Linguistic experts like Sokolowski or ex-spellers like Scott Remer, who placed fourth in 2008 and later wrote a book, "Words of Wisdom," to guide high-level spellers, can sense the unease provoked by an unfamiliar schwa.
"You can usually tell when they are testing the kids on the schwa and you can often tell when the kids are taken aback by it," said Remer, 25, who coaches spellers in addition to his day job at the Council on Foreign Relations. "The vast majority of instances where kids misspell is due to the schwa."