Is spelt a word for spelled

The English language has a lot of irregular verbs. Irregular verbs are verbs that don’t take on the typical past tense spelling pattern.

Talk is an example of a regular verb. It changes from present to past by adding an “ed” to the end of the word.

• I talk.
• I talked.

Speak is an example of an irregular verb. It completely changes when it forms the past tense.

• I speak.
• I spoke.

Well, the verb to spell is actually an English verb that has both a regular and an irregular form.

• I spell. (Present)
• I spelt. (Past)
• I spelled. (Past)

Both of these forms are correct, but they’re not always interchangeable. Sound confusing? Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything you need to know about spelt vs. spelled below.

What is the Difference Between Spelt and Spelled?

In this post, I will outline the different uses of spelled vs. spelt and when it is correct to use each spelling.

Plus, at the end, I will give you a helpful trick for remembering their different uses.

When to Use Spelt

When should I use spelt? Spelt has been, historically speaking, the preferred past tense spelling of to spell in British English.

• The investigation revealed that Bradbourn’s name was spelt incorrectly on paperwork. –The Guardian

Over the 19th and 20th centuries, spelt was much more commonly seen in British writing than spelled. It wasn’t necessarily considered a mistake to use spelled in Britain, spelt just happened to be the preferred, more common spelling.

This preference seems to be waning, however, as spelled has grown in popularity in Britain in recent years (see below).

This chart is not scientific or exhaustive by any means (it only covers English books), but it is helpful in identifying trends, and the trend is clear. Whether or not spelled is actually used more frequently in British English than the once more popular spelt, we can’t be sure.

But it is clear that the frequency of spelled is on the rise in Great Britain.

Spelt as a noun. Spelt can also be used as a noun. It refers to a type of wheat that was widely cultivated in southwest Asia, the Near East, and Europe during the Bronze Age. In modern day, it is grown chiefly in Europe.

• The spelt buns need little time to rise because spelt grain reacts so swiftly with yeast, so they can be made–unusually for bread–alongside the soup. –The Telegraph

Spelt or Spelled in British English

All of this is to say that both forms (spelt and spelled) are accepted in British English. Most British, Irish, and Australian writers don’t seem to make a distinction between them.

This trend is almost certainly a result of American influence spreading (see below).

When to Use Spelled

When should I use spelled? Spelled is the preferred past tense spelling of to spell in American English.

• Icelanders’ pronunciation of place-names is confounding even when you have the words spelled out on paper. –The New Yorker

This preference in American English has been clear for quite some time.

As you can see, spelled has been the preferred spelling in American English for some time and the gap between the two is quite large.

In fact, spelt is generally considered a misspelling in American English.

If you are a student in America, or ever find yourself writing to an American audience, spelled is the correct choice.

Spelt out or Spelled out?

The most common use of to spell is, of course, to name or write in order the letters constituting a word.

• My name is spelled J-O-H-N.

And, as we learned, spelt is more common in British English, spelled is more common in American English.

What about other meanings or phrases using the word?

The phrase to spell out, to make clear or explicit, usually employs spelled.

• He spelled out the details of his plan.

You can find publications that use spelt out, but they are less frequent.

Similarly, phrases like spelled trouble, spelled disaster, spelled ruin, etc., all use spelled more frequently than spelt—in British and American English.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Still not sure when to use spelled or spelt? Here’s a helpful trick to help you remember.

Spelt is commonly used in British English. Spelt and British both have a letter “T” in them.

Summary

Should I use spelt or spelled? This depends on who your audience is.

Spelt has been the preferred choice in British English for many years, where spelled is also acceptable.

Spelled is the preferred choice in American English, where spelt is viewed as a misspelling.

I love how you get different meanings and spellings of words when depending on what region you’re dealing with. Canada shares a lot with the UK, whereas America usually has its own take on things. Like when it comes to the words spelt and spelled. They both are accepted versions of the past tense of spell, but spelt also has a secondary meaning. Let’s talk about it!

Spelled vs. Spelt

When using the word spelt or spelled, it’s all about context and the region at hand. In America, Canada, and other parts of the modern world, the past tense form of spell is spelled. However, in the UK, where words tend to differ in meaning, pronunciation, and even spelling, the past tense form of spell is usually spelt.

