Tricky Words Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Finally Stop Spelling The Same Words Wrong

Why Tricky Words Keep Messing You Up

You know those words you always second-guess?

• Necessary or neccessary?
• Definitely or definately?
• Separate or seperate?

Tricky words are annoying because they slow you down, make you doubt yourself, and sometimes even make you avoid writing certain words altogether.

That’s exactly where flashcards shine — especially if you use an app that does the hard work for you.

If you want to finally fix those annoying spelling mistakes, try using Flashrecall:

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

It’s a fast, modern flashcard app for iPhone and iPad that:

• Lets you make flashcards instantly from text, images, PDFs, YouTube links, audio, or just by typing
• Has built-in spaced repetition and study reminders so you review tricky words before you forget them
• Works great for languages, exams, school, uni, medicine, business – and yes, spelling and vocab too
• Is free to start and works offline

Let’s break down how to use tricky word flashcards in a way that actually sticks.

Step 1: Pick Your Personal “Tricky Word” List

Don’t start with a random giant list from the internet. Start with the words that actually trip you up.

Here are some common categories:

• Double letters
• accommodation, recommend, occurrence, committee
• Silent letters
• knowledge, scissors, receipt, castle
• Homophones (sound the same, different meaning)
• their / there / they’re
• your / you’re
• accept / except
• Classic spelling traps
• definitely, separate, necessary, calendar, rhythm, weird

As you write during the day (emails, essays, notes), notice every word you hesitate on. That’s your gold.

In Flashrecall, you can quickly:

• Open the app
• Tap to create a new card
• Add the tricky word and a quick reminder or example

You can even batch-add a bunch at once when you notice them.

Step 2: Make Smart Flashcards (Not Boring Ones)

Bad flashcards:

> Front: Definitely

> Back: Correct spelling: definitely

That’s… fine, but it’s not using your brain properly.

Better ideas for tricky word flashcards:

1. “Which Is Correct?” Cards

Front:

> Which spelling is correct?

> a) definately

> b) definitely

Back:

> ✅ definitely

> Tip: “definite” + “ly” → definitely

You’re training yourself to spot the right spelling, not just stare at a single word.

2. Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences

Front:

> I will __________ call you tomorrow. (definitely / definately)

Back:

> definitely

Now you’re learning it in context, which makes it stick way better.

3. Memory Trick Cards

Front:

> Why is “necessary” spelled with one “c” and two “s”?

Back:

> Think: “1 collar, 2 sleeves” → necessary

Or:

Front:

> Trick to remember “separate”?

Back:

> There’s a “rat” in separate

These little mnemonics are perfect for flashcards.

In Flashrecall, you can make all of these manually, or even faster:

• Paste a word list or text and let Flashrecall turn it into cards
• Snap a photo of your spelling worksheet or textbook page and auto-generate cards from the image
• Use a PDF or YouTube link and create cards from that

That way, you’re not wasting time formatting — you’re just learning.

Step 3: Use Spaced Repetition So You Don’t Forget Again

The real reason tricky words stay tricky?

You see them once, maybe twice… and then never again.

Your brain needs repeated exposure, spaced out over time. That’s what spaced repetition does.

Flashrecall has built-in spaced repetition and auto reminders, so you:

• Review new tricky words more often at first
• See them less and less as you get them right
• Get reminded to study right before you’re about to forget

You don’t have to plan your reviews. The app handles it.

So instead of cramming “definitely” 20 times in a row, you see it:

• Today
• Then tomorrow
• Then 3 days later
• Then a week later

…until it’s burned into your brain.

Step 4: Add Audio, Images, And Real Examples

Tricky words aren’t just about spelling — often it’s also about meaning and usage.

For example:

• affect vs effect
• principal vs principle
• compliment vs complement

Here’s how to make those easier with richer flashcards.

Example: Affect vs Effect

Front:

> Fill in the blank:

> The new law will have a big ______ on the economy.

Back:

> effect (noun – result)

Front:

> Fill in the blank:

> The new law will ______ the economy.

