WordGarden.iomisspell
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /mɪsspˈɛl/
US
- /mɪˈspɛl/
Meanings
Verb
to spell a word incorrectly
Beyond the definition
We've all done it – accidentally swapped letters, added an extra one, or just plain forgotten how to spell a word. That's to misspell something! It means to write a word incorrectly. Don't feel bad if you misspell occasionally; even skilled writers make mistakes. Sometimes autocorrect can help catch these errors, but it doesn't always understand what you mean to say. A common way to avoid misspelling is to proofread your work carefully or use a spell checker. If you consistently misspell the same words, making a personal list of those tricky terms can be helpful!
To misspell means to write a word incorrectly – getting the letters in the wrong order, omitting letters, adding extra ones, or using the wrong letter altogether. It's a common human error, and even experienced writers and editors occasionally misspell words. Think of it as a little stumble in the world of writing!
The word itself is formed by combining "mis-" (meaning wrongly) with "spell." So, to misspell literally means to spell something wrongly. It's often used as a verb: "He misspelled 'necessary' on the test," or "I always misspell 'receive.'"
The adjective form is misspelled, as in "a misspelled word." While a single misspelling might not ruin a message, frequent errors can make your writing difficult to understand.
Misspelling isn't necessarily about intelligence; sometimes it's just a slip of the hand or a tricky spelling rule! There are many words in English that are notoriously difficult to spell – like "accommodation" or "separate." Recognizing these challenging words and practicing them is a great way to reduce misspellings. So, if you find yourself writing something down, take a moment to double-check your work—and don't be afraid to use a dictionary or spell checker!
Examples
- 1
Common word
I always misspell "restaurant" when I write it quickly.
- 2
Email
He misspelled my name in the email.
- 3
Official forms
My last name is often misspelled on official forms.
- 4
Letter count
A lot of people misspell her name with one s instead of two.
- Patternmisspell + word/name with + letter/number of letters
write it using the wrong letter or number of letters
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Apology
She apologized for misspelling the company name in the invitation.
See also
Similar
- spell incorrectly
- spell wrong
Shades of meaning
- mistype
- make a typo
Contrast
- spell correctly
- mispronounce
Used with (collocations)
- misspell a word
- misspell someone's name
- commonly misspelled words
Word family
Explore
- spelling error
- orthography
Forms and spellings
5 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- misspellverb
Forms
- misspelledpast tenseverb
- misspelling-ing formverb
- misspeltpast tensepast participleverb
- misspellsverb