With that being said, both forms are widely accepted and totally correct, so don’t worry. But if you’re writing specifically for a UK audience, let’s say, then try and use regional preferences.

Is Spelt a Word?

It is definitely a word and not a spelling mistake. In fact, it has more than one meaning, as far as I know. Here in North America, spelt is actually a type of wheat that’s been hulled. It’s considered more natural and way healthier than processed wheat used for bread and baked goods.

But spelt is also how most people in the UK say and spell the word we know in North America as spelled, aka the past tense form of spell.

Is It Spelt or Spelled in the UK?

It’s s-p-e-l-t for the preferred choice of the past tense form of spell if you’re dealing with the UK. However, they recognize and accept both spelt and spelled.

What Is the Past Tense of Spell?

The past tense form of the English verb spell is spelled in North America and most modern parts of the world. But spelt is also acceptable, especially in the UK.

Other Meanings for Spelled and Spell

Yes, spelled is the past tense of spell. But it’s also a verb when talking about using magical spells. If a witch put a curse on you, she ‘spelled’ the curse or ‘spelled’ magic.

Also, you can use the noun spell to describe taking a break. “I sat down for a spell.” It means you sat down for a short period of time. It’s also used to describe a period of time that has passed without desired results. If you go a while without dating, you could say you’re going through a dry spell. 

Using Spelled in a Sentence

• I didn’t know he spelled his name that way; I’d never seen it like that before.
• The teacher spelled out the word on the board for the class to see.
• After watching The Shining, I learned that redrum is murder spelled backward.

They spelled out broad, clear theories of human behavior. [San Francisco Chronicle]

Using Spelt in a Sentence

• My name is Aaron, but hers is Erin, spelt with an E.
• Charlie spelt her name the way it was intended most of her life until she legally changed it to include a Y at the end instead of IE.
• I prefer to use spelt instead of heavily processed wheat for my homemade bread because it’s healthier and tastes way better.

Her name was Joanna (or “Jo”) Hiffernan – you probably want to correct that, but it was how both she and her father spelt it. [Irish Times]

Spelt or Spelled: It’s Up to You

So, in the end, both spelt and spelled are what you’d use if talking about the past tense of spell. But, spelt is best for UK audiences, while spelled is good for American English and just about anywhere. Also, spelt is a type of hardy wheat, so keep that in mind. I hope my guide helped explain the differences between these alternative spellings.

English[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• enPR: spĕl, IPA^(key): /spɛl/
• Rhymes: -ɛl

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English spell, spel, from Old English spell (“news, story”), from Proto-Germanic *spellą (“speech, account, tale”), from Proto-Indo-European *spel- (“to tell”) or from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to speak, to sound”) with the s-mobile prefix. Cognate with dialectal German Spill, Icelandic spjall (“discussion, talk”), spjalla (“to discuss, to talk”), guðspjall (“gospel”) and Albanian fjalë (“word”).

Noun[edit]

spell (plural spells)

1. Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers. [from 16th c.]

   Synonyms: cantrip, incantation

   He cast a spell to cure warts.

2. A magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula. [from 16th c.]

   Synonym: cantrip

   under a spell

   • 1962, Marty Robbins (lyrics and music), “Devil Woman”:

     Skies are not so black / Mary took me back / Mary has broken your spell

   • 2020, Deftones, The Spell of Mathematics

     I believe your love has placed its spell on me

3. (obsolete) Speech, discourse. [8th–15th c.]

Derived terms[edit]

• byspel
• spellbind
• spellbound
• spellwork

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

spell (third-person singular simple present spells, present participle spelling, simple past and past participle spelled)

1. To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.
   • 1647, George Buck, The History and Life and Reigne of Richard the Third, London, Book 4, p. 116,^[1]

     […] although the Kings Jealousie was thus particular to her, his Affection was as general to others […] Above all, for a time he was much speld with Elianor Talbot […]

   • 1697, John Dryden (translator), Georgics, Book 3 in The Works of Virgil, London: Jacob Tonson, p. 109, lines 444-446,^[2]

