Quick summary: New data from Kelvinside Academy reveals that “colour” is the most frequently searched spelling in Britain, with 1,600 average monthly searches, followed by “favourite” and “diarrhoea”, pointing to widespread uncertainty around some of the most common words in everyday written English. Experts attribute the pattern to the growing influence of American spellings online, the reduced practice of formal writing in digital communication, and the habits formed by relying on autocorrect and spellcheck tools. Practical strategies such as reading regularly, using technology critically, and creating a learning environment free from judgement are recommended to help people rebuild confidence in their spelling.
Thousands of Britons are quietly second-guessing how to spell some of the country’s most familiar words, with new data revealing which ones prompt the most online searches.
Kelvinside Academy analysed search data to uncover the words most commonly looked up after typing “how to spell…”, offering a glimpse into the nation’s spelling blind spots.
“Colour” ranked first, attracting an average of 1,600 searches a month, followed by “favourite” (1,400) and “diarrhoea” (1,300). “Beautiful” came fourth with 1,200 searches, while “check”, “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, and “definitely” drew 1,100 each. Rounding out the top 10 were “aunty”, “business”, “jewellery”, “gorgeous”, and “behaviour”.
| Rank | Word | Average monthly searches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colour | 1,600 |
| 2 | Favourite | 1,400 |
| 3 | Diarrhoea | 1,300 |
| 4 | Beautiful | 1,200 |
| 5 | Check | 1,100 |
| 5 | Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious | 1,100 |
| 5 | Definitely | 1,100 |
| 6 | Aunty | 880 |
| 7 | Business | 730 |
| 8 | Jewellery | 660 |
| 9 | Gorgeous | 600 |
| 10 | Behaviour | 560 |
Fiona Kennedy, from Kelvinside Academy, said many of the most searched words reflect common spelling challenges around silent letters, vowel combinations, and double consonants.
“A lot of the words have silent letters, or double consonants in the middle,” she said. “Words like ‘business’ and ‘jewellery’ regularly cause confusion because of repeated letters. The influence of American spelling online can also be seen, with words such as ‘colour’ and ‘favourite’ often misspelt when people drop the ‘u’. Words with lots of vowels, like ‘gorgeous’ and ‘beautiful’, where a lot of vowels are close together, can further be confusing.”
She also pointed to the wider impact of digital communication. “People now often write in abbreviations, shorthand, or informal styles, and you’re starting to see that coming through in written writing. With the rise in spellcheck and autocorrect, there’s a definite decline in being able to spell things correctly.”
How to improve your spelling
Kennedy emphasised that spelling remains a skill that can be strengthened with the right approach.
- Read more, in any format: “Those who engage more with books typically have a better grasp of English language skills and spelling,” she said. Exposure to words and sentence structure reinforces understanding consistently. “It doesn’t even have to be a physical book. Audiobooks, or having somebody read to you, can also help. Being surrounded and immersed in language has a significant and positive effect.”
- Make spelling interactive: Kennedy encouraged hands-on methods such as games, visual techniques, and creative exercises rather than repetitive copying. “There’s lots of other ways that it can be done in a more fun way.” She suggested breaking words into sounds and using colours to identify patterns.
- Use technology wisely: “Because we live in such a digital world now, we can actually use this to our advantage,” she said. Tools like spellcheck and predictive text can help users recognise errors, especially when starting with a phonetic attempt. She also suggested looking at different texts and trying to identify mistakes. “Over time, this can help build familiarity with correct spellings and improve confidence in written communication.”
- If in doubt, leave it out: For those unsure about punctuation, Kennedy’s advice is simple. Apostrophes are among the most common areas of confusion, with many people adding them unnecessarily. “People often apostrophise anything that’s plural, when in reality apostrophes are not used for standard plurals. Focusing on clarity first, and adding punctuation only when confident, can help prevent common mistakes.”
- Don’t be afraid to learn: Kennedy highlighted the importance of removing stigma around spelling mistakes. “It’s creating an environment where people aren’t judged on making mistakes. The fear of getting things wrong can often hold people back from practising or trying new words, so a more relaxed approach, where mistakes are seen as part of the learning process, can help build confidence over time.”