Do you have words you consistently get wrong? Or names for things or places you always mix up? Share!
Mine are (with apologies for residents of these two states) Wyoming and Montana. I’m guaranteed to say the wrong one every time. 
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I used to get port and starboard mixed up a lot, until I learned how they got their names.
“Starboard” is old English for “steering board.” Before rudders were invented, ships were steered with boards hanging over their sides. Since most people are right handed, these were placed on the right side of the boat so the steersman could work it with his right hand while facing in the direction he was going. Thus “starboard” was right when facing the bow of the ship.
If a ship docked with this starboard on the dock side, wave action could crush it, so they docked with the left side against the dock. The left side was originally called “larboard.” but once ships were fitted with cannons, it became harder to distinguish “larboard” and “starboard” over the din of battle, so they changed it to “port.”
Anyway, as long as you remember that boats were steered with the right hand while facing in the direction of travel. you will always know which is which.
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I used to get and still do the word their and thier spelling mixed up. Now I’m at the point in my life where I just say “ that’s how it’s spelled in my country “ lol 
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My mother was an excellent bread-maker, and the local Women’s Institute asked her if she would give a short talk on bread making. She was very shy and totally unused to speaking in public, but knew her facts about bread. She intended to start by saying “I don’t know if you realise it, but yeast is a living organism” What she actually said in her nervousness was “I don’t know if you realise it, but yeast is a living orgasm”.
She was utterly mortified and I always smile when I hear people make the same mistake
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I used to misspell simple words like “because” and “achieve” The problem was I would mix up where the letters to those easy words went and sometimes would add letters. I think I used to spell achieve “acheive” for example.
One state I frequently misspell is “Arkansas” just because to me the word looks different then it’s actually pronounced.
Thanks to whoever invented spell check! I wouldn’t know what I’d do without it lol!
-Marc
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Oh, your mother had to have been the sweetest woman! Lovely story, grapevine.
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Or the simple way to remember Starboard and Port is that Port has four letters just like Left.
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This is kind of a timely subject for me. Lately I have been having trouble with the word “TRABECULECTOMY” this is the name of an eye surgery. Trabeculectomy Surgery for Glaucoma, Animation. - YouTube This link show a little about it and what it does. My eye surgeon will be performing this on my left eye on Monday, January 11th. Not sure how this will affect my poker playing for a while. Will be wearing a patch for a few days. Then have to go in to doctors office every day for about 3 weeks as they slowly remove stitches. Then another three weeks to be completely healed. Then he will evaluate whether to perform the same on right eye. May not have to as internal eye pressure is lower in that eye.
Hope to see you all at the tables before too long.
Seville
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The word posh is derived from this. As ships sailed from England to the colonies wealthy passengers wanted to have a cabin on the south facing side of the ship as this was much warmer. From England to America this was port side and starboard on the return trip. Passages were booked as Port Outbound Starboard Home which was abreviated to POSH.
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Oh man, Seville–good luck with all that! I think it’s fine if you don’t say the word right. Just make sure your doctor can say it AND can treat it! 
We will look forward to having you back at the tables when it’s time. Meanwhile, take good care! Hugs.
I love this explanation!
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This one works for me!
Spell check is marvelous! First month dating my husband I discovered spelling was an issue and so I bought him a Speak and Spell. Well, we both agree–spell check is waaaay better (but wasn’t available in the early 1980s).
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I love learning the back story! Thank you, SPG!
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I have this problem, besides many other problems.
This rule helps: I before E except after C
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Add in the nautical light colors and all the short words are on the same side.
Red, port, left.
Green, starboard, right.
Nuns and cans can get confusing though.
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Had I known the difference between the words “anecdote” and “antidote” my friend Slim would still be alive today. He got snakebit. I read him some readers digest.
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hahaha! Very well played.
Except for their:)
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Both accept/except and their/there/they’re are challenging!
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