The finale of this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee was last night. And the winner was 13-year-old Faizan Zaki from Plano, Texas. He correctly spelled éclaircissement after the runner-up failed to spell Uaupés.
Those brilliant kids would be embarrassed by this next story.
That's embarrassed. E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S-S-E-D.
The website WordUnscrambler looked at internet search data to put out a list of the most problematic words for Americans to spell . . . words that were associated with phrases like, "How do you spell," or "How to spell."
So, here are America's 10 most misspelled words:
1. Definitely
2. Separate
3. Necessary
4. Believe
5. Through
6. Gorgeous
7. Neighbor
8. Business
9. Favorite
10. Restaurant
They also came up with the most challenging word for each STATE to spell. Here they are:
Alabama . . . Different
Alaska . . . Tomorrow
Arizona . . . People
Arkansas . . . Quesadilla
California . . . Appreciation
Colorado . . . Sergeant
Connecticut . . . Schedule
Delaware . . . Beautiful
Florida . . . Compliment
Georgia . . . Necessary
Hawaii . . . Luau. (Of all places, they're unsure of "luau" IN Hawaii?)
Idaho . . . Definitely
Illinois . . . Congratulations
Indiana . . . Taught
Iowa . . . Through
Kansas . . . Different
Kentucky . . . People
Louisiana . . . Through
Maine . . . Pneumonia
Maryland . . . Character
Massachusetts . . . Beautiful
Michigan . . . Scratch
Minnesota . . . Successful
Mississippi . . . Beautiful
Missouri . . . Temperature
Montana . . . Appreciate
Nebraska . . . Beautiful
Nevada . . . School
New Hampshire . . . Protective
New Jersey . . . Congratulations
New Mexico . . . Appreciate
New York . . . Different
North Carolina . . . Secret
North Dakota . . . Daughter
Ohio . . . Crochet
Oklahoma . . . Patience
Oregon . . . Business
Pennsylvania . . . Scissors
Rhode Island . . . Cancelled
South Carolina . . . People
South Dakota . . . Beautiful
Tennessee . . . Broccoli
Texas . . . Protect
Utah . . . Definitely
Vermont . . . Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Virginia . . . People
Washington . . . Appreciation
West Virginia . . . Beautiful
Wisconsin . . . Different
Wyoming . . . Beautiful
(Fox 8)
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