# "I spelt it wrong" - is this grammatically incorrect? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072 "2010-01-31T01:08:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/1 "2010-01-31T01:08:29Z")
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”? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/2 "2010-01-31T01:51:55Z")
“Wrong” can be used as an adverb. [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com): > [@](#): > > –adverb > 11. in a wrong manner; not rightly; awry; amiss: You did it wrong again. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/3 "2010-01-31T03:41:30Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/4 "2010-01-31T04:13:44Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/5 "2010-01-31T04:23:22Z")
Well, well. I learnt something new today. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/6 "2010-01-31T04:37:17Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > 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. **Compact Oxford English Dictionary:** [ **spelt** past and past participle of SPELL](http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/spelt?view=uk) ---
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/7 "2010-01-31T08:14:09Z")
some adjectives are bi… examples: fast, hard, wrong ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/8 "2010-01-31T09:30:45Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/9 "2010-01-31T10:41:54Z")
spelt, learnt, burnt, dreamt, lit… some of the bi verbs ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/10 "2010-01-31T16:09:27Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > 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. ‘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… ---
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/11 "2010-01-31T16:50:22Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > 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. Rookie mistake. I once asked a similar question myself. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11025274&highlight=learnt#post11025274](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11025274&highlight=learnt#post11025274) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/12 "2010-01-31T21:43:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/13 "2010-02-01T13:57:42Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/14 "2010-02-01T14:22:12Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/15 "2010-02-01T15:39:12Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/16 "2010-02-01T15:51:02Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/17 "2010-02-01T15:56:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/18 "2010-02-01T16:00:05Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/19 "2010-02-01T22:14:42Z")
To me, “spelt” sound British in any form. Of course, that is probably subjective. ---
**Author:** ![put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/da6949/32.png) [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/put_down_the_sabre)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-spelt-it-wrong-is-this-grammatically-incorrect/527072/20 "2010-02-02T04:18:11Z")
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