Have you ever been writing a message and paused because you weren’t sure of the spelling of a word? Imagine you’re trying to compliment a friend’s work, but you get stuck on one simple word. Does ‘totally’ have one ‘L’ or two? Let’s clear that up.
The correct spelling is totally. “Totaly” is a common misspelling and should be avoided. Totally means completely or entirely. For example, if someone understands a concept well, you might say, “She totally gets it.”
Using totally properly enhances clarity in communication. When you say “I am totally convinced,” it emphasizes that you have no doubts at all. This helps in expressing your thoughts more effectively and confidently.
Choosing Between ‘Totaly’ and ‘Totally’
Knowing the correct spelling can polish your writing and communications. When you use words correctly, it makes your writing look neater and you appear more knowledgeable.
Understanding the Basic Rules
English can be tricky with its rules. Sometimes, you might see a word and think it should be spelled differently based on how it sounds. That’s because English words don’t always follow the pronunciation. Here’s a tip: when adding a suffix like ‘-ly’ to a word, the spelling of the root word usually doesn’t change.
Why ‘Totally’ is Correct
The correct spelling is ‘totally.’ This word starts from the base adjective ‘total.’ When transforming an adjective to an adverb in English, we generally keep the base the same unless the word ends in ‘y’ or has other specific letters. Here, we simply add ‘-ly’ at the end of ‘total,’ keeping the double ‘L’ intact.
Incorrect Variations
What about ‘totaly’? No, that’s not right. When you see it written like that, remember it’s missing the second ‘L.’ It’s easy to rush and miss out a letter or two. Always check if the base form of the word is visible in the adverb. For ‘totally’, ‘total’ should be clear as its foundation.
Examples in Sentences
Let’s see some clear, everyday examples to understand how to use ‘totally’ in sentences:
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He was totally unprepared for the rain, even though the forecast predicted it.
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She is totally committed to her new job, spending extra hours training.
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You were right; this book is totally amazing!
Simple Analogies to Explain
Think of ‘totally’ like a full glass of water. ‘Water’ is to ‘glass’ as ‘total’ is to ‘totally’. The whole of the glass (word) is used, and we just add something extra (the suffix) to fill it up completely.
Tips to Remember the Correct Spelling
Imagine you are packing a suitcase. If you leave important clothes at home, you might not have enough to wear. Similarly, if you drop an ‘L’ from ‘totally’, the word isn’t complete. Always make sure both ‘L’s make it into your ‘suitcase’ when you spell ‘totally’.
Another tip is to think about the word ‘doll’. It’s easy to remember it has two ‘L’s. Just like ‘doll’, ‘totally’ needs its double ‘L’s to be complete.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Let’s look at another example. It’s normal to hear someone saying ‘totally’ quickly in conversation, and it might sound like it has only one ‘L.’ When you write it out, though, always slow down. Think of each part of the word. This ensures you don’t miss any letters.
Also, be careful of autocorrect on your phone or computer. Sometimes it might guess the wrong word and change the spelling. Always double-check what you’ve typed. It helps to keep your spelling sharp, and you’ll catch mistakes autocorrect might miss.
Final Thoughts
So, each time you go to write ‘totally’, remember it’s like packing a suitcase, or a full glass of water needing that little extra. Keep an eye out for that second ‘L’, and you’ll master this little bit of English in no time. Happy writing!
