misspelling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "misspelling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a word that has been spelled incorrectly. Example: "The misspelling of 'definitely' as 'definately' is a common mistake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just take a moment to chew over the possibilities … The answer is spelling, or rather misspelling.

The Guardian - Sport

Styled as a journal that Precious begins when she transfers to an alternative school, the novel utilizes vernacular along with frequent malapropism and misspelling to evince the protagonist's struggles with literacy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Tory Party chairman accused of being out of touch after misspelling the word 'dole Office workers forced into doing work, Social media editors forced to write stories in midst of Facebook outage It's 2014 and we're still defining women by their relationships with men.

Independent

From mixing up pacific and specific, to misspelling definitely and defiantly, there are small grammatical and linguistic mistakes that we are all prone to make.

Independent

I posted the picture on Twitter, misspelling Tiananmen, and went to get something to eat.

The New Yorker

He forged a series of Italian treasury bills, misspelling the name of an Italian finance official.

The New Yorker

Behind the firewall, Internet users get around automatic filters by purposefully misspelling words or writing in code.

The New Yorker

ADAM GOPNIK: Oh — the meal I had, which I wrote up in a food blog contest, at Torrisi Italian Specialities, I'm misspelling that, was sublime.

The New Yorker

The greatest drawback was that I couldn't bluff myself by laying a "phony" (a plausible but nonexistent word like "pukha" or "burlock"), or by deliberately misspelling a common noun ("fettel") to lure an opponent into making it plural, then challenging it off the board — a legitimate if churlish ploy.

The New Yorker

Larry Page and Sergey Brin came up with the name of their search engine by misspelling "googol," the word for the number one followed by a hundred zeros.

The New Yorker

When we discovered, with a pang, the long Google histories that she left on my wife's computer — havanese puppies/havanese care/how to find a havanese/havanese, convincing your parints — I assumed she was misspelling the name.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When proofreading, use spell-check tools and double-check proper nouns, as these are frequently the source of "misspellings".

Common error

Be mindful of homophones (words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings). Using "there" instead of "their" is a common "misspelling" that changes the meaning of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The word "misspelling" primarily functions as a noun, referring to an instance of a word being spelled incorrectly. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard and usable term.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "misspelling" functions as a noun to describe an error in spelling. According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and usable in written English. It's frequently employed across diverse contexts, from formal news reports to encyclopedic entries. While semantically similar terms like "spelling error" or "typographical error" exist, "misspelling" remains a straightforward and common choice. Remember to use spell-check tools and proofread carefully to minimize "misspellings" in your writing. Keep an eye on homophones and pay special attention to proper nouns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spelling error

Focuses on the mistake in spelling, similar to "misspelling".

spelling mistake

Emphasizes the incorrectness of the spelling, akin to "misspelling".

incorrect spelling

Directly states that the spelling is not correct, a more descriptive phrasing.

erroneous spelling

Highlights the error in the spelling.

orthographical error

A more formal term indicating a mistake in spelling or writing.

typographical error

Refers to errors made during typing or typesetting that leads to a "misspelling".

typo

A shortened, informal term for typographical error, often resulting in a "misspelling".

literal mistake

Broad term that could encompass a "misspelling", but also other written errors.

lapsus calami

A formal and somewhat archaic term for a slip of the pen or writing error, encompassing "misspelling".

solecism

Refers to an error in grammar or syntax, broader than just "misspelling".

FAQs

How can I avoid "misspellings" in my writing?

Utilize spell-check tools, proofread carefully, and pay special attention to homophones and proper nouns. Reading your work aloud can also help you catch errors.

What are some common causes of "misspellings"?

Common causes include typing errors, confusion with homophones, lack of familiarity with a word's correct spelling, and applying incorrect spelling rules.

Which is correct, "misspelling" or "miss-spelling"?

"Misspelling" is the standard and accepted spelling. "Miss-spelling" is less common and generally considered incorrect.

What can I say instead of "misspelling"?

You can use alternatives like "spelling error", "spelling mistake", or "typographical error" depending on the context.