Why Can’t Michiganders Spell This One Simple Word?

If you happen to catch any clips of the Scripps National Spelling Bee online, you'll probably start to feel like your spelling skills are less than adequate. But don't - these kids have been brushing up on eleven-syllable words for a very long time, and only the best of the best spellers in the US make it to the annual competition.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee: A Century of Competition

By the way, the annual shindig is going on right now, with the semifinal round happening today (5/28) and the finals tomorrow.

But while some of the brightest young minds in the country are showing off their spelling chops this week, a new report is shining a light on something a little more ... down to earth.

SEE ALSO:  Bold Bets Help Propel This Michigan Man to a Jeopardy Win

Google Trends recently released its list of the most misspelled words in every state, and Michigan's is both hilarious and relatable.

What Words Make You Scratch Your Head?

(Does anyone else struggle with spelling the word 'Misspell?' That one gets me every time, and I had to ask Alexa for the correct spelling ... )

If you were ever in a spelling bee when you were a kid, I bet you remember the word that knocked you out of the competition. Mine was 'nauseous.' While it's typically pronounced NAW-shuss, the school principal who served as the bee master (the head pronouncer) pronounced it as NAW-zee-uss.

SEE ALSO:  MDOT Responds After Two Major Misspellings on Michigan Road Signs

For days, my mom was pissed about his pronunciation and insisted that I lost because of it. I've got news for you: I don't know how to spell 'nauseous' without help. Again, I asked Alexa for help as I typed it here.

Michigan's Most Misspelled Word: A Common Culprit

So, what is Michigan's most misspelled word? It's probably part of your everyday vocabulary. You might use it while talking about a lottery ticket, a DJ mix, or even a homemade meal.

According to the data, the most misspelled word in the Great Lakes State is...

Scratch. 

That's right, Scratch.

Maybe it's a casualty of autocorrect.

Nationwide Misspellings: How Does Michigan Compare?

By the way, the research was conducted by the unscrambling experts at WordUnscrambler.pro. And Michigan is the only state that struggles with the word 'Scratch.' Across the country, 'Definitely' is the most misspelled word in the US.

What word knocked you out of the spelling bee when you were in school? Let us know in the comments.

Get our free mobile app