Spelling mistakes happen in a CV when a specific word is written with the wrong letters or incorrect letter order due to omission, substitution or transposition. Jobseekers make these mistakes due to rushing through applications, over relying on auto-correcting tools and cognitive fatigue or blindness where they read what they expect to see rather than the actual text.

In this context, a simple spelling mistake wields a disproportionate amount power to destroy your chances of getting an interview. Spelling errors tend to jump off the page and grab the recruiter’s attention, for the wrong reasons. They can raise doubts about your attention to detail, leading the recruiter to think:

  • ‘Can the candidate who makes such a basic error be trusted with important tasks?’

It’s for all these reasons that you should make sure your CV doesn’t have a single typo.

In this article, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about fixing typos in your resume and share practical tips for creating a polished, error-free CV. You’ll learn simple techniques to avoid schoolboy errors and make sure your application grabs attention for all the right reasons. Our goal is to help you build a CV that’s not just impressive, but perfectly written.

By: Iejaz Uddin – 16 July 2026

 

Page overview

  • What is a spelling mistake
  • Common CV Spelling Mistakes
  • Misspelt words
  • Apostrophe Errors
  • Americanised spelling mistakes
  • Extra spaces
  • Do spelling mistakes matter?
  • How to spot spelling mistakes in your CV

 

What is a spelling mistake

It occurs when a word is written with the incorrect letters. Letters can be omitted, added, repeated or in the wrong order. Mistakes can happen because of the writer genuinely does not know how to spell a word or has hit the wrong key on a keyboard.

A spelling mistake can be anything from a simple typo, to a typographical error, misspelt work, missing comma, extra space and incorrect employment date or wrong address. They lurk in the shadows of most CVs, undermining your professionalism, brand and integrity.

Studies have repeatedly shown that the majority of CVs contain blatant spelling mistakes, with many having multiple ones. They are more prevalent than not including a personal summary, leaving employment gaps and having a CV that is too long.

 

Common CV Spelling Mistakes

The most common CV errors include, misspelling company names, mixing British and American spelling, incorrect capitalization, missing punctuation and using the wrong word i.e. ‘their’ instead of ‘there’.

A well-written and mistake free CV is vital if you want to sell yourself to potential employers. Below is a list of the most common errors found on job applications in the UK. Including these indicates to prospective employers that the candidate is sloppy at double checking their CVs and could stipulate to recruiters their inability to do detailed work.

 

Misspelt words

These are words that do not match the correct standard spelling due to having a letter missing, extra letter added or letter in the wrong order. Due to the many silent letter in the English language, even confident and experienced writers can get tripped up by these. Bad spellers should remember that just one can damage your CV and get it binned. Writing a word incorrectly is a basic mistake that hiring managers see all the time. If you have the letters in the wrong order or you don’t have the right letters, you’ve misspelt a word.

 

Examples of unintentionally misspelled words:

Affect / Effect

Analyse / Analyze

Behaviour / Behavior

Centre / Center

Definately / Definitely

Insure / Ensure

Its / It’s

Lead / Led

Organisation / Organization

Optimise / Optimize

There / Their / They’re

Utilising / Utilizing

Your / You’re

 

Apostrophe Errors

These errors usually boil down to “It’s” vs. “Its” confusion, unnecessary Plural Apostrophes and missing or misplaced possessives. They often occur when the plural form and the possessive form are confused. In a CV they are used to form possessive nouns and to show the omission of letters or numbers. They are not to be confused with a comma or quotation mark. Their primarily aim is to show possession (who owns something) and to shorten a word i.e. “don’t” instead of “do not.”

 

Examples of apostrophe mistakes

  • Cars not car’s
  • The 1970s not the 1970’s
  • ‘We’ll” instead of “we will,’
  • ‘two apple’s for £1’ instead of the correct ‘two apples for £1’
  • it’s and its.
  • your and you’re

 

Example of an apostrophe showing possession

  • The words “Harry’s car.” indicates the car belongs to Harry.

 

Americanised spelling mistakes

While both the USA and the United Kingdom speak the same language there are differences in the way that some words are spelled. Americans have some unique ways of spelling certain words which are rooted in history but can cause mix-ups in the modern world. This can confuse people who end up making mistakes that could have easily been avoided. Other categories include dropping “u” in words like colour (color) and replacing British “-re” endings with “-er.”

There is a difference between how Americans and the British spell certain words in English. This can cause problems when writing a CV for a UK based job. The incorrect use of American English spelling can be flagged up to recruiters as a lack of focus and attention to detail in candidates. It’s therefore important that you pay close attention to how certain words are spelt.

The main difference is for words ending in ‘bre’ or ‘tre’ and those ending in ‘ize’ or ‘ise’.

