WRITING:COMMONLY MISPELT WORDS Notes, Quizzes & Revision
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WRITING: COMMONLY MISPELT WORDS
Topic: Drugs and Substance Abuse β English (Kenyan English, age 12)
These notes focus on spelling and common mistakes for words you will use when writing about drugs and substance abuse. Kenya follows British spelling in many cases β the correct forms below follow common British usage. Use the example sentences to practise correct spelling in context.
How to read each item:
- Wrong β common misspelling(s) β Correct
- Short tip or mnemonic + a sample sentence using the correct word.
addiction
adiction, addiciton β addiction
Tip: The root "add" has two Ds β so keep "add" in addiction (a-d-d-...).
Example: "Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that needs care."
adiction, addiciton β addiction
Tip: The root "add" has two Ds β so keep "add" in addiction (a-d-d-...).
Example: "Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that needs care."
addict / addictive
adict, addicte β addict / addictive
Tip: "addict" keeps the double d (a-d-d).
Example: "A person who is an addict needs help to become drug-free."
adict, addicte β addict / addictive
Tip: "addict" keeps the double d (a-d-d).
Example: "A person who is an addict needs help to become drug-free."
alcohol / alcoholic
alchohol, alchohal β alcohol / alcoholic
Tip: Remember the order: "al-co-hol" (the "hol" is at the end).
Example: "He stopped drinking alcohol after school counselling."
alchohol, alchohal β alcohol / alcoholic
Tip: Remember the order: "al-co-hol" (the "hol" is at the end).
Example: "He stopped drinking alcohol after school counselling."
tobacco
tabacco, tobaco β tobacco
Tip: It has "bacco" in the middle (double 'c'): to-bac-co.
Example: "Tobacco products harm the lungs and health."
tabacco, tobaco β tobacco
Tip: It has "bacco" in the middle (double 'c'): to-bac-co.
Example: "Tobacco products harm the lungs and health."
nicotine
nicotene, nicatine β nicotine
Tip: Ends with "-ine" (like many chemicals).
Example: "Nicotine in cigarettes makes it hard to stop smoking."
nicotene, nicatine β nicotine
Tip: Ends with "-ine" (like many chemicals).
Example: "Nicotine in cigarettes makes it hard to stop smoking."
cannabis / marijuana
marijuanna, canabis β marijuana / cannabis
Tip: "cannabis" has double n: can-na-bis. "marijuana" has one j and one n.
Example: "Many schools teach the dangers of marijuana and cannabis."
marijuanna, canabis β marijuana / cannabis
Tip: "cannabis" has double n: can-na-bis. "marijuana" has one j and one n.
Example: "Many schools teach the dangers of marijuana and cannabis."
heroin
heroine β heroin
Tip: Do not confuse "heroin" (drug) with "heroine" (female hero).
Example: "Communities work together to prevent heroin use."
heroine β heroin
Tip: Do not confuse "heroin" (drug) with "heroine" (female hero).
Example: "Communities work together to prevent heroin use."
cocaine
cocain, cociane β cocaine
Tip: It has "coc-a-ine" β keep the -aine ending.
Example: "Cocaine is an illegal substance that can cause harm."
cocain, cociane β cocaine
Tip: It has "coc-a-ine" β keep the -aine ending.
Example: "Cocaine is an illegal substance that can cause harm."
overdose
over dose, overdoss β overdose
Tip: One word: "over" + "dose" = overdose.
Example: "An overdose is a medical emergency."
over dose, overdoss β overdose
Tip: One word: "over" + "dose" = overdose.
Example: "An overdose is a medical emergency."
withdrawal
withdrawl β withdrawal
Tip: Put "draw" in the middle: with-draw-al β don't drop the "a".
Example: "Withdrawal symptoms can make quitting difficult."
withdrawl β withdrawal
Tip: Put "draw" in the middle: with-draw-al β don't drop the "a".
Example: "Withdrawal symptoms can make quitting difficult."
rehabilitation
rehabilatation, rehabilitaion β rehabilitation
Tip: Break it into parts: re-hab-il-i-ta-tion.
Example: "He went to rehabilitation to get better."
rehabilatation, rehabilitaion β rehabilitation
Tip: Break it into parts: re-hab-il-i-ta-tion.
Example: "He went to rehabilitation to get better."
detox / detoxification
detoxication, detoxifcation β detox / detoxification
Tip: "detox" is short; full form ends "-ification".
Example: "The clinic offered detoxification services."
detoxication, detoxifcation β detox / detoxification
Tip: "detox" is short; full form ends "-ification".
Example: "The clinic offered detoxification services."
prescription
perscription β prescription
Tip: Remember "prescribe" gives "prescription" (scrip = write).
