Some of the most useful words in the English language are actually quite hard to spell. I have recently completed a survey and have identified the seven most difficult words I frequently use (based on email traffic and, of course, my imagination).

Below you will find their correct spellings and whatever thoughts I have elected to share.

Liaise

A reasonably common word in the workplace (depending, of course, on what your workplace is… I normally understand it to mean: “To annoy somebody with unnecessary questions that you either a) already know the answer to or b) can’t be bothered to think about for yourself.”).

Rhododendron

This really is a tricky word to spell! I hear it is also a popular trigger word used by the CIA and I often whisper it on the train to see if I can cause any interesting effects; so far nothing other than funny looks, but I will keep trying. 

Phosphorescence

Spelt how it sounds (to me, when spoken in my flawless Cumbrian accent…); but to type this fast without error, now that is a feat!

Rhythm

A word with no vowels! So noteworthy for this alone that it becomes next to impossible to misspell! Still, as you know, the thing next to ‘impossible’ is ‘possible’… which no doubt goes some way toward accounting for the many times I have erred!                  

Lackadaisical

Essentially: a somewhat unusual word that adequately describes most people’s attitude towards work and exercise… or is that just me?

Diarrhea

Hard to spell. Hard to enjoy. Soft to touch.

Schwarzenegger

I rarely send out a memo these days without this word being included. It is basically a cornerstone of the English language.

A good game is to try and include all the above in an everyday sentence! For example:

“I intended to liaise with Schwarzenegger about the terrible mess phosphorescent diarrhea can cause, but I was distracted by the lackadaisical rhythm of a rhododendron.”

Oddly enough, I spoke this very sentence to my cat just yesterday….