 

Examples of words ending in ‘bre’ or ‘tre’:

Centre      Center

Litre          Liter

Fibre          Fiber

Theatre     Theater

 

Examples of words ending in ‘ize’ or ‘ise’:

Apologise      apologize

Stigmatise     stigmatize

Organise       organize

Recognise    recognize

 

Extra spaces

These are considered formatting errors where one word is accidentally split into two words by an unnecessary space. Sometimes double spaces can also appear after sentences or between correctly spelt words and punctuation. Although some people may not view them as a true spelling mistake, they can make a CV look less polished and may affect its readability. They should therefore, be searched for, found and then corrected.

 

Examples:

ad hoc                         adhoc

cash flow                    cashflow

company wide           companywide

in store                        instore

in house                       inhouse

skill set                        skillset

up to                            upto

 

Tense inconsistencies

This is where you switch between past and present tense within the same sentence. It is the unintentional shifts in verb tense relating to the past, present, or future. The use of unclear timeframes and incorrect shifting within a sentence can confuse readers about when events occur. They can signify that you are not fully acquainted with the language you are writing in.

 

Do spelling mistakes matter?

Yes, is the short answer. They can erode your credibility and convey to the reader a lack of care and attention. This in turn will raise doubts about your professionalism and suitability for the role. They are one of the main reasons why CVs are rejected and are frequently cited as the biggest blunders candidates can make on their CV. To recruiters they suggest a lack of care, preparation, effort or communication skills and can create the impression that you lack attention to detail and professionalism.

In the highly competitive world of job-hunting image is everything. The way you present yourself can mean the difference between success and failure. Hiring managers often have limited time to evaluate candidates, a simple spelling mistake can be fatal to your prospects. Remember that your CV serves as your initial introduction to a potential employer, meaning it shapes their perception of you as an applicant.

Submitting a CV to them that demonstrates poor language skills will immediately diminish your chances of winning that all important interview.

 

Subconscious bias

In the minds of recruiters, they can also trigger a subconscious bias towards applicants, as poor written communication skills can be associated with bad work habits, competency and reliability.

 

Depends on the job

If you’re applying for a job like park ranger, a hiring manager might let a few spelling mistakes slide since writing isn’t a big part of the role. But if you’re going for something like technical writing, even one typo could be a deal breaker.

However, for roles that demand precision, like auditing or accounting, mistakes on your CV can really raise red flags. In these jobs, missing the small details could end up costing the company a lot of money, so showing that you’re detail-oriented from the start is crucial.

 

How to spot spelling mistakes in your CV

You can spot spelling mistakes by using spell checkers, proofreading, reading slowly, reading aloud and getting someone else to read it. Catching spelling mistakes doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. There are a few simple and effective ways to do it. The best approach is to use a combination of automated spell-checkers and manual proofreading. By mixing both, you’re more likely to identify any errors. As you get the hang of these methods, you’ll find it easier to review your work and make any necessary edits.

Below are some strategies to minimize the risk of making typos in your CV. Familiarize yourself with these techniques and use them.

 

Spell checkers

This is the most commonly used tool in the battle against spelling mistakes. They are popular because they offer not only real-time detection of misspelled words but also their correction as you type. Many widely used word processing programs like Microsoft Word and Google Docs include built-in spell-checkers.

Beware that although spell-checkers can only highlight some of these errors and may not flag up all of them. Spell checking tools are also notorious for missing contextual mistakes like ‘sight’ instead of ‘site’. If words like these are left uncorrected, they can significantly change the meaning of a sentence.

 

Proofreading

This is the last stage of checking your text before it is submitted to the reader. Proofreading might seem tedious, but it is an excellent way of checking your grammar, punctuation, formatting and phrasing before submission. It’s good practice to proofread your CV several times to ensure it is completely free of minor errors and inconsistencies.

 

Have a friend proofread your CV

If you spend too much time looking at a document, you can become blind to any mistakes. Get a second pair of eyes, such as a capable friend, work colleague or family member to go read your CV. A fresh pair of eyes can not only catch something you might have overlooked, but also offer you an unbiased opinion on how your CV is written. Asking a friend to lend a hand is also a great way to get a new perspective on your CV that can reveal areas for improvement you might not have noticed.

 

Reading your document out aloud

Give your CV a further once-over by reading your document out loud rather than silently in your head. A manual review like this is a great way to catch awkward sentences, clunky phrases and subtle grammatical errors. When reading out aloud you’re also more likely to spot inconsistencies in tone or style and stumble over sentences that don’t flow smoothly. If you do spot a mistake whilst reading your CV, then immediately stop reading and correct the error straight away so you don’t forget where it was.

 

Read your CV backwards

An unusual but effective technique that is used by many writers to focus on each word individually. By starting from the last word and moving to the first you are forced to concentrate on individual words more.