Tough ones

I’m answering queries by Sunita and Dinesh, both from Patna, and adding a few other ‘difficult’ spellings! I usually use the Oxford Language Reference as a guide.

‘Abattoir’ [which means slaughter-house, a place where animals are killed and prepared for sale] has a single ‘b’, double‘t’.]

‘Accommodate’ and ‘accommodation’ are among the most misspelt words in English. There are two C’s and two M’s.

Advice is the correct spelling of the noun; ‘advise’ is how you spell the verb.


Annex is a verb, annexe is a noun. In American English the noun may also be spelt ‘annex’.

Apprise is always spelt –ise not –ize.