Wisconsin’s struggling spellers don’t deserve a boutonniere

Some words are harder to spell than others. Boutonniere is a tricky one, so it is understandable that word is one a lot of people have to look it up in order to spell it correctly. A new map published by Google Trends examines what words people in every state have to look up to see how they are spelled. Boutonniere is the most searched for word in Utah, while reimbursement is the word the most people in Pennsylvania have to turn to Google to get it right. And in Wisconsin? The most searched for word in the Badger state is lose. Yes, lose. Perhaps it is because some confuse lose and loose. But we’re getting stumped over four-letter words? Those kids at the spelling bee must be shaking their heads in disgust. Only one other four letter word was the top search in any state, where both Louisiana and Vermont struggle to spell gray. Maybe Wisconsin shouldn’t feel shame at struggling to spell a four-letter word. After all, the top spelling search in West Virginia was West Virginia. But before we point and laugh, keep in mind that five years ago the top spelling search in Wisconsin was Wisconsin. That dubious honor is hardly worthy of a boutonniere.