A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

The Most Misspelled Word in Every State

If you can spell this one word, you’re probably smarter than a majority of the people who live in your state.

1 / 50
cousin alabama
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Alabama

Have you ever started to type something into a Google search to see recommended results appear in a drop-down box? Suggestions are based on what most people are searching. Google Trends looked at each state individually to see the most searched word that was paired with the phrase “how to spell.” The results for the most misspelled words are hilarious and could possibly make you embarrassed for your state.

First up, Alabama: Sometimes having a big family makes it hard to remember who’s who. Having to remember the spelling of each relationship can be tricky, too.

2 / 50
veteran alaska
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Alaska

There are 68,000 veterans living in Alaska and more than 20 million in the United States overall. Learning how to spell veteran is definitely one way to show that you support and appreciate their efforts.

3 / 50
beautiful arizona
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Arizona

The Grand Canyon National Park is located in Arizona. If you want to be able to describe the natural wonder, you should know how to spell beautiful!

4 / 50
beautiful arkansas
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Arkansas

Looks like the people of Arizona and Arkansas have more in common than you’d think. On your next road trip, see if you can find one of these American cities with hilarious names you won’t even believe are real.

5 / 50
beautiful california
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

California

Now U.S. citizens are three for three with this misspelled word! Seems like finding the right word to describe all of California’s mountains, beaches, and valleys, could be harder for Californians than you thought.

6 / 50
resume colorado
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Colorado

Applying for jobs can be a stressful and long process. If you live in Colorado, putting together a resume might be just as hard as spelling it! You’d never guess the most misspelled words on job resumes is.

7 / 50
sincerely connecticut
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Connecticut

We sincerely hope that the people of Connecticut learn to spell this word soon. Here are the most misused words in the English language.

8 / 50
decision delaware
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Delaware

If the people in Delaware had to decide on a word to write in a sentence, it probably won’t be this one.

9 / 50
hors d'oeuvres florida
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Florida

To be fair, this isn’t even an English word. The French word was first used during the 17th century to describe small plates placed outside of other dishes in a dinner setting.

10 / 50
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious georgia
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Georgia

Honestly, referring to Google to figure out how to spell this word is pretty valid. Unless, of course, your school taught a Mary Poppins themed vocabulary lesson. However, this is some U.S. trivia your history teacher definitely forgot to teach you.

11 / 50
grateful hawaii
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Hawaii

Hawaiians are probably grateful for spellcheck to check the most misspelled words!

12 / 50
businesses idaho
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Idaho

Spelling the plural version of common words can be tricky. In fact, so many words are totally changed when turning them from singular to plural. These irregular plurals are grammatically correct but sound totally wrong.

13 / 50
beautiful illinois
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Illinois

As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps spelling is in the hands of the writer.

14 / 50
beautiful indiana
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Indiana

This is the fifth time this word has made the list of the most misspelled words in every state. Can you keep an eye out for another state that frequently searches how to spell it?

15 / 50
vacuum iowa
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Iowa

The time has come for everyone in Iowa to buy a new vacuum. That’s the only logical explanation for why everyone who lives in Iowa is searching for how to spell it. Or, everyone in Iowa just has a super clean home. These are the top spelling rules you need to memorize ASAP.

16 / 50
kansas consequences
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Kansas

What’s the worst thing that could happen if you don’t know how to spell a word? If you live in Kansas, you might need to know the consequences.

17 / 50
definitely kentucky
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Kentucky

Kentucky is the only state that has people searching for how to spell this word.

18 / 50
favorite louisiana
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Louisiana

How can do people in Louisiana text their friends about where they love to eat if they can’t spell favorite? Maybe they get it confused with or prefer the British spelling, favourite.

19 / 50
connecticut maine
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Maine

Maybe more people are traveling from Maine to Connecticut and need to know how to spell their upcoming vacation destination.

20 / 50
canceled maryland
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Maryland

This isn’t the only state that can’t spell this word. Keep reading to find out the second state that is always searching for the correct spelling of canceled.

21 / 50
beautiful massachusetts
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Massachusetts

I spy another state that can’t spell this common word.

22 / 50
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious michigan
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Michigan

The original Mary Poppins movie was released over 50 years ago and people still don’t know who to spell this word, placing it squarely on this list of most misspelled words.

23 / 50
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious minnesota
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Minnesota

It looks like this mid-western state also can’t spell the whimsical word either.

24 / 50
gray mississippi
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Mississippi

Identifying colors is one of the first things children learn about growing up. But are kids actually taught to spell them too? Perhaps not in Mississippi.