     This, gather’d in the Planetary Hour,

     With noxious Weeds, and spell’d with Words of pow’r

     Dire Stepdames in the Magick Bowl infuse;

   • 1817, John Keats, “To a Friend who sent me some Roses” in Poems, London: C. & J. Ollier, p. 83,^[3]

     But when, O Wells! thy roses came to me

     My sense with their deliciousness was spell’d:

Translations[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

From Middle English spellen, from Anglo-Norman espeler, espeleir, Old French espeller, espeler (compare Modern French épeler), from Frankish *spelōn, merged with native Old English spellian (“to tell, speak”), both eventually from Proto-Germanic *spellōną (“to speak”). Related with etymology 1. The sense “indicate a future event” probably in part a backformation from forespell (literally “to tell in advance”).

Verb[edit]

spell (third-person singular simple present spells, present participle spelling, simple past and past participle spelled or (mostly UK) spelt)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To read (something) as though letter by letter; to peruse slowly or with effort. [from 14th c.]

   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick:

     «He’ll do,» said Bildad, eyeing me, and then went on spelling away at his book in a mumbling tone quite audible.

3. (transitive, sometimes with “out”) To write or say the letters that form a word or part of a word. [from 16th c.]
4. (intransitive) To be able to write or say the letters that form words.

   I find it difficult to spell because I’m dyslexic.

5. (transitive) Of letters: to compose (a word). [from 19th c.]

   The letters “a”, “n” and “d” spell “and”.

   • 2008, Helen Fryer, The Esperanto Teacher‎^[4], BiblioBazaar, LLC, →ISBN, page 13:

     In Esperanto each letter has only one sound, and each sound is represented in only one way. The words are pronounced exactly as spelt, every letter being sounded.

   • 2006 March 13, Richard Clark, “The Dream Teens”, in Totally Spies!: Undercover, season 4, episode 1, Teletoon, Marathon Media, spoken by Tim Scam (Matt Charles as Terrence Lewis and Michael Gough):

     Welcome to the League Aiming to Menace and Overthrow Spies!
     You realize that spells “LAMOS”?

6. (transitive, figuratively, with “out”) To clarify; to explain in detail. [from 20th c.]

   Please spell it out for me.

   • 2003, U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbel, Hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, →ISBN:

     When we get elected, for instance, we get one of these, and we are pretty much told what is in it, and it is our responsibility to read it and understand it, and if we do not, the Ethics Committee, we can call them any time of day and ask them to spell it out for us […]

7. (transitive) To indicate that (some event) will occur. [from 19th c.]

   This spells trouble.

8. To constitute; to measure.

   • 1655, Thomas Fuller, James Nichols, editor, The Church History of Britain, […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), new edition, London: […] [James Nichols] for Thomas Tegg and Son, […], published 1837, →OCLC:

     the Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect

9. (obsolete) To speak, to declaim. [9th–16th c.]
10. (obsolete) To tell; to relate; to teach.
    • 1770, Thomas Warton, “Ode on the Approach of Summer” in A Collection of Poems in Four Volumes, London: G. Pearch, Volume 1, p. 278,^[5]

      As thro’ the caverns dim I wind,

      Might I that legend find,

      By fairies spelt in mystic rhymes,

Synonyms[edit]

• (to indicate that some event will occur): forebode; mean; signify
• (to work in place of someone else): relieve
• (to compose a word): (informal) comprise

Derived terms[edit]

• fingerspell
• forespell
• speller
• spelling
• spello
• spell out
• spell trouble

Translations[edit]

Etymology 3[edit]

From Middle English spelen, from Old English spelian (“to represent, take or stand in the place of another, act as a representative of another”), akin to Middle English spale (“a rest or break”), Old English spala (“representative, substitute”).

Verb[edit]

spell (third-person singular simple present spells, present participle spelling, simple past and past participle spelled or spelt)

1. (transitive) To work in place of (someone).

   to spell the helmsman

2. (transitive) To rest (someone or something), to give someone or something a rest or break.

   They spelled the horses and rested in the shade of some trees near a brook.

3. (intransitive, colloquial) To rest from work for a time.

Derived terms[edit]

• spell off

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

spell (plural spells)

1. A shift (of work); (rare) a set of workers responsible for a specific turn of labour. [from 16th c.]
2. (informal) A definite period (of work or other activity). [from 18th c.]

   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients:

     A chap named Eleazir Kendrick and I had chummed in together the summer afore and built a fish-weir and shanty at Setuckit Point, down Orham way. For a spell we done pretty well. Then there came a reg’lar terror of a sou’wester same as you don’t get one summer in a thousand, and blowed the shanty flat and ripped about half of the weir poles out of the sand.

   • 1975, Bob Dylan (lyrics and music), “Tangled Up in Blue”:

     I had a job in the great North Woods / Workin’ as a cook for a spell / But I never did like it all that much / And one day the ax just fell

   • 2012 April 22, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0-1 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:

     Despite his ill-fated spell at Anfield, he received a warm reception from the same Liverpool fans he struggled to win over before being sacked midway through last season.

3. (colloquial) An indefinite period of time (usually with a qualifier); by extension, a relatively short distance. [from 18th c.]

   • 1897, Bram Stoker, chapter 24, in Dracula‎^[6], HTML edition:

     Even Mrs. Harker seems to lose sight of her trouble for whole spells. […] When he had spoken, Mina’s long spell of silence made me look at her.

   • 1944 November and December, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 343:

     So after a short spell in the brass foundry the wisest course was to follow with a similar period in the steel foundry, where much important work was done, including the manufacture of centres for wheels.

   • 2020 June 17, John Crosse, “Thornaby’s traction transition”, in Rail, page 65:

     […] Class 37s became synonymous with the depot, and over the years more than a third of the class had a spell allocated to the shed.

4. A period of rest; time off. [from 19th c.]
5. (colloquial, US) A period of illness, or sudden interval of bad spirits, disease etc. [from 19th c.]
6. (cricket) An uninterrupted series of alternate overs bowled by a single bowler. [from 20th c.]

Derived terms[edit]

• cold spell
• dry spell
• set a spell

Descendants[edit]

• → Welsh: sbel

Translations[edit]

Quotations[edit]

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:spell.

Etymology 4[edit]

Origin uncertain; perhaps a form of speld.

Noun[edit]

spell (plural spells)

1. (dialectal) A splinter, usually of wood; a spelk.

   • 1544 (date written; published 1571)​, Roger Ascham, Toxophilus, the Schole, or Partitions, of Shooting. […], London: […] Thomas Marshe, →OCLC; republished in The English Works of Roger Ascham, […], London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley, […], and J[ohn] Newbery, […], 1761, →OCLC:

     To swadle a bowe much about wyth bandes, verye seldome dothe anye good, excepte it be to kepe downe a spel in the backe.

2. The wooden bat in the game of trap ball, or knurr and spell.

Anagrams[edit]

• Pells, pells

Faroese[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /spɛtl/

Noun[edit]

spell n (genitive singular spels, plural spell)

1. pity, shame
   • stór spell

     big shame

   • tað var spell

     it was a pity

   • spell var í honum

     it was too bad for him

Declension[edit]

n9	Singular	Plural
	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Nominative	spell	spellið	spell	spellini
Accusative	spell	spellið	spell	spellini
Dative	spelli	spellinum	spellum	spellunum
Genitive	spels	spelsins	spella	spellanna

Norwegian Bokmål[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From the verb spelle.

Noun[edit]

spell n (definite singular spellet, indefinite plural spell, definite plural spella or spellene)

1. Alternative form of spill

See also[edit]

• spel (Nynorsk)

Etymology 2[edit]

Verb[edit]

spell

1. imperative of spelle

Old English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• spel

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-West Germanic *spell, from Proto-Germanic *spellą.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /spell/, [speɫ]

Noun[edit]

spell n

1. story

   Sæġe mē spell be hrānum.

   Tell me a story about reindeer.

   • late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans

     Ne wēne iċ, nū iċ lang spell hæbbe tō seċġenne, þæt iċ hīe on þisse bēċ ġeendian mæġe, ac iċ ōðre onġinnan sċeal.

     Since I have some long stories to tell, I don’t think I can finish them in this book, so I’ll have to start another one.

