Word
Definitions
01writing words correctly
A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun
n. the act of forming words with the correct letters in the right order.
n. the process of forming words with letters; the orthographic representation of a language.
“You should check your spelling before you send the email to your boss.”
“The teacher noticed that the student's spelling had improved significantly after they started reading more English novels.”
Usage
uncountable in this general sense
Pitfall
I have a bad spelling.
I am bad at spelling.
When talking about your ability, use 'spelling' as an uncountable activity rather than a countable object.
Synonyms
02a specific version of a word
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a particular way that a word is written.
n. a specific sequence of letters used to represent a word, often used when comparing regional variations.
“The American spelling of 'color' does not have a 'u'.”
“The dictionary lists 'organize' as the primary spelling, though 'organise' is also widely accepted in British English.”
Usage
countable in this sense
03musical notation
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Music Technical
n. the way a musical note is written on a page.
n. the choice of notation among enharmonic equivalents for the same pitch, such as choosing between F-sharp and G-flat.
“The composer chose a different spelling for the note to make it easier to read.”
“Correct enharmonic spelling is essential for performers to understand the underlying harmonic function of a chord within a complex sequence.”
Usage
refers to how a pitch is represented in a specific key
Synonyms
Etymology
1400s, from spell (verb) + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/spelling
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR