IELTS Energy 1527: Get Set Up For IELTS Success With These Spelling Tips

Interactive Transcript

spk_0 This is the IELTS Energy Podcast episode 1527.

spk_0 Get set up for IELTS success with these spelling tips.

spk_0 Welcome to the IELTS Energy Podcast from all years English.

spk_0 Downloaded more than 35 million times with Examiner trained IELTS Wiz, Aubrey Carter,

spk_0 and Lindsey McMahon, the English Adventure.

spk_0 If you are stuck with a low score, our insider method will help you get the score you need

spk_0 to unlock your dreams. Get your estimated band score now with our two-minute quiz at allyearsenglish.com.

spk_0 Slash my score.

spk_0 When it comes to IELTS listening and writing spelling matters. How do you know if a word should

spk_0 be split into two words? Today, get our easy rule of thumb to be sure that you don't lose points

spk_0 on spelling. Have you ever walked into a budget meeting completely prepared?

spk_0 But the moment executives start pushing back, you lose control of the conversation.

spk_0 Your expertise is solid, but your English sophistication doesn't quite match it.

spk_0 And that gap, it costs promotions, projects, and respect.

spk_0 That's why we created Professional English Level 2. This isn't basic business English.

spk_0 It's communication mastery designed for high stakes moments,

spk_0 like leading budget meetings, presenting risk analysis,

spk_0 handling negotiations, and resolving conflict.

spk_0 And rollment is open now, and this week only you save $100 off the normal price.

spk_0 But spots for personal coaching are limited. So don't let the next opportunity slip by.

spk_0 Visit allyearsenglish.com slash career and join Professional English Level 2 today.

spk_0 Again, go to allersenglish.com slash career. C-A-R-E-E-R.

spk_0 Hello Lindsay, how are you?

spk_0 Hey Aubrey, I'm feeling pretty good today. How are you?

spk_0 Excellent. Quick question for you.

spk_0 Are there any words in English that you have difficulty spelling?

spk_0 Yeah, sometimes it's those words that have in the past tense that have an L at the end like

spk_0 canceled. That one, I'm fine with the present tense cancel easy. But then I always wonder,

spk_0 do I add two Ls for the past tense or just one L?

spk_0 And those are especially tricky because it's spelled differently in British English and

spk_0 American English. So we've seen it both ways. So it's kind of those kinds of words that I

spk_0 struggle with. The British American differences. So yeah, absolutely. And we know this is a struggle

spk_0 for all of you preparing for IELTS. We got a great question about this. So we are going to answer it

spk_0 and dive into some of the words that could trip you up on the IELTS listening exam because

spk_0 they're spelled differently when they're a noun and when they're a verb.

spk_0 Oh my gosh. And here is the student question that came in. Aubrey, do we know where this came in from?

spk_0 Was this YouTube? This was in one of our webinars. Oh, we don't have the student's name.

spk_0 We love the webinars. Awesome. All right. So in IELTS listening, should health care be written as one word

spk_0 or health care? Health care as two words, which one is correct? Good question. Such a great question.

spk_0 This is especially tricky because health care as two words is more common. You'll see this more

spk_0 often, but it does depend on the meaning of the sentence, right? Health care as two words is a noun

spk_0 referring to things that people or doctors do to care for themselves. But health care does

spk_0 exist as one word, right? Yeah. When we're referring to a system. Right, Aubrey, which is a little,

spk_0 there's a nuance difference there. It's very subtle. So this would be really tricky if this were

spk_0 on the IELTS listening exam. You would need to be listening for the context. Like what is the

spk_0 actual meaning? Are we talking about self care, health care, or are we talking about the health care

spk_0 system? And they would be spelled differently. And in British English, this actually works differently.

spk_0 Health care as one word is often used as a noun to describe care. So the IELTS exam actually would

spk_0 accept both of these as correct because American and British spelling are both accepted as correct

spk_0 on IELTS. So that's the good news. Yeah, that brings up kind of a question, Aubrey. Do you know

spk_0 if you do we need to be consistent across an essay? If we decide we're writing in British English

spk_0 with British spelling, can we then switch in another paragraph to an American spelling or is it

spk_0 advisable to continue with the right question? And no, it doesn't matter. You can use American and

spk_0 British spelling throughout the essay switch back and forth. If you feel like it will throw you off

spk_0 at all, then try to stick with one, learn one and stick with it. But the examiner is not going to

spk_0 decrease your score if you spell like color with American English spelling and then cancelled later

spk_0 with British English spelling, you can use both in one essay or on one listening exam. Both

spk_0 and before we go into the rest of the episode, anything else we need to know here, Aubrey.

spk_0 Yeah, we're going to share some of these really tricky words that exist just like health care

spk_0 as a noun and a verb. And these words would be would need to be written correctly on the listening

spk_0 exam. So usually you're going to write it just like you hear it. But for some of these words,

spk_0 IELTS could trip you up, could try to trick you and you would need to be paying attention to

spk_0 is it being used as a noun or a verb because I'll spell it differently depending on which one is used.

