misspell: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral
Quick answer
What does “misspell” mean?
to spell a word incorrectly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to spell a word incorrectly.
To write a word with letters in the wrong order or with the wrong letters; to make a spelling error.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primary difference is in the past tense/past participle spelling: 'misspelled' (AmE) vs. 'misspelt' (BrE). However, 'misspelled' is also common in BrE.
Connotations
Identical. Both forms carry the same neutral-negative connotation of making an error.
Frequency
The word is of similar frequency in both varieties, but the specific verb form (misspelled/misspelt) will vary by region.
Grammar
How to Use “misspell” in a Sentence
[NP] misspells [NP][NP] is misspelled/misspeltto misspell [NP] as [NP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “misspell” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Children often misspell 'because' as 'becuase'.
- He misspelt the address on the form.
- The sign was taken down because it misspelt the town's name.
American English
- Students commonly misspell 'separate' as 'seperate'.
- She misspelled her own surname on the application.
- The email was flagged for misspelling several technical terms.
adverb
British English
- The name was misspeltly written on the certificate (rare/awkward).
- N/A - not standard.
American English
- N/A - not standard.
adjective
British English
- The misspelt word was underlined in red.
- We received a complaint about the misspelt headline.
American English
- The document was full of misspelled names.
- He was embarrassed by the misspelled tattoo.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in contexts like proofreading documents or noting errors in communication: 'Please ensure you do not misspell the client's name in the report.'
Academic
Used in discussing writing skills, literacy, or linguistic analysis: 'The study analysed which words learners most frequently misspell.'
Everyday
The most common context, referring to everyday writing mistakes: 'I always misspell 'necessary'.'
Technical
Used in software development for spell-check features: 'The algorithm flags misspelled words.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “misspell”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “misspell”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “misspell”
- Misspelling the word as 'mispell' (single 's').
- Confusing the past participle forms ('misspelled' vs. 'misspelt').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Misspelled' is standard in American English and common in British English. 'Misspelt' is a standard variant in British English.
Yes, it is often cited as a common ironic mistake because the word describes the act of spelling something incorrectly, yet its own spelling (with a double 's') is frequently gotten wrong as 'mispell'.
No, the noun form is 'misspelling'. For example, 'There was a glaring misspelling in the title.'
'Spell incorrectly' is the most neutral synonym. In very critical contexts, words like 'mangle' or 'butcher' can be used, but they are much stronger and less formal.
to spell a word incorrectly.
Misspell: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsˈspel/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsˈspel/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's ironic to misspell the word 'misspell'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
The word itself is often misspelled! Remember: It's MIS + SPELL. You 'miss' the correct 'spell'-ing.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCURACY IS A TARGET / ERROR IS A MISS (from the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the standard British English past participle of 'misspell'?