   • late 9th century, The Voyage of Ohthere and Wulfstan

     Fela spella him sæġdon þā Beormas, ǣġðer ġe of heora āgnum lande ġe of þām landum þe ymb hīe ūtan wǣron, ac hē nysse hwæt þæs sōðes wæs, for þon þe hē hit self ne ġeseah.

     The Bjarmians told him many stories, both from their own country and from the countries surrounding them, but he didn’t know what parts were true, because he didn’t see it himself.

2. news
   • late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans

     Þæt forme sċip ġesōhte land and ġebodode þæt eġeslīċe spell.

     The first ship reached land and announced the terrible news.

3. prose or a work of prose
   • late 9th century, King Alfred’s translation of Boethius’ The Consolation of Philosophy

     Þā hē þās bōc hæfde ġeleornode and of Lǣdene tō Engliscum spelle ġewende, þā ġeworhte hē hīe eft tō lēoðe.

     When King Alfred had studied this book and translated it from Latin verse into English prose, he converted it back into verse.

4. argument
   • late 9th century, King Alfred’s translation of Boethius’ The Consolation of Philosophy

     Iċ onġiete þæt iċ þē hæbbe āþrotenne mid þȳ langan spelle, for þon þē lyst nū lēoða.

     I see I’ve bored you with that long argument, since you want poems now.

Usage notes[edit]

• Spell and racu mean an argument as in a line of reasoning. For the sense «a debate, dispute, quarrel,» ġeflit is used.

Declension[edit]

Antonyms[edit]

• lēoþ (“poem”)
• lēoþcræft (“poetry”)

Derived terms[edit]

• bīspell (“parable”)
• ealdra cwēna spell (“old wives’ tale”)
• godspell (“gospel”)
• lēasspell (“fiction”)
• sārspell (“painful story”)
• sōþspell (“nonfiction”)
• spellian (“to talk”)
• wēaspell (“tale of woe”)
• wilspell (“welcome news”)

Descendants[edit]

• Middle English: spell, spel
  • English: spell

What is the difference between spelt and spelled ?

The words spelt and spelled are past participles of the verb spell, so English speakers use either term for the past tense. The primary difference between the two words involves definition, regular vs. irregular verbs, and orthography:

• “Spelt” is the irregular verb form of “spell,” while “spelled” is regular. 
• “Spelt” and “spelled” only occur as past tense and past participle forms when “spell” means ‘to chronologically list letters of a word,’ or ‘to explain’ and ‘understand.’
• “Spelled” is the preferred choice for English in the United States and Canada. 
• “Spelt” is indicative of British English, although “spelled” is still more common. 

Understanding regular verbs vs. irregular verbs

Regular English verbs end with ‘-ed’ for all past tense and past participle forms. For example, we always write the past participle/past tense form of “work” as “worked,” or “walk” as “walked.” Irregular verbs have non-standard endings or separate forms for the past simple tense and past participles.

Irregular verbs with non-standard past tense and past participle forms:

• Feel (felt)
• Have (had)
• Lay (laid)
• Lead (led)
• Pay (paid)

Irregular verbs with separate past tense and participle forms:

• Be (was, were vs. been)
• Begin (began vs. begun)
• Choose (chose vs. chosen)
• Forgive (forgave vs. forgiven)
• Throw (threw vs. thrown)

Sometimes, a verb is irregular because it doesn’t change for the past tense or past participle at all. For example, the verbs “let” and “quit” never change to “letted” or “quitted.” 

Spelled is regular, spelt is irregular

“Spelled” is the regular past tense and past participle form of ‘spell,’ and “spelt” is the irregular form. However, both words still exist in The United Kingdom (UK), New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. The Guardian and Observer Style Guide, for example, advises the use of “spelled” for the past tense and “spelt” for the past participle (e.g., ‘spelled it out’ vs. ‘is spelt like this’). 

That’s not to say that “spelt” is especially common. Due to the influence of North American English (which never uses “spelt”), “spelled” is the more common past tense and past participle form of ‘to spell’ for English world-wide. 

If we look at Google Books Ngram Viewer, the prevalence of “spelt” was much higher than “spelled” for global English writings between 1600 and the late 19th century. It wasn’t until 1893 that the use of “spelled” began to pick up and dominate as the preferred spelling. 

