Why do these mistakes survive spellcheck?

Because every one of them is a correctly spelled word. Only a grammar checker or a human reader catches them, which is why they are worth drilling directly.

What grades is this for?

US standards put frequently confused words in fourth grade, but the questions here run from third to eighth because the harder pairs — affect/effect, lose/loose, whose/who's — stay wrong much longer.

Is there a trick that actually works?

Substitution. Every apostrophe pair here unpacks into two words, so read the sentence with the long form. "The bird returned to it is nest" fails immediately, and the child hears why.

Commonly Confused Words Worksheets

These pairs sound identical, so no amount of reading aloud catches them. They need the written test: substitute the long form and see whether the sentence survives.

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6th Grade Commonly Confused Words Practice

Commonly Confused Words

Circle the correct answer.

1.
Do you know blank she put the scissors?
werewe'rewhere
2.
Put the boxes over blank .
they'retheretheir
3.
This soup is blank salty.
totootwo
4.
blank going to be late.
TheirThereThey're
5.
My backpack is heavier blank yours.
thanthen
6.
Be careful not to blank your key.
looselose
7.
We ate dinner and blank watched a movie.
thanthen
8.
The bird returned to blank nest.
itsit's

Each sentence has at least one mistake. Write the sentence correctly.

9.
Their are three cookies left.
10.
It is to cold to swim today.
11.
Your right that its to late to start now.
12.
The students left there backpacks in the hall.
13.
Your the fastest runner in the class.
14.
She runs faster then anyone on the team.
15.
Their going to bring they're own snacks over there.

Commonly Confused Words: the rules these questions test

their / there / they're: their shows belonging (their house), there is a place (over there — it contains "here"), they're means they are.
your / you're: your shows belonging (your jacket); you're means you are. Read it as "you are" — if it works, use the apostrophe.
its / it's: its shows belonging (its nest); it's means it is or it has. This is the one adults get wrong most.
to / too / two: to is direction or part of a verb (to the beach, to run); too means also or excessively (too salty, come too); two is the number.
then / than: then is about time (we ate, then watched a movie); than compares (heavier than yours).
affect / effect: affect is usually the verb (the rain did not affect the game); effect is usually the noun (a big effect on practice).

Questions parents and teachers ask

Why do these mistakes survive spellcheck?: Because every one of them is a correctly spelled word. Only a grammar checker or a human reader catches them, which is why they are worth drilling directly.
What grades is this for?: US standards put frequently confused words in fourth grade, but the questions here run from third to eighth because the harder pairs — affect/effect, lose/loose, whose/who's — stay wrong much longer.
Is there a trick that actually works?: Substitution. Every apostrophe pair here unpacks into two words, so read the sentence with the long form. "The bird returned to it is nest" fails immediately, and the child hears why.