was misspelled

USAGE SUMMARY

"was misspelled" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to words that were spelled incorrectly in a document or text. For example, "The name on the application form was misspelled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Her first name was misspelled.

The New York Times - Books

*Correction: Caden Manson's name was misspelled.

The New Yorker

In the original, enoki was misspelled.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the original Birtwistle was misspelled.

The Guardian - Books

**Robert Ardrey's name was misspelled in the original article.

The New Yorker

***Archibald MacLeish's name was misspelled in the original article.

The New Yorker

The given name of another artist was misspelled.

The New York Times

Even though the word was misspelled, the meaning was clear.

The New York Times - Sports

His surname was misspelled and the address was fictional.

The New Yorker

*Correction, December 17, 2009: Lorraine Gracey's name was misspelled.

The New Yorker

He told someone that his brother's name was misspelled.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When correcting a misspelling, clearly indicate the original incorrect spelling and the corrected version to avoid confusion. For example: "The word 'separate' was misspelled as 'seperate'; the correct spelling is with an 'a' after the 'p'."

Common error

Avoid using "was misspelled" when a word was intentionally spelled differently (e.g., using British vs. American spelling). Use "was misspelled" only when it's genuinely an error. For example, 'colour' is not misspelled in British English; it's a valid alternative to the American 'color'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was misspelled" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject (typically a word or name) underwent the action of being incorrectly spelled. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

21%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was misspelled" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote that a word has been spelled incorrectly. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, highlighting its frequent appearance across diverse sources like news media, scientific publications, and wikis. While alternatives such as "was incorrectly spelled" and "contained a spelling error" exist, understanding the subtle nuances is key. Remember to use it when referring to genuine spelling errors, not simply variations in spelling conventions. By avoiding such common pitfalls, your writing will remain clear and professional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was incorrectly spelled

Uses "incorrectly" instead of "mis-", emphasizing the wrong spelling.

featured an incorrect spelling

Highlights that the spelling was incorrect, focusing on the feature of incorrectness.

showed an error in spelling

Directly indicates that the spelling contained an error.

contained a spelling error

Focuses on the presence of a spelling mistake rather than the act of misspelling.

had a spelling mistake

Similar to "contained a spelling error", highlighting the existence of an error.

presented a spelling inaccuracy

More formal and focuses on the inaccuracy of the spelling.

had an orthographic mistake

Uses a more technical term, "orthographic", for spelling.

was erroneously written

Replaces "misspelled" with a broader term, "erroneously written", applicable to more than just spelling.

was typed incorrectly

Highlights the act of typing incorrectly, shifting focus from the spelling itself.

was a transcription error

Suggests the mistake occurred during transcription, rather than original writing.

FAQs

How can I use "was misspelled" in a sentence?

You can use "was misspelled" to indicate that a word was spelled incorrectly. For example, "In the original document, the word 'receive' "was misspelled" as 'recieve'".

What are some alternatives to "was misspelled"?

Alternatives include "was incorrectly spelled", "contained a spelling error", or "had a spelling mistake", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was misspeled" instead of "was misspelled"?

No, "was misspeled" is incorrect. The correct past participle of "misspell" is ""was misspelled"" or "was misspelt" (in British English).

What is the difference between "misspelled" and "typo"?

"Misspelled" is a general term for an incorrectly spelled word. "Typo" (short for typographical error) refers specifically to a mistake made during typing. So, all typos are misspellings, but not all misspellings are typos. For example, if someone doesn't know the correct spelling of a word and writes it wrong, it's a misspelling but not a typo. If they know the correct spelling but accidentally hit the wrong key while typing, it's a typo.