‘Separate’ vs. ‘seperate’: What’s the difference?

Is it ‘separate’ or ‘seperate’?

The correct spelling of this word is “separate.” “Seperate” is incorrect. Here are some other ways “separate” is sometimes misspelled:

• Seprate
• Sepirate
• Seperated
• Seperation

The word “separate” can serve as an adjective, verb, or noun. The adjective and noun are pronounced /ˈsep(ə)rət/, while the verb is pronounced /ˈsepəˌrāt/, which might be why some people misspell the word.

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As an adjective, “separate” means set apart or disconnect. As a verb, it can mean to keep apart or disperse. As a noun, “separate” is used to describe an individual item of clothing.

Here are some examples of the word “separate” used in a sentence:

• My parents separated when I was 12.
• Please wash the dark and light clothing separately.
• The suit separates are on the second floor of the store.
• In America, there is a separation of church and state.
• The couple at table three asked for separate checks.
• After a disagreement, my business partner and I decided to go our separate ways.

Tips to help you spell ‘separate’ correctly

If you frequently spell “separate” like “seperate,” the habit can be hard to beat. If you want to use the correct spelling, remember that if you want to get an A on your spelling test, you’ll need to add an extra “a” to the word “separate.” You can also use mnemonics to help you. Remember that you need to spell “rat” to spell “separate.” Some find it easier to remember that you need “par” to spell “separate.”

Repetition can also help you learn how to spell a word correctly. Practice writing “separate” in a notebook repeatedly or leave a sticky note in plain sight that says “separate.” By leaving the word in clear sight, it can help you remember that “separate” has two As, not three Es.

Synonyms for the word ‘separate’

If you’re worried about spelling “separate” incorrectly in a situation where you don’t have spellcheck to help you, consider using these synonyms instead:

• Split
• Split up
• Divided
• Unconnected
• Disconnected
• Isolated
• Set apart
• Detached
• Severed
• Uncoupled

Other words that are frequently misspelled or misused

If you’re spelling “separate” incorrectly, check out these other words that people have trouble with:

• Gist vs. jist
• Bare vs. bear
• Apologize vs. apologise
• Imbed vs. embed
• Borne vs. born

Why is correct spelling important?

Using correct spelling can enhance your credibility and professionalism. If you spell words like “separate” incorrectly, it can make your readers doubt the quality of your work. For example, if you’re writing a historical article about the “seperation” of church and state in America, your readers may assume you didn’t research the subject correctly. If you research the topic correctly, you probably wouldn’t have misspelled the word. On the other hand, using the correct spelling of a word can save you from a lot of embarrassment or criticism if a friend, boss, or colleague, points out your error.

Get the Microsoft Editor browser extension

Fortunately, when you type in Word, spellcheck will let you know if you spell “separate” incorrectly. But if you’re writing on the web, you may not realize when you’re spelling words incorrectly. If you want to perfect your online spelling, get the free Microsoft Editor extension for your browser. Editor provides spelling and grammar suggestions so you can write fearlessly on social media, in work emails, and more. It also provides tone and refinement suggestions so that you can write clearly and concisely.

Understanding the correct spelling of the word “separate” will improve your writing skills. Now that you know that it’s “separate” and not “seperate,” you can write with confidence.