PENNSYLVANIA - In a state with a name famously difficult to spell, understanding regional spelling quirks like 'Pennsylvanians' or 'coronavirus' helps residents and educators navigate local language challenges and boosts their confidence in spelling.
While Florida battles "tomorrow" and Texas fights "maintenance," Pennsylvania, along with neighboring states, often turns to the internet to figure out where the "S" and the "C" belong. Recognizing these common spelling hurdles can help residents feel connected and understood across the region.
The "Scissors" Snag
The most frequent error found in Pennsylvania involves the placement of that initial silent consonant, often resulting in misspellings like "sissors" or "scisssors."
Why the confusion?
- The Silent "C" Trap: The word "scissors" comes from the Old French cisoires. In modern English, the "C" is entirely silent, leaving the "S" to do all the heavy lifting phonetically. For writers in Pennsylvania, the brain often defaults to a simple "S" or overcompensates by doubling the "S" in the wrong place.
- The Double-S Fatigue: The word contains two sets of "S" sounds. Because the word looks busy on the page, the eyes often gloss over the correct arrangement of letters, making it one of the most common "typo" words in the region.
The Runners-Up: Coronavirus and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's search history reveals two other words that frequently stump the population, including the name of the state itself:
1. Coronavirus
During the peak of the pandemic, Pennsylvania led the nation in searches for "how to spell coronavirus."
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The Culprit: The "O" vs "A" debate. Many residents were unsure if it was "coronavirus" or "coronovirus." The Latin root corona (meaning crown) wasn't immediately obvious to everyone, leading to a massive spike in spelling queries.
2. Pennsylvania
It is a humbling fact that many people living in the Commonwealth still have to Google their own State name.
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The Culprit: The double "n." The most common error is spelling it as "Pensylvania." Because we often shorten the name to "Penn" in casual conversation (like Penn State), writers sometimes forget that the full name requires that second "N" in the middle of the word.
Is Pennsylvania Alone?
The Mid-Atlantic is a hotbed for specific spelling struggles:
- New Jersey frequently has a hard time with "congratulations."
- Delaware often trips over the word "beautiful."
- Maryland historically struggles with "character" and "ninety."
How to Remember "Scissors"
If you're a Pennsylvanian tired of the red squiggly line, try this simple mnemonic:
"Science cuts through the noise."
If you can remember that "SC"—the same letters that start SCience—start the word SCissors, you will never miss that silent "C" again. Think of them as a "scientific" tool for cutting.
While Pennsylvania might have a little trouble with the silent "C" in "scissors," the state remains the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to history and culture. Whether you're ordering a cheesesteak in Philly or a Primanti's sandwich in Pittsburgh, a few extra letters won't stop the Keystone State from leading the way.
