17 words that aren’t spelled like they sound

Do you get hung up on the spelling or pronunciation of ‘sherbet’ or ‘colonel’? How about the other words on this list?

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Sometimes the rules of English spelling make no sense.

The reason for the confusion is the diverse origins of English words. German, Latin, French, and Greek are all common sources, and each language follows a different set of rules for spelling. Even the best spellers—including those who avidly read PR Daily—can be tripped up by the irregularities of English spelling.

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