Common spelling mistakes in English: which or which? Or is it witch or with?
You may recognise that a minor spelling mistake in an e-mail can quickly influence your perception of the sender. In business e-mail communication, you obviously want to appear professional, but a small mistake can quickly slip into your message.
However, you can avoid spelling mistakes if you pay extra attention to them.
We have listed a number of common spelling mistakes. If you become aware of these mistakes, you will be one step closer to professionalising your business English.
Which, wich, witch or with
Should yo write which, witch or with? These three words look very similar and in the case of 'which' and 'witch' they also sound exactly the same.
However, their meanings differ completely:
- Which has several meanings, including 'that', for example 'I bought a new car which was made in Germany', or a choice between two or more alternatives in questions of statements, for example 'I can't remember which book I read last week'.
- Witch is just a spelling mistake and so you don't use it at all in English.
- Witch refers in fairy tales to a woman often old and ugly, who is thought to have evil magic powers, for example the old lady in Hansel and Gretel.
- With is a preposition.
Examples
- Incorrect: *Witch one do you prefer?
Correct: Which one do you prefer? - Incorrect: *I’m staying which my father.
Correct: I’m staying with my father.
More tips on English grammar and common mistakes in English? These articles might also interest you:
- English spelling: its or it's
- English spelling: full or ful
- English spelling: no, know or now
- English spelling: than or then
- English spelling: there, they're or their
- English spelling: to, two or too
- English spelling: your or you're
- English spelling: were, wear, where or we're
- English spelling: live, lives or life
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