spell falsely

Meanings

1. 1phrasephrasal verbformal

   To write or say the letters of a word incorrectly, especially in a way that is untrue or misleading.

   Grammar: Used with a direct object: spell a word falsely. The adverb 'falsely' comes after the verb and object, or after 'spell' in a split phrase.

   Patterns

   • spell something falsely
   • spell a word falsely
   • spell falsely on a document

   The witness was accused of trying to spell the name falsely to hide his identity.

   She spelled the address falsely on the form, hoping no one would notice.

   If you spell the word falsely, the computer will mark it as an error.

2. 2phrasephrasal verb

   To give a false or incorrect written form of a word, often because of ignorance or a typing mistake.

   Grammar: Can be used without an object when the word is understood from context: He spelled falsely again.

   Patterns

   • spell falsely
   • spell the word falsely

   Even careful writers sometimes spell falsely when they are tired.

   The student spelled falsely on the test and lost points.

   He spelled the technical term falsely because he had never seen it written down.

Common combinations

spell a name falsely

He spelled the customer's name falsely on the invoice.

spell a word falsely

It is easy to spell a long word falsely under pressure.

accidentally spell falsely

I accidentally spelled the French word falsely.

spell falsely on purpose

She would never spell falsely on purpose.

Synonyms and how they differ

misspell

A single verb meaning to spell a word wrongly; it is more common and neutral than 'spell falsely'.

miswrite

Means to write something incorrectly, not just the spelling; it is rarer and more formal.

Opposites

Word family

false adjective

Not true or correct; the base of the adverb 'falsely'.

falsely adverb

In a way that is not true; used in this phrase.

spelling noun

The way letters are arranged to form a word.

spell verb

To write or say the letters of a word in order.

Commonly confused: spell falsely or misspell?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “spell falsely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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