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Spelled or Spelt?
What Is the Difference between "Spelled" and "Spelt"?
"Spelled" and "spelt" are interchangeable in the UK, but not in the US. Here is some guidance:- If you're following US writing conventions, use "spelled."
- If you're following UK writing conventions, you can use "spelled" or "spelt."
- If you're referring to the wheat-like foodstuff, use "spelt."

This graph shows how "spelled" has overtaken "spelt" in British English.
More about "Spelled" and "Spelt"
The verb "to spell" most commonly means "to write or name the letters that form a word in correct sequence."In the UK, "to spell" has both an irregular form and a regular form. This means the past tense and the past participle can be written as either "spelled" or "spelt."
Americans Demand "Spelled"
In America, "spelled" dominates. The use of "spelt" as the past tense or past participle of "to spell" is considered a spelling mistake.Brits Can Use "Spelled" or "Spelt"
Outside America, "spelled" has become more common, but "spelt" is widely accepted. (The recent emergence of "spelled" is a result of growing American influence.)Here is the evidence that "spelled" has overtaken "spelt" in British English.
Misspelled and Misspelt
It's the same with "misspelled" and "misspelt." Americans demand "misspelled," and Brits will accept it. However, Brits prefer "misspelt."Verbs with Irregular and Regular Forms
The following verbs (like "to spell") can be regular or irregular :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 |
spell | spelled OR spelt | spelled OR spelt |
"Spelt" the Wheat
Of note, the noun "spelt" refers to a kind of wheat grain.
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