These questions ask you to choose between spellings that differ by only one or two letters. Identify what the sentence is naming or doing before relying on a spelling reminder.
Attach each spelling to one clear signal
Start with meaning, then confirm the grammatical role. A person, rule, material, place or act of praise gives a stronger signal than pronunciation because the members of these pairs often sound identical.
| Meaning signal | Form and a fresh example |
|---|---|
| Person in charge, main thing or original sum versus a rule | Use principal for the leader, the main element or the original money: The principal concern was safety. Use principle for a belief or fundamental rule: Fairness is a useful principle. |
| Not moving versus writing materials | Use stationary for lack of movement: The lift remained stationary. Use stationery for paper and related supplies: She bought recycled stationery. The e in stationery can recall envelope. |
| Financial resources or seat of government versus a legislative building | Use capital for money or a government centre: The firm raised capital. Use capitol for the building where a legislature meets: Reporters gathered outside the capitol. |
| Something that completes versus praise | Use complement for a completing or enhancing partner: The dark frame complements the print. Use compliment for praise: He complimented her careful work. |
| Refer, place or vision | Use cite when mentioning evidence: Cite two reliable studies. Use site for a location: The team inspected the building site. Use sight for seeing or something seen: The lighthouse came into sight. |
Common spelling traps
| Temptation | How to reject it |
|---|---|
| Principle used for a leader | A principle cannot act as a person. If the noun names someone in charge, choose principal; reserve principle for an abstract rule or belief. |
| Stationery used after a verb of remaining or keeping still | Writing supplies are concrete things, not a state of motion. A description meaning unmoving requires stationary. |
| Capitol used for broad business funds, or capital for the legislature's building | Capital covers financial resources and several other meanings. The spelling with o has the narrow building meaning. |
| Complement used for spoken praise | Ask whether one thing completes another or whether somebody expresses approval. Completion takes complement; praise takes compliment. |
| Cite or sight used for a physical location | Cite is usually the action of naming evidence, and sight concerns vision. A place where something stands or happens is a site. |
Try it
The laboratory refuses to alter results because honesty is a guiding ___. Supply the word meaning a fundamental rule.
Engineers surveyed the hilltop ___ before approving the new wind turbine.
- sight
- cite
- capital
- site
Which sentences use a word from this topic to name a physical place or building? Select all that apply.
- The excavation site is fenced.
- Visitors toured the capitol.
- Fairness is our principle.
- Her compliment lifted his mood.