Have you ever wondered whether the correct past tense of spell is spelled or spelt? It’s a common doubt, and the answer is more interesting than you might think. The verb spell simply means putting the letters of a word in the correct order, but it has two accepted past forms used in different parts of the world.
Understanding when to use each form can make your writing clearer and more polished. In this article, we’ll learn the difference between spelled and spelt in a simple and easy way.
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Spelled or Spelt: What’s the Difference?
Have you ever wondered whether it’s correct to write spelled or spelt? Both are actually right cause they are just used in different parts of the world. The verb spell means to write or name the letters of a word in the correct order, and both spelled and spelt are its past tense forms.
Spelled is the preferred form in American English. It is widely used by writers, teachers, and editors in the United States.
For example:
- The teacher spelled the word for the class.
Spelt is more common in British English and in many other countries outside the United States. It carries the same meaning and is simply a regional variation.
For example:
- The teacher spelt the word for the class.
Both forms are correct, so which one you use depends on your audience or the style you want to follow. No matter which form you choose, the meaning stays the same.
Misspelled or Misspelt
Sometimes when we write, we make mistakes in spelling. That’s where misspelled and misspelt come in. Both words mean that a word has been spelled incorrectly. You can also use them to describe a word that is written wrong. The choice between them usually depends on whether you are using American or British English.
In American English, misspelled is the standard form. In British English, both misspelled and misspelt are used, but misspelt is slightly more common.
Here are a few examples to make it clear:
- “Beck and call” is often misspelt or misspelled as “beckon call.”
- I have never misspelt or misspelled “onomatopoeia” before.
- Cassandra felt embarrassed when she realized she had misspelt or misspelled her friend’s name on a birthday card.
Both misspelled and misspelt are correct. It mostly comes down to which version fits the audience you’re writing for. Knowing both forms is a small but helpful way to improve your English and sound more confident in writing.
Is Spell a Regular or Irregular Verb?
The verb spell is a bit flexible because it can be used as either a regular or an irregular verb, depending on how you write its past tense.
Regular verbs form the past tense by adding -ed, like spelled.
Irregular verbs use a different form, like spelt.
In British English, people often prefer the irregular form, while in American English, the regular form is more common. This happens with other verbs too, such as:
| Verb | Past Tense |
|---|---|
| Burn | Burned / Burnt |
| Dream | Dreamed / Dreamt |
| Learn | Learned / Learnt |
| Smell | Smelled / Smelt |
| Spell | Spelled / Spelt |
Knowing both forms gives you more flexibility and helps you write correctly depending on your audience.
American vs British Usage
When it comes to English, spelling can vary depending on where you are. Take the words spelled and spelt for example. In the United States, people usually go with spelled as the standard past tense of spell.
In the UK and other English-speaking countries, both spelled and spelt are correct, but spelt is often more popular.
It’s important to think about your audience when choosing which form to use. Picking the right version can make your writing clearer and easier to read, especially if your readers are used to one style over the other.
Example Sentences Using Spelled or Spelt
- The teacher spelled the word slowly for the students.
- I accidentally spelt my friend’s name wrong on the invitation.
- She spelled every word correctly in the spelling bee.
- He carefully spelt out the directions for everyone.
- The kids spelled their homework words perfectly.
- During the quiz, she spelt several tricky words without any mistakes.
- John spelled the ingredients for the recipe aloud so everyone could follow.
- Mary spelt the difficult terms clearly during the presentation.
- We spelled our team name on the board for the competition.
- The students spelt out the answers to the questions together.
- I spelled the city name incorrectly on the form.
- Sarah spelt the company’s name wrong on the document.
- He spelled the instructions for assembling the furniture step by step.
- During the lesson, the children spelt each new word carefully.
- Tom spelled his email address slowly so the client could write it down.
- Emma spelt the title of the book correctly in her essay.
FAQs About Spelled and Spelt
Both words are past tense forms of the verb spell. Spelled is commonly used in American English, while spelt is more popular in British English.
In the United States, spelled is the standard form. Spelt is rarely used in American English but is perfectly correct in British English.
Yes! In British English, both spelled and spelt are accepted. Spelt is often more common in casual or conversational writing.
If your readers are mostly American, go with spelled. For a British or mixed international audience, either spelled or spelt works fine, though spelt might feel more natural in British contexts.
Yes! Some verbs follow the same pattern, like:
• Learn → Learned / Learnt
• Dream → Dreamed / Dreamt
American English usually prefers -ed, while British English allows both forms.
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