mischievous 4

This is one of those 'I' before 'E', except after 'C' words, a rule that, like any other spelling rule, has a few exceptions. Therefore, some people are confused about whether the 'I' comes before the 'E'. However, it is not as easily misspelled as it is mispronounced. Many people (myself included) have been guilty of adding that non-existent fourth syllable to the word when in conversation, hastily saying mis-chiev-i-ous instead of mis-chiev-ous. Well, why make it harder than what it is? Say the word correctly, with three syllables. It is so much easier.