Tricky Words Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Finally Stop Spelling Mistakes For Good – Even On Hard English Words

Why Tricky Words Keep Messing You Up

You know those words you always have to double-check?

Necessary, definitely, accommodate, rhythm, separate, receive…

Tricky words are annoying because:

• They don’t sound how they’re spelled
• Rules have exceptions (thanks, English)
• You don’t see them enough to lock them into memory

That’s where flashcards shine. And honestly, the easiest way to make and review tricky word flashcards is with an app like Flashrecall:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Flashrecall does the spaced repetition and reminders for you, so those annoying words finally stick instead of disappearing after one study session.

Let’s walk through how to use tricky words flashcards properly so you actually remember them.

Why Flashcards Work So Well For Tricky Words

Tricky words are all about:

• Spelling
• Meaning
• Using them in a sentence

Flashcards are perfect for this because they force active recall:

• Front: “Definite or Definate?”
• Back: “Definite – think ‘finite’ inside it: de + finite”

Every time you pull the answer from memory instead of just rereading, your brain strengthens that connection. Flashrecall has active recall built in, plus spaced repetition, so you see the word right before you’re about to forget it.

No more cramming. No more “wait, is it recieve or receive?”

Step 1: Pick Your Tricky Words (And Be Honest)

Start by making a list of words that actually trip you up, not just random “hard words” from the internet.

Some common ones:

• Necessary
• Definitely
• Separate
• Accommodation
• Embarrass
• Rhythm
• Weird
• Conscience
• Privilege
• Recommend
• Occasion
• License / Licence
• Affect / Effect

Then add your personal enemies:

• Words you always mistype in emails
• Words your teacher always underlines
• Words spellcheck keeps correcting

You can throw all of these straight into Flashrecall as flashcards:

• Type them manually
• Paste from a note or doc
• Snap a photo of your worksheet, and let Flashrecall turn it into cards
• Import from a PDF or even a screenshot

Yep, Flashrecall can create cards from images, text, PDFs, YouTube links, or just typed prompts. Super fast.

Step 2: How To Structure Tricky Word Flashcards (The Smart Way)

Bad flashcards:

> Front: “Necessary”

> Back: “Spelling of necessary”

That doesn’t help.

Good flashcards test one clear thing at a time. Here are some formats that work great.

1. “Which Is Correct?” Cards

Which is correct?

A) neccessary

B) necessary

✅ necessary

Tip: Think “one collar, two sleeves” – neCeSSary → 1 C, 2 S’s

You can do this easily in Flashrecall by just typing the options on the front and the correct spelling + memory trick on the back.

2. Fill-In-The-Blank Spelling Cards

Spell the word: nece__ary

necessary

Tip: one C, two S’s

Or:

Spell the word that means “sure, certain”:

definitely

NOT “definately” – think “finite” inside it: de + finite + ly

3. Meaning + Usage Cards

Because some tricky words are confusing in meaning, not just spelling.

Affect vs Effect – which is usually a verb?

Affect = verb (to influence)

Effect = noun (the result)

Trick: A = Action (verb), E = End result (noun)

Or:

Use “separate” correctly in a sentence.

Example: “Please keep the documents in separate folders.”

Tip: Think “a rat” in “separate”: sepARATe

In Flashrecall, you can even chat with the flashcard if you’re unsure and want more example sentences or explanations. It’s like having a tiny tutor inside the app.

Step 3: Use Spaced Repetition So Your Brain Doesn’t Forget

The big problem with tricky words: you learn them once, then… gone.

Spaced repetition fixes that by showing you cards:

• A lot at first
• Then less often
• But right before you’d normally forget

Flashrecall has automatic spaced repetition built in, with:

• Smart scheduling
• Study reminders
• No need to track what to review manually

So you just open the app, and it tells you:

> “You have 18 tricky word cards to review today.”

You tap through, rate how hard each card felt, and Flashrecall adjusts the schedule. Super low-effort.

Step 4: Make Flashcards From Real-Life Mistakes

Your best tricky word flashcards come from your actual writing.

