Meaning & use
misspell
Last updated
UK/ˌmɪsˈspel/
US/ˌmɪsˈspel/
Meaning
verbtransitive
To spell a word incorrectly by using wrong letters or the wrong letter order.
Grammar: Takes an object: misspell a name; the past is commonly misspelled in American English.
Patterns
- misspell a word
- misspell someone’s name
- easy to misspell
Many people misspell “necessary” with one c.
Please check that you did not misspell the recipient’s name.
The word “misspell” is easy to misspell as “mispell.”
Word forms
| third-person singular | misspells |
|---|---|
| past tense / past participle | misspelled |
| past tense / past participle (British) | misspelt |
| -ing form | misspelling |
Common combinations
- commonly misspelled
- “Separate” is one of the most commonly misspelled words.
- misspell a name
- The certificate misspelled her family name.
- easy to misspell
- His surname is easy to misspell.
Word family
- misspelling noun
- An incorrect spelling; also the act of spelling incorrectly.
- spelling noun
- The accepted order of letters in a word.
Commonly confused: misspell or mispell?
misspell vs mispell
Mispell is a frequent error; the standard spelling keeps the prefix mis- plus spell: misspell.
Practice
Which spelling is correct for the verb meaning “to spell wrongly”?
Choose one answer.
The correct form is misspell, with mis- plus spell and double s across the join; “mispell” drops one s.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “misspell”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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