I’ve been told recently that if I were to write, “I spelt it wrong”, this would be grammatically incorrect, because it should read, “I spelt it wrongly”. This sounds a bit weird to me, but I guess since it’s modifying the verb, and ‘wrongly’ is the adverb form, I can see why the latter might be right. What is the correct way to express that sentence? And if the latter is indeed correct, why do we not say “I got it wrongly” instead of “I got it wrong”?
“Wrong” can be used as an adverb.
Yes. Though many adverbs end in -ly, it is not a requirement.
In addition, a word can be more than one part of speech depending on how it’s used. A word is not “an adjective”; it’s used as an adjective (or modifier, or verb, or particle, etc. – there are more parts of speech than your high school English teacher taught you).
The past tense of “spell” is “spelled”.
“Spelt” is a kind of wheat. This is the problem with spellcheckers, they don’t pick up homonyms.
Well, well. I learnt something new today.
Compact Oxford English Dictionary:
spelt
past and past participle of SPELL
some adjectives are bi… examples: fast, hard, wrong
Sure, there is a word “spelt” which refers to a kind of wheat. But that’s irrelevant. “spelt” is also a variant spelling of “spelled” (both as the preterite and past participle of “spell”), somewhat more associated with British English than American English, but certainly not incorrect anywhere.
spelt, learnt, burnt, dreamt, lit… some of the bi verbs
‘Spelt’ seems to be listed in most dictionaries as a valid past tense of ‘spell’.
I’m pleased that “I [verbed] it wrong” is not a grammatical mistake. Victory is mine after all…
Rookie mistake. I once asked a similar question myself.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11025274&highlight=learnt#post11025274
In fact, spelled and spelt are (usually) pronounced differently. When -ed is preceded by a voiced consonant, the /d/ is (usually) also voiced.
The (usually)s are only because I’m sure there are dialects that don’t follow those rules for all words. But I’ve not heard them.
Thank you for saying that! I cringe so hard when I hear the word “spelt.” No. It’s spelled.
So, I guess you could say “I spelt it wrong” is incorrect because “spelt” is incorrect. So you got a yes and a no to the OP.
No, as already mentioned, “spelt” is a perfectly valid past tense form of “to spell”. See the dictionary reference above.
We’re looking for factual information here, and several posted already gave cites showing “spelt” is correct, too. Keep in mind that British and American English often diverge over what is correct or common. “Spelt” might be hard on the American ear, but it is not incorrect.
True - here in the UK I’d say it’s “I spelled” that would be seen as sounding awkward. They’re both technically correct though.
IANAGN (I an not a grammar nazi) but…
IIRC, spelled is the past tense; spelt is the past participle? Or pehaps the OED is suggesting “spelt” can substitite for plain past tense as well?
I spell
I spelled
I have spelt
That sounds more correct-ly to me that “I have spelled”. However, English, like American, can vary with age.
I learned my grammar over 30 years ago and I have learnt it somewhat well-ly.
“Spelled” or “spelt” is acceptable for both the past tense and past participle.
To me, “spelt” sound British in any form. Of course, that is probably subjective.
Pitted this thread.
pdts