Whenever you:

• Get marked wrong on homework
• See a red underline in Word/Google Docs
• Struggle writing an email or essay

Do this:

1. Screenshot or copy the sentence

2. Drop it into Flashrecall

3. Turn it into a card like this:

Fix the spelling:

“I definately want to go.”

“I definitely want to go.”

Tip: think “finite” → deFINITEly

Because Flashrecall can make flashcards from images, PDFs, and text, you don’t even have to rewrite everything. Just import and edit.

Step 5: Add Memory Tricks (So They Stick Faster)

Don’t just memorize by brute force. Add small hooks:

• Necessary – one collar, two sleeves (1 C, 2 S’s)
• Separate – there’s “a rat” in sepaRATe
• Accommodation – two beds, two pillows → 2 C’s, 2 M’s
• Rhythm – “Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move”
• Embarrass – you blush twice → 2 R’s, 2 S’s
• Weird – “We are weird” → WEIRD breaks the “i before e” rule

On each Flashrecall card, put:

• The correct spelling
• A short memory trick
• Maybe one example sentence

That tiny extra detail makes the word 10x easier to remember.

Step 6: Study In Short, Consistent Bursts

You don’t need hour-long sessions for tricky words. What actually works:

• 5–10 minutes a day
• While commuting, waiting in line, or before bed
• Just reviewing your scheduled cards

Flashrecall helps with:

• Study reminders so you don’t forget to review
• Offline mode, so you can study anywhere (train, plane, no Wi‑Fi)
• Working on both iPhone and iPad, so you can switch devices easily

Because it uses spaced repetition, even those tiny sessions add up fast. After a week or two, you’ll notice you’re typing way more confidently.

Step 7: Use Tricky Word Decks For Different Goals

You can organize your cards by theme inside Flashrecall. Some ideas:

For School / Exams

• Common exam spelling mistakes
• Academic vocabulary (e.g. “analysis”, “separate”, “occasionally”)
• Words your teacher keeps correcting

For English Learners

• Confusing pairs: affect/effect, then/than, lose/loose
• British vs American spellings: colour/color, licence/license
• Words that sound the same but spell differently (homophones)

For Work / Business

• Professional words: “recommend”, “privilege”, “guarantee”, “accommodate”
• Words you use in reports, emails, presentations

Flashrecall is great for languages, exams, school subjects, university, medicine, business – basically anything you need to remember, not just tricky English words. Your “tricky words” deck is just the start.

How Flashrecall Makes Tricky Words Way Easier

Here’s why it works so well for this:

• ✅ Create cards instantly
• From typed text
• From screenshots / photos of worksheets
• From PDFs or notes
• From YouTube links or copied content
• ✅ Built-in active recall
• Front/back flashcards
• You see the prompt, answer from memory, then flip
• ✅ Automatic spaced repetition
• Smart scheduling
• Auto reminders
• You never have to plan what to review
• ✅ Chat with your flashcards
• Unsure about a word?
• Ask for more examples, explanations, or usage right inside the app
• ✅ Fast, modern, easy to use
• No clunky interface
• Free to start
• Works on iPhone and iPad
• Works offline

If you’re serious about finally crushing those annoying spelling mistakes, this is the easiest system to stick with.

👉 Try Flashrecall here:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

A Simple Plan To Fix Your Tricky Words In 7 Days

You can literally do this:

• Add 20–30 tricky words into Flashrecall
• Make clear, simple cards with tips and example sentences

• Review 5–10 minutes a day
• Add new cards whenever you catch a new mistake

• Keep reviewing your scheduled cards
• Try writing a short paragraph using 10 of your tricky words
• Any mistakes you make? Turn them into new flashcards

Stick with that for a couple of weeks and you’ll be shocked how many of your “impossible” words suddenly feel easy and automatic.

Final Thoughts

Tricky words aren’t a sign you’re bad at English – they’re just words your brain hasn’t seen enough, in the right way, with enough repetition.

Flashcards fix that.

Spaced repetition makes it stick.

And Flashrecall makes the whole process painless.

If you want to finally stop second-guessing your spelling, set up a tricky words deck and let the app handle the rest:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Give it a week of short daily reviews and see how many of your “problem words” disappear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

Is there a free flashcard app?

Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

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