Word Confusion: Spelled versus Spelt

Posted January 21, 2025 by kddidit in Author Resources, Self-Editing, Word Confusions, Writing

Well, okay, um, uh, this is my word confusion spelled vs spelt. I thought one would be a past tense and the other would be a past participle. Hah.

And this one is a piece of cake for y’all.

Both spelled and spelt are the past tense and past participle of spell. The only real difference is that spelled is used in America while spelled OR spelt is accepted in Britain.

Verb-wise.

As a noun, spelt is something completely different. Edibly so.

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Word Confusions . . .

. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.

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Spelled	Spelt
Spell Book and Wand by RDNE Stock Project is in the public domain, via Pexels. — I wonder if they spelled the book open?	Triticum spelta, spelt, is Rasbak‘s own work and is under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons.
Part of Grammar – the Noun:
Morpheme: spell
Noun ¹, ², ³ Plural for the noun: spells Gerund: spelling	Noun Plural for the noun: spelts
Noun: A form of words used as a magical charm or incantation ¹ A state of enchantment caused by a magic spell An ability to control or influence people as though one had magical power over them [Alternative Belief Systems] A verbal formula considered as having magical force A short period ² A period spent in an activity A period of a specified kind of weather A period of suffering from a specified kind of illness [Australian and New Zealand English] A period of rest from work A continuous period of work or other activity A splinter of wood ³	Noun: An ancient grain related to wheat, barley, and rye
Examples – the Noun:
Noun: A spell was laid on the door to prevent entry. The magician may cast a spell on himself. We were under the spell of fine music. She is afraid that you are waking from her spell. People said he was able to cast a spell on the public. I want to get away from racing for a spell. Maeve went out to do a spell of greenhouse work. We had an early cold spell this autumn. She plunges off a yacht and suffers a spell of amnesia. I’m going to sit here for a spell. Have Harwood take a spell at the wheel. It’s but a spell of wood, lass.	Noun: Spelt was originally cultivated in what is now Iran and southeastern Europe, and was one of the first wheats used to make bread. Bakers sometimes use spelt, a nutty-flavored grain, to make bagels and breads. Closely related to wheat, people with wheat allergies can sometimes eat bread products made with spelt.
Part of Grammar – the Verb:
Verb ⁵, intransitive & transitive ², ⁴ Third person present verb: spells Past tense or past participle: spelled [US & British], spelt [British] Present participle: spelling
Verb: [Agriculture; New Zealand; spell a paddock] To give a field a rest period by letting it lie fallow Verb, intransitive: [Australian and New Zealand English] To take a brief rest ² To take turns working To write or name the letters that form (a word) in correct sequence ⁴ To express words by letters To spell out To explain something plainly, so that the meaning is unmistakable To write out in full To discern, as by study Verb, transitive: [Mainly North American English] To allow (someone) to rest briefly by taking their place in some activity ² To allow someone to rest for a while To write or name the letters that form (a word) in correct sequence ⁴ [Of letters] To make up or form (a word) To read letter by letter or with difficulty (often followed by out) To be a sign or characteristic of To mean or have as a result [Rare] To put (someone) under a spell To bewitch
Examples – the Verb:
Verb: We spelled that paddock last spring. Verb, intransitive: He spelled for a bit. It was hard to remember to spell in front of the children. Journals have a house style about how it’s spelt. I’ve never spelled very well. Must I spell it out for you? The title Ph.D. is seldom spelled out. It’s all spelled out in the first paragraph. Verb, transitive: I got sleepy and needed her to spell me for a while at the wheel. Dolly spelled her name. The letters spelt the word how. D-O-G spelled dog. Slowly he spelled out differentiation. She had the chic, efficient look that spells Milan. The plans spelt disaster for the economy. That witch spelled her! She spelled him with her beauty.
Derivatives:
Adjective: spellable, spellbinding, spellbound Adverb: spellbindingly Noun: spellbinder, spellcheck, spellchecker, speller Verb: misspell, spellbind, spellbound, spellcheck, unspell
Phrasal Verb
spell down spell out
History of the Word:
Old English spel(l) meaning narration is of Germanic origin. Late 16th century as a variant of dialect spele meaning take the place of is of unknown origin. The early sense of the noun was shift of relief workers. Late Middle English is perhaps a variant of the obsolete speld meaning chip, splinter. Middle English shortening of the Old French espeller, from the Germanic base of spell 1. Old English spelian meaning to take the place of is of obscure origin.	Middle English, from the Old English, from the Late Latin spelta, probably of Germanic origin and akin to the Middle Dutch spelte meaning wheat.

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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!

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