spk_0 Honestly, I think these are things that native speakers also. I think my partner just asked me

spk_0 like last week how does like whether it's a verb should be separated or together. And I said it

spk_0 depends on whether it's a noun or a verb, right? Exactly. Give me the whole sentence and then I'll

spk_0 know how to spell it. Tell me what you want to say. It's true. I mean, so very educated native

spk_0 speakers are making these mistakes too. So this is really important to know about. But first,

spk_0 let's get into first things first, Aubrey, thanking our reviewers, those who took the time to go leave

spk_0 a rating and review. Yeah? Yes, absolutely. Yeah. So huge thank you to Allah, Allah from China,

spk_0 who left us a five star review. One, two, three, four, five, six from China, also five star review.

spk_0 Apple X, U, E, P five stars. Guys, no matter what your rating or review is, we love to see that you've

spk_0 taken the time to go over and leave us that rating and review. So go ahead, tell us what you think

spk_0 about the show, right? Aubrey, we love. Yes. Thank you for reviewing the show. We do appreciate

spk_0 in it. It does help others find us as well. It keeps us high on those lists so that others see our

spk_0 podcasts. So thank you for every review and raise every single one matters. So let's go through it.

spk_0 Let's break down these examples, Aubrey. This is going to be incredibly useful today.

spk_0 Yes, very interesting. Okay, so the first one is setup. So of course this is as a noun, it is written

spk_0 as one word, S-E-T-U-P, what would be an example and see? So an example here would be the setup for

spk_0 the carnival took several hours. So again, that is one word together. Set up is together. Exactly.

spk_0 Or we'll often, if you are thinking of dates when someone sets you up with a friend, that's a verb,

spk_0 but what happens, the setup that is a noun, right? So you have to think about how is it being

spk_0 used in a sentence? Is it the thing being described or is it the action of setting someone up?

spk_0 And sometimes this can change context very subtly. How did you meet? It was a setup. How did you

spk_0 meet? We were set up, right? Good. Exactly. You have to think about that. It was a setup. That's a

spk_0 thing that happened, right? Yes. Good. I love it. So another example with the verb, we need to set up

spk_0 the projector. So not only is this about dates and setups, it's also about putting something together,

spk_0 turning it on, right? You set up your computer, you set up everything on your table, and then it's

spk_0 being used as a verb. Exactly. So that one is two words, right? I'll break two words. Yes.

spk_0 And one thing to keep in mind here, it doesn't matter for the listening exam. When you use these

spk_0 words, I'm not listening, speaking, the speaking exam, when you use these words and your speaking

spk_0 answers, they sound exactly the same. You don't have to think about it at all. But if it's the

spk_0 listening exam or your IELTS essays, you do have to think about how is it being used? It'll

spk_0 be spelled differently. Super important point. It's not like we're pausing between, you know,

spk_0 we were set up, we're not pausing like that. We were set up, right? Exactly. They sound exactly

spk_0 the same, which is what makes it more difficult to know how to spell them. Yes. We love English so much.

spk_0 Let's go into another example of backup, right? You should create a backup before updating your

spk_0 computer. And I think most of us have learned this the hard way. Yes. I certainly have. Right? We need

spk_0 to. But then I was about to use it as a verb. You need to backup your computer before restarting.

spk_0 That would be written as two words because it's a free-sulver. Exactly. And breakdown. So here we go.

spk_0 Here's the breakdown of the budget. And that kind of means just as synopsis.

spk_0 Right. Exactly. When you're giving this synopsis of the budget, we also use this as a noun when

spk_0 we're talking about like a mental breakdown. And we use this to exaggerate a lot. I had a mental

spk_0 breakdown. We really just mean I was really frustrated. Yeah. Yeah. Most of the time if it's serious,

spk_0 it means you're in the hospital, right? Exactly. So yeah, people use that in a more tone-down

spk_0 notion. But what about as a verb? Yeah. So for example, you might say let's break down the data

spk_0 by category. So that's where we're itemizing each thing. We're breaking it apart. We'll say let's

spk_0 break it down. And then we also use this like for camp if you're camping. You say let's break

spk_0 down camp means let's take down the tent, put everything away. So we use this as a free-sulver as

spk_0 well. And then it would be written as two separate words. Yeah. Usually that's my role. I'm the one

spk_0 who has to break down the tent. You break down the tent. I'm always end up doing that.

spk_0 Good stuff. Good stuff. So next example is take off. So the take off was delayed due to weather.

spk_0 Yes. One word. It's a noun, right? The take off the planes. We know leaving. That's a noun.

