Is it miniscule or minuscule? Precede or preceed? How about harass? Or is that harrass?

These are among the 100 most commonly misspelled words in the English language. If you know or can guess the correct spellings, you're a good candidate for the third annual Kootenai County Adult Spelling Bee to be held May 29 at North Idaho College.

Sponsored by the Coeur d'Alene Area branch of the American Association of University Women, the bee will raise money for local college scholarships and give top spellers bragging rights for 2014.

Registration is $100 per team of two or three people and includes lunch and an event T-shirt for each contestant. The bee is open to the public. Guests may attend for $35 with lunch and T-shirt, or claim gallery seating at no charge.

AAUW is also seeking business co-sponsorships of $125 to $500, said Lynn Brooks, local AAUW branch president. Potlatch No. 1 Federal Credit Union, Kootenai Electric Co-op and Budget Storage have already signed on as sponsors. Sponsors will have their names and logos on the T-shirt and receive other recognition. Further information about sponsorships is available from Maxine Sullivan at (208) 818-4331.

AAUW has a long history of providing scholarships at North Idaho College and other institutions. The local branch has raised money for scholarships at NIC every year since 1951. Over the years, this has been accomplished through annual book sales and yard sales. In 2012, the members decided to try an adult a spelling bee. It has been a hit, earning about $5,000 in profit in its first two years.

Contestants must be at least 18 years of age. Anyone may put together a team. AAUW wants to see all of the good spellers in Kootenai County compete and definitely wants to foster competition between businesses and civic organizations.

Registration information, rules and practice word lists are online at coeurdalene-id.aauw.net/spelling-bee. Registrations are due by Thursday, May 22.

Readers who are still scratching their heads about the correct spelling of the words in the first paragraph: the correct spellings are minuscule, with a 'u'; and precede and harass, each with just one 'r.'