What’s the deal with “spelt,” anyways?

The word “spelt” is a funky-sounding verb for Canadian and American English because it ends with ‘-t’ instead of ‘-ed.’ But if you live in a region associated with “British English,” English varieties of this sort are common. For example, British English speakers may use “learnt” instead of “learned” or “whilst” instead of “while.” 

Additional examples include: 

• Misspelt vs. misspelled
• Spilt vs. spilled
• Smelt vs. smelled

While British English tends to prefer irregular verb forms, sometimes the opposite occurs for Americanisms. For instance, Americans are more likely to use “dove” instead of “dived” or “snuck” instead of “sneaked.” 

What does spell mean?

English speakers generally use the verb spell to mean ‘to write or speak letters of a word, name, or title in order.’ For example, 

• “How do you spell your name?” 
• “Can you spell this word?” 
• “The letters spell the term ‘orthodontist.’” 

Since the verb spell involves the act of reciting letters, the word’s meaning lends itself to the act of ‘developing an understanding,’ ‘equating to,’ or ‘to be a sign or characteristic of.’ Sentence examples include: 

• “For the star crossed lovers, family war spelled disaster and heartbreak.” 
• “Excess drinking and a poor diet can spell mental and physical illness for anyone.” 

Writing tip: According to Lexico, we can use this meaning of spell similarly to ‘bring about,’ ‘bring on,’ ‘cause,’ or ‘lead to.’ 

Phrases of spell

The phrasal verb ‘spell out’ means ‘to make something clear and explicit.’ For example, 

• “To avoid sounding vague, you’ll have to spell out the concept further.”
• “Do you understand, or do I need to spell it out for you?” 
• “Spell out the letters of the word for me.” 

Speaking of spelling-out, English speakers also use the phrase ‘spell down’ to describe the act of ‘defeating someone in a spelling bee.’ For example, 

• “The school’s final spell down ended with a celebratory cheer.”
• “The 12-year-old student won $200 in a spell down.” 

When to use spelled and spelt?

The words spelled and spelt are past participles of spell, although “spelled” is the regular verb form, and “spelt” is the only irregular verb form. In either case, English speakers use “spelled” and “spelt” for the simple past tense (preterite) and the present, past, and future perfect tenses. For example, 

• “I spelled/spelt.” (simple past)
• “You have spelled/spelt.” (present perfect)
• “We will have spelled/spelt.” (future perfect)
• “They had spelled/spelt.” (past perfect)
• “She will have spelled/spelt.” (future perfect)

Other regular tense forms include “spell” or “spells” for the present tense and “spelling” for the present participle and continuous tenses. 

• “I spell” or “He spells.” (present)
• “You are spelling.” (present continuous)
• “They will spell.” (future)
• “We were spelling.” (past continuous)
• “You will be spelling.” (future continuous)
• “I have been spelling.” (present perfect continuous)
• “She had been spelling.” (past perfect continuous)
• “We will have been spelling.” (future perfect continuous) 

Synonyms of spelled/spelt

Add up to, amount to, denote, embody, epitomize, explain, express, import, intend, mean, represent, signify. 

Etymology of spell and spelt

The verb spell originates from Middle English spellen (of Old English ‘spellian’) and Old French espeller (or ‘espelir’). According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, both archaic terms derive from the Germanic root ‘spel-,’ which means ‘to say aloud’ or ‘recite.’ 

However, Old French espelir evolved independently of Old English spellian to additionally mean ‘to signify, interpret.’ Over time, English speakers combined both meanings of spell through phrases such as: 

• “Hear spell” (c. 15th century): to eavesdrop or hear something talked about. 
• “Spell the wind” (c. 15th century: to talk of something in vain. 
• “Spell (someone) backward” (c. 17th century): to portray someone in a negative light (from William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”).  
• “Spell out” (the 1580s’): to spell the letters of a word. 
• “Spell out” (1940): to explain thoroughly. 

Additional meanings of spelled and spelt

The final reason English speakers confuse “spelled” for “spelt” is that either term exists independently without “spelt” as a past participle (regardless of geography). For instance, sometimes, “spell” is a noun and verb, while “spelt” is a noun of its own. 

