalize "I"
myThis is my homework.no capital letter
tooMost people have too much fat in their diet.Don't confuse "too" with "to":
She walked to the store.
ourOur house is on Fifth Street.Don't confuse "our" with "are". (see below)
areThere are twelve eggs in a dozen.Don't confuse with "are" with "our", as described above.
offKaren took the book off the shelf.Don't confuse "off" with "of":
Lou bought a box of apples.
wasCindi was the best speller in her class.no "z" in "was"
it'sIt's a beautiful day for a picnic.The word "it's", when spelled with an apostrophe ( ' ) means "it is". Don't confuse this word with "its" (no apostrophe), which is used to show possession, like this:
The dog slept in its house.
buyI have to buy two bags of oranges.Don't confuse with "by":


The bus route goes right by my house.


... or with "bye", as in "good-bye"
can'tA young child can't sit still for very long."can't" means "can not". Don't forget the apostrophe.
a lotKittens need a lot of sleep."a lot" is two separate words!
playMy parents play cards every night.Note that "play" ends in a "y"
wentShe went into town to do her shopping.No "h" in "went"
onceOnce upon a time, a long time ago...The word "once" starts with an "o" because it comes from the word "one"
wantI want a new jacket for my birthday.No "h" in "want". Also, don't confuse "want" with "went".
don'tCats don't like to get their feet wet.Don't forget the apostrophe between the "n" and the "t"
veryA shrew is a very small mammal.Only one "r" in "very"
wereElectric lights were invented over a hundred years ago.Don't confuse "were" with "where" (see below)
withMarc likes to eat pie with ice cream.Some people mistakenly spell "with" with an extra "h", as in "whith"
uponThe antique clock sat upon the shelf."Upon" is all one word
theyHer friends said that they would help her."They" has an "e", not an "a"
thenFirst we'll eat; then we'll talk."Then" refers to what happens next. Don't confuse it with "than", which is used to compare two things, as in:
My brother got more cake than I did.
saidShe said that I could have the job."Said" is the past tense of "say", but there is no "y" in "said".
haveAll birds have two legs.Don't forget the "e" on the end of "have"
likeWe like cool autumn days.Watch out for the silent "e" at the end of this word.
whenThe roads get slippery when the weather turns cold.Don't forget the silent "h", and don't confuse "when" with "went".
we'reWe're going to Toronto on our vacation next year.The word "we're" means "we are". Don't forget the apostrophe, and don't confuse it with "were".
knowI already know how to spell most of these words.Don't confuse this word with "no":
There are no dinosaurs left in the world today.
let'sLet's try to learn something new each day."Let's" means "let us". Don't forget the apostrophe!
houseA house is a small building where people live.Don't get the "o" and the "u" spelled backwards in "house".
whereI couldn't remember where I put my socks.Don't forget the "h" and don't confuse this word with "were".
you'reYou're just too good to be true.The word "you're" means "you are". Don't confuse it with "your".

Perhaps you are already confident that you can spell those words correctly. If not, it's a good idea to look the list over carefully a couple of times. When you feel ready, ask a friend to read each word to you (in a sentence, if necessary) while you write it down. Then check your spelling for mistakes. Make a note of each word you had wrong, and write each one out correctly while you say the word to yourself. Then get your friend to test you again.