spk_0 The take off was delayed. But we also use this as a free-sulver. The plane will take off in 10

spk_0 minutes, two words. Yes. Good. All right. Excellent. Okay. Aubrey, we're back from break. There's

spk_0 still more of them. There's a lot of them in the English language. And these I only pulled the

spk_0 most common ones that are most likely to come up on the listening exam, but there are more. So

spk_0 you could Google like words that are spelled differently as a noun and a verb. And there's

spk_0 quite a few. And it is good to be aware of these in case they come up on your outs listening exam.

spk_0 100% next one is makeup, right? I don't wear a lot of makeup, right? Yes. Exactly.

spk_0 The women put on their face, right? Sometimes men when they're going on TV, for example, I think

spk_0 something like my new costume. Yep. I think they do. This always reminds me of the first Batman movie

spk_0 with Michael Keaton, where the Joker had put these like poisonous chemicals in makeup. And so

spk_0 people are avoiding wearing it. And it shows the newscasters on TV with no makeup and how different

spk_0 they look than how newscasters normally look. It's quite funny. It's so true. Interesting.

spk_0 Interesting. With the light. It's the bad lighting. Oh, God awful. Awful. Yeah, for sure. And then

spk_0 how does it become a verb, Bobbri? Yeah. So as a freezel verb, you might say they were able to

spk_0 make up after their fight. And so this means to forgive each other, talk it out. We make up with

spk_0 a person. Interestingly, this is also an adjective. If you say like I took a makeup exam, we're

spk_0 describing the exam. And that also would be written as one word. So this one's even more tricky

spk_0 because it can exist as an noun, an adjective, and a verb. It can exist in a lot of ways. Or even

spk_0 coming back to the physical stuff that people put on their face, you could have that in a verb

spk_0 form. You could say she was all made up for the scene or the filming. Yes, you might see it in

spk_0 past as the past participle made up. And that would be a verb as well. Wow. Okay. Next one is

spk_0 login. So yeah, sometimes even I'll look at this and I'll think, okay, yeah, what do I say,

spk_0 login or login? Right. Right. I'm like, login. This is tricky. It's a new one in our language,

spk_0 you know? Exactly. For the noun form, I forgot my login info. So that's one word.

spk_0 Exactly. If it's used as a noun, this is my login. I forgot my login. Then it's written as one

spk_0 word. But if you're using it as a verb, for example, you need to log in to access the site.

spk_0 Yes. And like you said, Lindsay, I'm sort of separating it there when I speak, but when we say it,

spk_0 we just say you need to log in to access the site. Yeah, but it goes by the same rules. So I don't

spk_0 know why I struggle with it. I just struggle with it for some reason. Yeah. But hopefully our

spk_0 listeners now will not. So there you go. At least these all follow that same pattern, where as a verb,

spk_0 as they're a phrasal verb, they're written as two words, as a noun, they're written as one word.

spk_0 Yep. And that also goes for the last one. Click here to complete your log out.

spk_0 So yep. And that is written as one word, log out. Yeah. And then we see it more often as a

spk_0 phrasal verb, for sure. Don't forget to log out when you're done. That would be written as two words.

spk_0 Wow. A lot of examples. I think we really nailed it for our listeners here. We really

spk_0 brought this point home, Aubrey. Don't you think? Yes. I agree. And more than anything,

spk_0 this is just something that's really good to be aware of. I've seen students take practice exams.

spk_0 And not understand why I'm not understanding why they're missing it because they're not aware that

spk_0 these words exist as both a noun and a verb and they're spelled differently. Yes. I love it.

spk_0 So glad we went into this. So go and keep this rule in mind as you do your daily writing. Not

spk_0 even just for ills, but as you're writing emails, you're just you're speaking to people and

spk_0 vision how you might spell it. And then when it comes time for your next ills practice, you'll be ready.

spk_0 Right. Absolutely. Yes. We use these all the time. So you'll need these for life after ills as well.

spk_0 Work in your communication. Everyone will be impressed if you're using the right form.

spk_0 Yes. Love it. Good stuff. Guys, don't forget to go over and check out our course.

spk_0 Three keys ills. Go to allersenglish.com slash K-E-Y-S to get the step-by-step system created by

spk_0 a former examiner, which cuts your prep time in half. It allows you to go straight to the point.

spk_0 Not waste your precious time. Absolutely. Yes. We'll hopefully we'll see you in the course.

spk_0 Allersenglish.com slash keys. All right. Good stuff. See you soon, Aubrey.

spk_0 Bye. Let's see. Bye.

spk_0 Thanks for listening to ills energy. Hit subscribe now and don't forget to find your

spk_0 estimated band score at allersenglish.com slash my score.

IELTS Energy 1527: Get Set Up For IELTS Success With These Spelling Tips

Interactive Transcript

Topics Covered

Related Episodes

If you're here to raise consciousness on this planet... (Akashic Records Workshop coming up!)

Ep. 309 – Love Binds All Things: What We Can Do to Help the World with Prof. Rajiv S. Joshi

People on TikTok BEGGING for Money is Unhinged (Sad Fishing for Money)

Justin Martin Wrestles with Phil's Advice on Fatherhood

Share Episode