Answer: (b) receive.

This is the perfect example of the old rule: “i before e, except after c.” Since the sound comes after a ‘c’, we use ‘ei‘. I remember this by thinking, “I receive a piece of pie.”

Answer: (b) separate.

This one is notoriously tricky. The key is remembering there’s an ‘a‘ in the middle, not an ‘e’. A trick I use is to think of the word “a rat” in the middle: sepA RATe.

Answer: (b) necessary.

It’s one ‘c’ and two ‘s’s. My favorite shirt has a silly slogan that helped me remember: “One collar (c) and two sleeves (s) are necessary.” Break it down like nec-ess-ary.

Answer: (c) definitely.

“Definitely” is often misspelled because we say it quickly. Remember it comes from “finite.” Think: “I will definite-ly finish it.” The word “defiantly” is different—it means with rebellion.

Answer: (b) accommodate.

This word has two of both ‘c’ and ‘m’. It’s big enough to accommodate extra letters. A useful mnemonic: “The best rooms accommodate two cots and two mattresses.”

Answer: (c) embarrass.

Double ‘r’ and double ‘s’. It’s so easy to forget one! I remember it by thinking, “Getting embarrassed makes me go really red (rr) and feel super silly (ss).”

Answer: (a) occurrence.

This follows the rule from its base verb, “occur.” When adding “-ence,” you keep the double ‘r’. So it’s double ‘c’, double ‘r’, and ends with “-ence.”

Answer: (b) maintenance.

This is a classic. Even though the verb is “maintain,” the noun drops the ‘i’. Think: “The main ten ants do the maintenance.” It sounds silly, but it works!

Answer: (b) privilege.

The middle has an ‘i’ after the ‘l’, and it ends with ‘-ege’, not ‘-age’ or ‘-edge’. Remember: “Having a privilege is a leg up,” which hints at the ‘i’ and ‘leg’ sound.

Answer: (b) liaison.

This word of French origin keeps its ‘i’ sandwich: l-i-a-i-s-o-n. I think of it as “Lia is on duty,” which captures the “lia-i” sequence.

Answer: (b) environment.

The trick is the ‘n’ before the ‘m’. It’s not “enviro-” but “environ-“. Think of the word “iron” being in the middle of the environment.

Answer: (b) government.

It comes from “govern” + “ment.” Don’t drop the ‘n’ from the root word. I remember it by saying, “The govern men run the government.”

Answer: (b) conscience.

A tough one! It has “science” in it. Your conscience is your inner moral science. Break it down: con-science.

Answer: (b) existence.

The verb is “exist,” and we add “-ence” to form the noun, not “-ance.” Similar to “difference” from “differ.”

Answer: (b) recommend.

This one breaks a pattern. It’s only one ‘c’ but two ‘m’s. Think: “My commendation is that I recommend it.” That links it to “commend,” which has two m’s.

Answer: (b) committee.

Double ‘m’, double ‘t’, double ‘e’. A committee has lots of members, just like this word has lots of double letters.

Answer: (b) interrupt.

It has a double ‘r’. Think of someone rupturing into the conversation: inter-rupt.

Answer: (b) independent.

It ends with “-ent,” like “dependent.” A helpful clue is that both “independent” and “pendent” (hanging) share that “-ent” ending.

Answer: (b) perseverance.

The verb is “persevere.” When forming the noun, you drop the final ‘e’ and add “-ance”: persevere -> perseverance.

Answer: (b) questionnaire.

Another word from French. It has double ‘n’ before the ‘-aire’. Remember, a questionnaire

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