It happens to the best of us. You’re staring at a calendar or typing out a quick email, and suddenly your brain just... stalls. Is there a "u" in February? Does September have one "p" or two? Honestly, knowing how do you spell months isn't just about passing a third-grade spelling bee; it’s about navigating the weird, messy history of the Latin language that we’ve inherited.
Spelling matters. It’s the difference between looking like a pro and looking like you skipped a few years of school.
The Trouble With February and the Silent R
Most people hate February. Not just because it’s cold, but because that first "r" is a total nightmare. It’s the most commonly misspelled month in the English language. Period.
Why? Because almost nobody says it right. We say Feb-u-ary. We skip the "r" entirely. But the word comes from the Roman festival of Februa, which was a ritual of purification. If you want to get it right every time, you’ve gotta lean into the Latin. Think of it as "Feb-ru-ary." Even if you don't say it that way out loud, say it that way in your head when you're typing.
It’s tricky. It’s annoying. But that "r" isn't going anywhere.
The Full List: How Do You Spell Months Without Thinking Twice
Let’s just lay them out. No fancy tricks, just the correct, standardized English spellings you need for your daily life.
- January: Keep an eye on that "u." It’s Jan-u-ary.
- February: The "r" after the "b" is the killer. Remember it.
- March: Short, sweet, and hard to mess up.
- April: Only five letters, but don’t swap the "i" for an "e."
- May: The easiest one on the list.
- June: Four letters, ends in "e."
- July: Don't confuse it with "Julie."
- August: Named after Augustus Caesar.
- September: The "ber" suffix starts here.
- October: Keep it simple with the "o" sounds.
- November: Just like September, it follows the "ber" pattern.
- December: The final "ber" month.
Why Do We Use These Names Anyway?
Our calendar is a bit of a train wreck. If you’ve ever noticed that Sept- means seven, Oct- means eight, Nov- means nine, and Dec- means ten, you might be wondering why September is the ninth month and December is the twelfth.
It’s because of the Romans.
Originally, the Roman calendar only had ten months. January and February didn't even exist; the Romans basically considered winter a "gap" in the year where nothing happened. When they finally added those two months to the beginning of the year, it bumped all the others down the line. So now, "October" (the eighth month) is actually the tenth. It’s confusing. It’s nonsensical. But that’s history for you.
Capitalization and Style Guides
Here is a rule you can’t break: Always capitalize the names of months. Whether you’re following the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook or the Chicago Manual of Style, months are proper nouns. They are names. You wouldn't write your own name in lowercase, so don't do it to August or November.
However, when it comes to abbreviations, things get a little spicy. If you’re writing in AP style—which is what most newspapers and websites use—you only abbreviate months that have more than five letters.
- Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.
- March, April, May, June, July (These stay exactly as they are).
If you’re writing a formal invitation, ignore the abbreviations entirely. Spell everything out. It looks classier. It feels more intentional.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
We’ve already talked about February, but what about the others?
September and November often get confused because they sound similar. One trick is to remember the "p" in September. It’s the only month with a "p" besides April.
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August can sometimes be spelled "Agust" by mistake, especially if you’re typing fast. Just remember the "u" comes first.
January occasionally gets spelled as "Januarry." There’s only one "r" at the end. Don't overcomplicate it.
Does it Change in Other Countries?
Luckily, for English speakers, the spelling of months is pretty much universal across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. You don't have to worry about "colour" vs "color" here. A June in London is the same as a June in New York.
However, if you’re looking at historical documents, you might see some weirdness. Before the 1750s, the British Empire used the Julian calendar, and New Year’s Day was actually in March. Imagine the chaos of trying to spell your way through a calendar that changes its start date.
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The Psychological Trick to Perfect Spelling
If you’re struggling with how do you spell months, start using "phonetic chunking."
Break the words down into sounds that feel distinct.
- Sep-tem-ber. * Oc-to-ber. * Jan-u-ary.
When you break them into three-letter or four-letter chunks, your brain processes them as smaller units rather than one long string of characters. It’s a trick used by competitive spellers and it works for everyday words too.
Actionable Steps for Flawless Writing
Stop relying on autocorrect. It’s a crutch that often fails when you need it most.
- Practice the "Big Three": February, September, and Wednesday (I know, it's not a month, but it's the other calendar word everyone gets wrong).
- Check your abbreviations: If you’re writing a professional document, look up whether your company uses AP or Chicago style.
- Slow down: Most spelling errors in months happen because of "finger slips" on the keyboard, not lack of knowledge.
- Handwrite them: Studies show that the tactile act of writing helps encode spelling into your long-term memory better than typing.
Knowing how do you spell months is a small skill, but it’s one that builds your credibility as a writer. Take the extra second to look for that hidden "r" in February. Your readers—and your boss—will notice the difference.