Example: "Only take medicine if it is a doctorβs prescription."
perscription β prescription
Tip: Remember "prescribe" gives "prescription" (scrip = write).
Example: "Only take medicine if it is a doctorβs prescription."
pharmacy
farmacy, pharmasy β pharmacy
Tip: "phar" at the start (p-h-a-r-m-a-c-y). Think "pharmacy" = place with pharmacists.
Example: "She collected the medicine from the pharmacy."
farmacy, pharmasy β pharmacy
Tip: "phar" at the start (p-h-a-r-m-a-c-y). Think "pharmacy" = place with pharmacists.
Example: "She collected the medicine from the pharmacy."
needle / syringe
syrynge, neelde β syringe / needle
Tip: "syringe" β s-y-r-i-n-g-e; "needle" has double e: n-e-e-d-l-e.
Example: "Used syringes must be disposed of safely."
syrynge, neelde β syringe / needle
Tip: "syringe" β s-y-r-i-n-g-e; "needle" has double e: n-e-e-d-l-e.
Example: "Used syringes must be disposed of safely."
illegal / illicit
illeagal, illicet β illegal / illicit
Tip: "illegal" has two Ls at the start; "illicit" has two Ls then "icit".
Example: "Selling illegal drugs is against the law."
illeagal, illicet β illegal / illicit
Tip: "illegal" has two Ls at the start; "illicit" has two Ls then "icit".
Example: "Selling illegal drugs is against the law."
dependence
dependance β dependence
Tip: Use "-ence" not "-ance" for this word.
Example: "Medical dependence may need professional support."
dependance β dependence
Tip: Use "-ence" not "-ance" for this word.
Example: "Medical dependence may need professional support."
psychoactive / psychotropic
sychoactive, psychotropic (misspells: psyco...) β psychoactive / psychotropic
Tip: Start with "psy" (p-s-y) β not "sy".
Example: "Some substances are psychoactive and change how the mind works."
sychoactive, psychotropic (misspells: psyco...) β psychoactive / psychotropic
Tip: Start with "psy" (p-s-y) β not "sy".
Example: "Some substances are psychoactive and change how the mind works."
opioid / opiate
opiod, opiate sometimes mixed wrongly β opioid / opiate
Tip: "opioid" has "io" in the middle: o-p-i-o-i-d.
Example: "Doctors are careful when prescribing opioid medicine."
opiod, opiate sometimes mixed wrongly β opioid / opiate
Tip: "opioid" has "io" in the middle: o-p-i-o-i-d.
Example: "Doctors are careful when prescribing opioid medicine."
possession
posession β possession
Tip: Two S's in both syllables: pos-sess-ion (double s, double s!).
Example: "Possession of illegal drugs can lead to arrest."
posession β possession
Tip: Two S's in both syllables: pos-sess-ion (double s, double s!).
Example: "Possession of illegal drugs can lead to arrest."
medication
medicaton β medication
Tip: Ends with "-ation".
Example: "Take the medication only as the doctor prescribes."
medicaton β medication
Tip: Ends with "-ation".
Example: "Take the medication only as the doctor prescribes."
Quick spelling rules & tips
- Double letters: words like addiction, tobacco, possession have double letters β watch for them.
- Roots: relate words to their root (prescribe β prescription) to keep spelling correct.
- Long words: break into syllables to spell: re-hab-il-i-ta-tion, det-ox-i-fi-ca-tion.
- Homophones and look-alikes: watch words that look similar but mean different things: heroin (drug) vs heroine (female hero).
- British spelling: prefer forms like dependence, not dependance.
Practice: Find and correct the misspelt words
Correct the spelling in each sentence. (Answers are hidden β click to check.)
- "Many teens try marijuanna because of peer pressure."
- "He had an alcohool problem and went to rehibilitation."
- "Used syringes should not be left in open places."
- "The doctor wrote a perscription for safe medication."
- "Symptoms of withdrawl can be strong."
- "Possesion of illegal drugs is a serious offence."
- "Nicotine is the addictive substance in tabacco."
- "Overdose is a medical emmergency."
Show answers
- marijuanna β marijuana / cannabis
- alcohool β alcohol ; rehibilitation β rehabilitation
- (syringes is correct; sentence is fine.)
- perscription β prescription
- withdrawl β withdrawal
- Possesion β Possession
- tabacco β tobacco
- emmergency β emergency ; correct spelling: emergency
Quick classroom activity
Pair up. Give each other 5 words from the lists above. Say the word aloud, then write it. Swap papers and check each other's spelling. Award a point for every correct spelling.
Note: These notes only help with spelling and writing. If you are studying drug topics in health or life skills, always follow safe, age-appropriate guidance from your teacher.
π«π Keep practising β good spelling makes your message clearer.