ENGLISH
REFERENCE

spelled

v.
A1 Beginner US //ˈspɛɫd// UK //spˈɛld// spelled

v. to write or say the letters of a word in the correct order. You use this past tense form to talk about how a word was written.

v. the past tense and past participle of 'spell', referring to the act of naming or writing the letters of a word in sequence. Common in American English, whereas British English often prefers 'spelt'.


SIMPLE

She spelled her name slowly for the receptionist.

CONTEXTUAL

The teacher checked the essay and noticed that the student had spelled the word 'environment' incorrectly several times.

COMPLEX

Although the two words are pronounced identically, they are spelled differently to reflect their distinct origins and meanings in the legal context.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Transitive — takes a direct object. In American English, 'spelled' is the standard form for both the past tense and past participle.

Pitfall

How is it spelted?How is it spelled?Learners sometimes add '-ed' to the irregular form 'spelt'. Use either 'spelled' or 'spelt', but do not combine them.

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