25 / 50
sincerely missouri
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Missouri

It’s a good thing that the people of Missouri are using Google to find out how to spell this word before signing the end of letters and notes with a misspelled word. Did you know that foods are given different names in certain parts of the country?

26 / 50
tomorrow montana
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Montana

Today is the best day to learn how to spell tomorrow. 

27 / 50
nocturnal nebraska
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Nebraska

Nebraska is home to some pretty cool wildlife, but many of them are best seen at night—maybe that’s why this word is so commonly searched in Nebraska.

28 / 50
probably nevada
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Nevada

If enough people are searching for how to spell this word, they will probably figure it out soon enough! Check out these grammar mistakes that even smart people always get wrong.

29 / 50
subtle New hampshire
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

New Hampshire

Even the most subtle spelling mistakes can be pretty funny. These are hilarious times that spelling mistakes actually got printed.

30 / 50
resume new jersey
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

New Jersey

If you think you saw this word listed already, that’s because you did. Neither Colorado nor New Jersey can spell resume.

31 / 50
permanently new mexico
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

New Mexico

With the Internet, almost nothing is permanent—unless spell check doesn’t catch your mistake and you never see it. These are the most words and grammar mistakes that spell check won’t catch.

32 / 50
resume new york
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

New York

Third times a charm! The Big Apple is the third state in the United States that can’t spell the word resume. Think you’re good at spelling? These are the 26 toughest winning words from the National Spelling Bee.

33 / 50
beautiful north carolina
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

North Carolina

Lucky number seven! Yup, this is the seventh state on the list that is always searching Google for how to spell the word beautiful.

34 / 50
yacht north dakota
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

North Dakota

The people in North Dakota are probably ready to leave the snow behind and be on a big boat in the middle of the ocean. Do you agree that these trendy slang words need to end?

35 / 50
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ohio
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Ohio

For those keeping track, this is the fourth state on the list that has been searching for how to spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

36 / 50
canceled oklahoma
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Oklahoma

Spotted! The second state that can’t spell canceled. If anyone in Oklahoma wants to end their subscription to Netflix, they’re going to need to know how to spell this word ASAP!

37 / 50
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious oregon
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Oregon

If you lost count, this is the fifth state that can’t spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. What? Like it’s hard!

38 / 50
schedule pennsylvania
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Pennsylvania

Keeping track of the time can be difficult when you’re a busy person. How can you be expected to know how to spell the word schedule on top of that? Thankfully there’s Google!

39 / 50
beautiful rhode island
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the only state in New England that always searches for how to spell beautiful. Think you have a distinctly American accent? Say these 9 words and we’ll tell you where you grew up.

40 / 50
south carolina beginning
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

South Carolina

If you didn’t already know, words ending in “ing” are called present participles. If you’re a word nerd and already knew this, then you’ll appreciate these funny grammar jokes.

41 / 50
chaos south dakota
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

South Dakota

The opposite of chaos is order, but these are 20 words in the English language that are actually their own opposites. You’ll never guess what they are.

42 / 50
schedule tennessee
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Tennessee

Even though Tennessee and Pennsylvania are in different time zones, the people who live there are looking up how to spell the same word. Maybe if they had the same time, creating a schedule wouldn’t be difficult. Here are 48 words and phrases only southern people use.

43 / 50
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious texas
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Texas

At last! You have reached the last state with the most people looking up how to spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Do you know your state capitals? See how well you can do with our state capitals quiz.

44 / 50
beautiful utah
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Utah

However, this isn’t the last state to not know how to spell beautiful.

45 / 50
solution vermont
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Vermont

The solution to learning how to spell new words is as easy and quick as a Google search. Now you can easily learn how each state got its name.

46 / 50
beautiful virginia
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Virginia

Virginia is home to Jamestown, the first American colony. On this list, though, Virginia is the ninth state that has been Googling how to spell the word beautiful.

47 / 50
beautiful washington
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Washington

If you’ve made it this far but haven’t kept track of how many states search for the spelling of this word, it’s ten. Yup, about 20 percent of the country is searching for the correct spelling of beautiful, making it one of the most misspelled words.

48 / 50
apparel west virginia
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

West Virginia

If people in West Virginia have trouble spelling the word apparel, they could always use its synonym: clothing. Even the smartest people mispronounce these 20 words.

49 / 50
beautiful wisconsin
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Wisconsin

The final state on this list that frequently searches “how to spell beautiful” on Google is Wisconsin.

50 / 50
fiance wyoming
Nicole Fornabaio/rd.com, 5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Wyoming

Fiancé refers to a man who is to be married, but a woman who is engaged is actually referred to as a fiancée. We can see how that can be confusing to people in Wyoming. Next, check out the 33 middle school vocabulary words even adults still get wrong.