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(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Grammar Videos
(ordered by category) Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
Misspelled or Misspelt?
What Is the Difference between "Misspelled" and "Misspelt"?
"Misspelled" and "misspelt" are both written with a double "s." (The first "s" is from the prefix "mis," and the second is from the root word "spell.")If you're unsure whether to use "misspelled" and "misspelt," use "misspelled."
(If you're following UK writing conventions, you can use "misspelt," but it has been less popular than "misspelled" since the mid-1970s.)

More about Misspelled and Misspelt
Somewhat ironically, the verb "to misspell" is commonly misspelled. The first point to note is that it is written with a double "s." In other words:- mispell
, mispelled
, mispelt
- misspell
, misspelled
, misspelt
Verb | Past Simple | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
misspell | misspelled OR misspelt | misspelled OR misspelt |
Americans Demand "Misspelled"
In America, "misspelled" dominates. The use of "misspelt" as the past tense or past participle of "to spell" is considered a spelling mistake by most Americans.Brits Will Accept "Misspelled" or "Misspelt"
Outside America, "misspelled" has been more popular than "misspelt" since the mid-1970s. (Here is evidence from Google's Ngram viewer.) In the UK, both "misspelled" and "misspelt" are accepted.Spelled and Spelt
It's the same with "spelled" and "spelt." Americans demand "spelled," but Brits will accept either.Verbs with Irregular and Regular Forms
The following verbs (like "to spell") have both regular and irregular forms:Verb | Past Simple | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
burn | burned OR burnt | burned OR burnt |
dream | dreamed OR dreamt | dreamed OR dreamt |
learn | learned OR learnt | learned OR learnt |
smell | smelled OR smelt | smelled OR smelt |
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