Misspelling: meaning, definitions and examples

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misspelling

 

[ ˌmɪsˈspɛlɪŋ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

writing error

Misspelling refers to the act of spelling a word incorrectly. It can occur due to typographical errors, phonetic mistakes, or a lack of knowledge about the correct spelling. Misspellings can lead to misunderstandings and may affect the readability of written content.

Synonyms

orthographic error, spelling mistake, typo

Examples of usage

  • Her misspelling of 'definitely' as 'definately' annoyed the teacher.
  • The report was filled with misspellings that needed correction.
  • Frequent misspelling can indicate a lack of attention to detail.

Translations

Translations of the word "misspelling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 erro de ortografia

🇮🇳 वर्तनी की गलती

🇩🇪 Rechtschreibfehler

🇮🇩 kesalahan ejaan

🇺🇦 орфографічна помилка

🇵🇱 błąd ortograficzny

🇯🇵 スペルミス

🇫🇷 faute d'orthographe

🇪🇸 error ortográfico

🇹🇷 yazım hatası

🇰🇷 철자 오류

🇸🇦 خطأ إملائي

🇨🇿 pravopisná chyba

🇸🇰 pravidlová chyba

🇨🇳 拼写错误

🇸🇮 pravopisna napaka

🇮🇸 stafsetningarvilla

🇰🇿 емле қатесі

🇬🇪 წერის შეცდომა

🇦🇿 yazı səhvi

🇲🇽 error ortográfico

Etymology

The term 'misspelling' is derived from the prefix 'mis-', meaning 'wrong' or 'incorrect', combined with the word 'spelling', which originates from the Old English word 'spellian', meaning 'to tell, relate, or speak'. The use of 'misspelling' can be traced back to the late 19th century when the importance of proper spelling was emphasized in educational contexts. Over time, as written communication became essential in society, the awareness of spelling errors led to the standardization of vocabulary and dictionaries. Thus, misspelling became a recognized term in English language studies, highlighting the need for precision in writing.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,173 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.