What are the most common spelling mistakes on CVs?

Your CV is often the first thing a potential employer sees, so it’s important to make sure it creates a good impression. Spelling mistakes can be easily overlooked, but they could make the difference between your CV standing out for the right reasons or being passed over.

Before sending your CV to a potential employer, take a look at some of the most common spelling mistakes and make sure you’re not making them yourself.

‘Manger’ instead of ‘manager’

This error can happen when CVs are rushed, resulting in a missed ‘a’ in the word ‘manager’. Spellcheckers aren’t likely to pick this up, as ‘manger’ is a correctly spelt word in its own right. That’s why it’s important to proofread everything yourself!

‘Lead’ instead of ‘led’

This is an easy mistake to make when describing previous work experience. ‘Lead’ is the present tense, while ‘led’ is the past tense. If you’re describing a responsibility or achievement from a previous role, ‘led’ is usually the correct choice.

‘Insure’ instead of ‘ensure’

These two words sound similar but have different meanings. ‘Ensure’ means to make certain that something happens, whereas ‘insure’ relates to protecting against financial loss, usually through an insurance policy. Using the wrong word can change the meaning of a sentence entirely.

‘Impliment’ instead of ‘implement’

The incorrect spelling ‘impliment’ may come from the way the word sounds when spoken. The correct spelling is ‘implement’, which is often used on CVs when describing processes, systems or new ways of working. For example, “I implemented a new filing system to improve efficiency.”

‘Identity’ instead of ‘identify’

Although both words are spelt correctly, they have different meanings. ‘Identify’ is a verb meaning to recognise or establish something, while ‘identity’ is a noun. For example, you might write, “I identified opportunities to improve customer service.” Using the wrong word can make your experience unclear.

‘Definately’ instead of ‘definitely’

It’s easy to misspell ‘definitely’, often by using an ‘a’ instead of an ‘i’. A simple way to remember the correct spelling is that there are no ‘a’s in ‘definitely’. As it’s a word people use regularly, it’s easy to overlook a mistake when proofreading.

‘Compliment’ instead of ‘complement’

These words have different meanings. A ‘compliment’ is an expression of praise, while a ‘complement’ is something that completes or works well with something else. For example, “My communication skills complement my customer service experience.” Choosing the right word helps ensure your CV communicates your strengths clearly.

‘Affect’ vs ‘effect’

It can be tricky to know when to use ‘affect’ or ‘effect’. In most cases, ‘affect’ is a verb meaning to influence something, while ‘effect’ is a noun meaning a result. For example, “The changes affected productivity” and “The changes had a positive effect on productivity.” Remembering this distinction can help you avoid a common writing mistake.

Other CV mistakes to look out for

Spelling is only one part of proofreading your CV. Also check for commonly confused words such as ‘your’ and ‘you’re’, and ‘their’, ‘there’ and ‘they’re’.

Make sure your employment dates, job titles and qualifications are accurate. Keep verb tenses consistent, use clear formatting and avoid long, complicated sentences.

Check your CV before applying

A spellchecker is a useful starting point, but it won’t catch every mistake. It may miss a correctly spelt word used in the wrong context, so read your CV carefully from beginning to end.

If possible, ask someone else to review it. A fresh pair of eyes can spot errors you may have missed.

Your CV should showcase your experience, skills and achievements. Taking a little extra time to proofread it can help you present yourself professionally and make a positive first impression with potential employers.

Check out these related helpful tips:
Five steps to spring-clean your CV
How to create the perfect cover letter

Published: 20 October 2026
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