A spelling is the correct order of the letters in a word.
In most languages adjectives have slightly different spellings for masculine andfeminine.
If we got a spelling wrong we were forced to get a dictionary out.
2. uncountable noun
Spelling is the ability to spell words in the correct way. It is also an attempt to spell a word in the correct way.
His spelling is very bad.
...basic skills in reading, writing, grammar and spelling.
Spelling mistakes are often just the result of haste.
3. See also spell
More Synonyms of spelling
spelling in British English
(ˈspɛlɪŋ)
noun
1.
the act or process of writing words by using the letters conventionally accepted for their formation; orthography
2.
the art or study of orthography
3.
the actual way in which a word is spelt
4.
the ability of a person to spell
John's spelling is good
spelling in American English
(ˈspɛlɪŋ)
noun
1.
the act of one who spells words
2.
the way in which a word is spelled; orthography
Examples of 'spelling' in a sentence
spelling
And in some cases different meanings are attached to the different spellings.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Universities have long complained that modern students need lessons in grammar and spelling when they arrive.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Perhaps they might also reintroduce spelling and punctuation.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They had to sit down when they got a spelling wrong.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Those who adopted the standardised spelling would not be mocked for bad spelling.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
English spelling is not so different as to be incapable of improvement.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Spelling and reading require a phenomenal amount of brain power.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He corrected our spelling and phrasing and then he would make us write the essay again.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
People are not likely to welcome being helped with their spelling and grammar.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
All accompanied by some dodgy spelling and hyperbolic punctuation.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
English spelling is difficult because syllable sounds change with the variation of stress.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It could provide useful pointers for those challenged by grammar or spelling.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Are the spelling and grammar bad?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She is so unhappy with the basic spelling and arithmetic abilities of job applicants that she has introduced a special test for them.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Probably because sending a text involves a basic grasp of writing and spelling).
The Sun (2012)
Either way, the spelling does not change the meaning of what is written.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They have given him the same name as our son, just with different spelling.
The Sun (2015)
When writing a will, be careful to ensure all spellings are correct.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Confused council workers have erected three road signs on the same street - with three different spellings.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That is the wrong spelling.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I may have got the spelling a bit wrong but it's something like that.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Women tend to outperform men in reading, spelling, language and social interaction.
The Sun (2007)
This homework requires an adult to sit with him, explain concepts, read and correct his writing and spelling.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Quotations
My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong placeA.A. MilneWinnie-the-Pooh
`Do you spell it with a "V" or a "W"?' `That depends upon the taste and fancy of the speller, my Lord.'Charles DickensPickwick Papers
orthography: the science of spelling by the eye instead of the earAmbrose BierceThe Devil's Dictionary
In other languages
spelling
British English: spelling /ˈspɛlɪŋ/ NOUN
The spelling of a word is the correct sequence of letters in it.
I'm not sure about the spelling of his name.
American English: spelling
Arabic: تَهْجِئَة
Brazilian Portuguese: ortografia
Chinese: 拼写
Croatian: pisanje
Czech: pravopis
Danish: stavning
Dutch: spelling
European Spanish: ortografía
Finnish: oikeinkirjoitus
French: orthographe
German: Rechtschreibung
Greek: ορθογραφία
Italian: ortografia
Japanese: つづり
Korean: 철자법
Norwegian: staving
Polish: pisownia
European Portuguese: ortografia
Romanian: ortografiere
Russian: правописание
Latin American Spanish: ortografía
Swedish: stavning
Thai: การสะกดคำ
Turkish: heceleme
Ukrainian: орфографія
Vietnamese: đánh vấn
All related terms of 'spelling'
spell
When you spell a word, you write or speak each letter in the word in the correct order.
spelling bee
a contest in which players are required to spell words according to orthographic conventions
spelling book
an elementary textbook or manual to teach spelling
finger spelling
a method of communicating with or among deaf people in which different shapes made with the fingers represent different letters of the alphabet
spelling error
an error in the conventionally accepted form of spelling a word
spelling reform
an attempt to change the spelling of English words to make it conform more closely to pronunciation
reformed spelling
any of various proposed systems for simplifying the spelling of English words, esp. by establishing a consistent application of phonetic values and dropping unpronounced letters
spelling checker
a program that highlights any word in a word-processed document that is not recognized as being correctly spelt
spelling mistake
an error in the conventionally accepted form of spelling a word
variant spelling
a way of writing a word which is used by some people as an alternative to the standard or generally accepted form
spelling pronunciation
a pronunciation of a word that is influenced by the word's orthography and often comes about as the modification of an earlier or original rendering , such as the pronunciation of the British name Mainwaring, usually ( ˈmænərɪŋ ), as ( ˈmeɪnˌwɛərɪŋ )
spell out
If you spell something out , you explain it in detail or in a very clear way.
spellcheck
If you spellcheck something you have written on a computer , you use a special program to check whether you have made any spelling mistakes.
spell check
the act or an instance of using a → spell-checker
spell-checker
a word-processing program that reviews words in a document for misspellings
Chinese translation of 'spelling'
spelling
(ˈspɛlɪŋ)
n
(c)[of word]拼法 (pīnfǎ) (种(種), zhǒng)
(u) (= ability to spell) 拼写(寫) (pīnxiě)
spelling mistake拼写(寫)错(錯)误(誤) (pīnxiě cuòwù)
Seespelt
(noun)
Definition
the way a word is spelt
I had to correct several mistakes in her spelling.
Synonyms
orthography
Quotations
My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong place [A.A. Milne – Winnie-the-Pooh]`Do you spell it with a "V" or a "W"?' `That depends upon the taste and fancy of the speller, my Lord.' [Charles Dickens – Pickwick Papers]orthography: the science of spelling by the eye instead of the ear [Ambrose Bierce – The Devil's Dictionary]