For the following list of terms, the only appropriate verb forms include:

• Spelled (past participle)
• Spelling (present participle)
• Spells (present tense)

Spell = enchantment

When it comes to the topic of magical spells or enchantment, the verb spell means ‘to put under a spell’ or ‘to bewitch.’ Likewise, the noun spell is synonymous with ‘conjuration’ or ‘incantation,’ which mean: 

• ‘A word or phrase to conjure magical powers.’ 
• ‘A state of trance or bewitchment.’ 
• ‘An attraction, charm, or fascination.’ 

If someone is “under a spell” or “spellbound,” it means they appear to have lost control over their thoughts and actions–– as if they are under someone’s control by magic. In this case, “spell” is also akin to words like ‘charm,’ ‘allure,’ and ‘enticement.’ 

Early Germanic languages initially wrote Old English “spell” as “spel” to mean ‘narration’ (Old Saxon and Old High German). The noun and verb forms didn’t imply the notion of magic until 1579 and 1623, respectively. 

Spell = period of time

Outside the notion of English letters, we can use the word spell as a noun or verb for the concept of time, breaks, or rest. More specifically, the verb ‘to spell’ means: 

• ‘To relieve someone of their duties or responsibilities to rest.’
• ‘To take turns with someone on a task or job.’ 

According to Lexico, the noun spell (from Old English spelian) is a 16th-century variant of ‘spele’ for ‘to take the place of.’ However, the term’s meaning and usage have changed over the years to take-on similar meanings: 

• ‘A continuous shift of work’ (c. 1706). 
• ‘A period of rest’ (also as ‘spell down’ c. 1845) for Australian English. 
• ‘A work break’ (as ‘to give a spell’ c. 1750). 
• ‘A period of a specific type of weather’ (e.g., ‘dry spell’ c. 1728).  
• ‘A period of mental or physical ill-being.’ (e.g., ‘dizzy spell, c. 1593). 

Spell = splinter

Finally, the noun spell also means ‘a splinter of wood,’ although this use of “spell” is relatively uncommon. Lexico attributes the noun’s origin to Late Middle English as a variant of speld, which means ‘chip’ or ‘splinter.’ 

Spelt = wheat

“Spelt” is an American name for Triticum spelta, a type of hardy wheat cultivated in Europe. The noun use of spelt began in Middle and Old English through Late Latin spelta and shares a relation to spelte, the Dutch word for wheat. 

Test Yourself!

The spelling differences for spelled and spelt largely come down to British English vs. North American English, but there are other factors in between. Challenge your understanding of spelled vs. spelt with the following multiple-choice questions. 

1. True or false: Spelt is the irregular form of spelled. 
   a. True
   b. False
2. When it comes to reciting individual letters of a word, ___________ is the past participle of spell.
   a. Spelled
   b. Spelt
   c. Spelling
   d. A and B
3. Spelt is not the past participle of spell for which topics? 
   a. Magical spells
   b. Wheat 
   c. Work breaks
   d. All of the above
4. Words like “spelt” represent English spellings for which country? 
   a. Canada
   b. The United States
   c. Great Britain
   d. A and B
5. Which varieties of English spelling are most similar to “spelled vs. spelt”? (regular form vs. irregular form)? 
   a. Feel, felt
   b. Be, was, were, been
   c. Throw, threw, thrown
   d. Spill, spilled, spilt 

Answers

1. A
2. D
3. D
4. C
5. D

Sources

1. Harper, D. “Spell.” Online Etymology Dictionary, Etymonline, 2020. 
2. “Irregular Verbs: Overview and list.” Purdue Online Writing Lab, Purdue University, 2020. 
3. “Spell.” The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th ed., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2020. 
4. “Spell.” Lexico, Oxford University Press, 2020.
5. “Spell.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., 2020.
6. “Spelled or spelt?” The Guardian and Observer Style Guide, The Guardian, 2020. 
7. “Spelt.” The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th ed., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2020. 
8. “Spelt.” Lexico, Oxford University Press, 2020.
9. “Spelt, spelled.” Google Ngram Viewer, Google Books, 2020.