The One Kindergarten Word That Pennsylvanians Can’t Spell (It’s Not ‘Sauerkraut’)
Here is the updated article for Pennsylvania with all links removed.
The One Kindergarten Word That Pennsylvanians Can’t Spell (It’s Not ‘Sauerkraut’)
Category: News » Local Culture Date: January 19, 2026
For years, Pennsylvania held a specific (and delicious) title in the world of spelling errors.
According to Google Trends data from 2017 through 2022, the most misspelled word in the Keystone State was “Sauerkraut.” It made sense. We put it on our hot dogs, we eat it on New Year’s Day for good luck, but nobody ever remembers where the “e” and the “u” go.
But for 2026, the data has shifted. Pennsylvanians have finally mastered their cabbage spelling, only to be defeated by a common school supply.
The New Champion: “Scissors”
According to the latest search data analysis for 2025-2026, the word Pennsylvanians are frantically Googling “how to spell” more than any other is “Scissors.”
Yes, the tool you have been using since kindergarten.
Why Is It So Hard?
Linguists point out that “Scissors” is a deceptive nightmare for phonetic spellers:
- The Silent “C”: It follows the “S” but makes no sound, leading many Pennsylvanians to type “Sissors” or “Sizzors.”
- The Double “S”: We often forget if the double letter comes in the middle or at the end.
- The Vowel Trap: Is it an “e” or an “o” in the final syllable? (It’s an “o,” but it sounds like “ers”).
How We Compare to Neighbors
While we struggle with our crafts, our neighbors aren’t doing much better:
- New Jersey: The most misspelled word is “Congratulations” (often typed as “Congradulations”).
- Delaware: Residents struggle most with “Beautiful” (a nod to the Bruce Almighty B-E-A-utiful trick not reaching everyone).
- Maryland: The top error is “Maintenance” (often spelled “Maintenence”).
The “Sauerkraut” Legacy
While “Scissors” is the current winner, “Sauerkraut” remains the spiritual champion of PA typos. In 2024, search trends briefly showed “Mountain” spiking as a top error—possibly due to people typing too fast on their phones—but “Scissors” has officially cut its way to the top for 2026.
So before you post that Facebook status about your kid’s art project, maybe let spell-check take a second look.
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