Back:

> affect (verb – to influence)

You can also:

• Add audio to hear the word
• Add an image that represents the meaning (e.g., a domino effect for “effect”)

Flashrecall lets you:

• Add audio, images, and text to cards easily
• Create cards from YouTube videos (great for language learners or ESL students working on confusing English words)
• Use chat with the flashcard if you’re unsure and want the app to explain the word or give more examples

So if you’re stuck on “affect vs effect,” you can literally chat with the card and ask:

> “Give me 3 more example sentences using ‘affect’ as a verb.”

Step 5: Turn Everyday Mistakes Into New Flashcards

The best tricky word flashcards come from your real mistakes.

Whenever you:

• Get corrected by a teacher
• See red squiggles in a document
• Catch yourself hesitating on a word

…add it to Flashrecall immediately.

You can even:

• Take a screenshot of your writing with corrections
• Import it into Flashrecall and make cards straight from the image

This way, your deck becomes a personal “no more embarrassment” list.

Step 6: Study In Short, Chill Sessions (Not Marathons)

You don’t need to grind for hours.

For tricky words, it’s way more effective to:

• Do 5–10 minutes a day
• Let spaced repetition handle the timing
• Keep sessions light and consistent

Flashrecall helps here because:

• It sends you study reminders so you don’t forget
• Works offline, so you can review on the bus, in a line, or between classes
• Is fast and modern, so you’re not fighting with a clunky interface

Tiny daily reviews beat one giant “I’ll fix my spelling today” session every time.

Step 7: Use Tricky Word Flashcards For Exams, Languages, And Work

Tricky words aren’t just for school spelling tests.

You can use this exact method for:

1. School & Exams

• Commonly misspelled English words
• Vocabulary lists for tests
• Subject-specific terms (biology, history, geography, etc.)

Example card:

Front:

> Spell the term for “the powerhouse of the cell”

Back:

> mitochondrion / mitochondria

2. Languages (English Learners, Or Learning Any Language)

If you’re learning English (or any language), you’ll have words that:

• Look similar
• Are hard to pronounce
• Have weird silent letters

Use Flashrecall to:

• Add the word
• Add audio pronunciation
• Add example sentences
• Review using spaced repetition

3. Work & Professional Writing

If you write emails, reports, or documents, you probably have “problem words” you always double-check.

Create a “Work Writing” deck in Flashrecall with:

• Words you always Google
• Terms specific to your industry
• Names, acronyms, or jargon you don’t want to mess up

Example Tricky Word Flashcard Set You Could Create Today

Here’s a simple starter set you could build in Flashrecall in under 10 minutes:

1. definitely vs definately

2. separate vs seperate

3. necessary

4. accommodation

5. recommend

6. their / there / they’re

7. your / you’re

8. effect vs affect

9. principal vs principle

10. calendar

For each, make:

• A card with “Which spelling is correct?”
• A fill-in-the-blank sentence
• A memory trick if you know one

Flashrecall will then schedule them for you with spaced repetition, so you just open the app and study what’s due.

Why Flashrecall Works So Well For Tricky Words

You could do this on paper, but here’s why Flashrecall makes it way easier:

• Instant card creation from text, images, PDFs, YouTube, audio, or by typing
• Built-in active recall (you always see the front first, answer in your head, then check)
• Automatic spaced repetition so you don’t have to remember when to review
• Study reminders so you don’t fall off the habit
• Works offline so you can study anywhere
• Chat with the flashcard feature to get extra explanations or examples
• Fast, modern, free to start, on both iPhone and iPad

If you’re tired of second-guessing the same words over and over, set up a tiny system once and let the app do the heavy lifting.

You can grab Flashrecall here and start building your tricky word deck today:

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

Tricky words don’t have to stay tricky. With the right flashcards and a bit of spaced repetition, they just become… normal words you never worry about again.

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.

What's the best way to learn vocabulary?

Research shows that combining flashcards with spaced repetition and active recall is highly effective. Flashrecall automates this process, generating cards from your study materials and scheduling reviews at optimal intervals.

How can I study more effectively for this test?

Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.

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