the result of making something better (improve) = _______
improvement
The team ignored the manager’s mistake so as not to / to not / for not embarrass him.
so as not to
The police ________ investigating the robbery.
are
Can you give us any advices / advice / advisements about travelling in Africa?
advice
A private company offered the researchers money to complete the trial, but ________ of them felt they should accept it. any none no
none
when there is a lot of something (abundant) = ________
abundance
I’m really glad we flew business class in spite / although / despite the cost.
despite
to say a word wrongly (pronounce) = ________
mispronounce
the area around where you live (neighbour) = ________
neighbourhood
I wouldn’t volunteer to be a g________ p________ in a clinical trial unless I was desperately ill.
guinea pig
I phoned the hotel so that / so as they would know we’d been delayed.
so that
George’s grandfather still runs his family business ________ the fact that he is almost 100.
despite
We’re going to the bank to discuss a loan to help us s________ ________ our new business.
set up
‘Eureka!’ is a word that’s still associated with major scientific d________.
discoveries
We love the dancing class, despite / even though / even if we’re not very good at it!
even though
This machine is ________ making medical equipment.
for
________ people who work for the charity are volunteers. Most of the Most the The most
most of the
to think about others, i.e. how you can help them or how they might feel (thought) = ________
thoughtful
Isla doesn’t eat ________ fish or meat. She’s a vegetarian. neither either both
either
to sleep longer than you intended to (sleep) = ________
oversleep
We need to meet this afternoon in order for / to discuss the merger.
to
Neither Joe ________ Ella can come to the barbecue – they’re both working at the weekend. and or nor
nor
We live on / in / at the outskirts of Tokyo.
on
We’ll be taken o________ by a multinational company if we don’t act soon.
over
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать грубую лексику.
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать разговорную лексику.
I started to say the wrong word, the wrong verb.
I was afraid to say the wrong word but they could correct me at times.
If you say the wrong word, you’ll be accused of all sorts of hateful things.
No serious person can deny that the grievance politics of the American left keeps decent people in a constant state of fright-they are afraid to say the wrong word, utter the wrong thought, offend the wrong constituency.
Ни один серьезный человек не станет отрицать, что реализуемая американскими левыми силами политика недовольства держит порядочных людей в состоянии постоянного страха: они боятся произнести не то слово, высказать неправильную мысль, обидеть представителей какой-либо социальной группы.
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#1
Topic: to spell a word wrong / wrongly
Copied from title. Cagey, moderator
Is it wrong or wrongly?
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by a moderator: Jun 19, 2022
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#2
I think both are correct, but «to spell the word wrong» is more frequently used.
elroy
Moderator: EHL, Arabic, Hebrew, German(-Spanish)
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#3
For me:
wrong
wrongly
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#4
I find both acceptable. I would hesitate to say that «wrong» is more common. It might be in some dialects or regions.
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#5
«to spell the word wrong» is more frequently used.
Should one say »that word was wrong spelt» or »that word was wrongly spelt»? The latter sounds more natural to my ear.
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#6
Should one say »that word was wrong spelt»
You use the adverb «wrong» after the verb.
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#7
You use the adverb «wrong» after the verb.
So »…was spelt wrong» is the correct word order. Thank you.
elroy
Moderator: EHL, Arabic, Hebrew, German(-Spanish)
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#8
For me, «was spelled wrong» is the only correct possibility:
…was spelled wrong
…was spelled wrongly
…was wrong spelled
…was wrongly spelled
«incorrectly» can go in either position:
…was spelled incorrect
…was spelled incorrectly
…was incorrect spelled
…was incorrectly spelled
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#9
«incorrectly» can go in either position
Can the position of the adverb vary according to the number of its syllables?
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#10
Can the position of the adverb vary according to the number of its syllables?
Don’t try to make a rule. «Wrong» is one of a few words which are usually considered an adjective but have also a long history of being used as an adverb. Elroy and I disagree strongly about the adverb «wrongly». I don’t know why. It’s been used this way for at least 700 years.
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#11
Should one say »that word was wrong spelt» or »that word was wrongly spelt»? The latter sounds more natural to my ear.
In this case, «That word was wrongly spelt» is correct.
Please have a look at this:
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#12
Here’s my take:
This word was spelled wrongly. «Wrongly» is an adverb modifying «spelled», making it equivalent to «mis-spelled».
This word was spelled wrong. «Spelled» has become a linking verb. «Wrong» is an adjective complementing «word». The word is now wrong, as a result of the way it has been spelled.
The first is about the process, the second about the outcome.
elroy
Moderator: EHL, Arabic, Hebrew, German(-Spanish)
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#13
Elroy and I disagree strongly about the adverb «wrongly». I don’t know why. It’s been used this way for at least 700 years.
I’m not sure that we disagree «strongly.» I’m not saying «wrongly» can’t ever be used as an adverb; indeed, there are many perfectly valid and idiomatic uses of «wrongly» as an adverb: «wrongly treated,» «wrongly accused,» etc. I just wouldn’t say that someone spelled something «wrongly,» just as I wouldn’t say that they spelled it «rightly.» They spelled it right or wrong, or correctly or incorrectly. Maybe this is a US/UK difference. I’m pretty sure this has come up before, and I wasn’t the only one to reject «wrongly» in this context/meaning.
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#14
«Spelled» has become a linking verb. «Wrong» is an adjective complementing «word»
I disagree. I can’t see any reason to recategorise the verb. In that sentence «wrong» is an adverb, used in the way that it, too, has been used for about 700 years.
I’m pretty sure this has come up before, and I wasn’t the only one to reject «wrongly» in this context/meaning.
I think that you are right, or possibly that you have rightly remembered. But we do disagree strongly about «spelled wrongly». (But I would, like you, never say «it was spelled rightly».)
elroy
Moderator: EHL, Arabic, Hebrew, German(-Spanish)
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#16
At least in American English, «He spelled it wrong» is entirely idiomatic and common. I say and hear that all the time.
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#18
I did say
I find both acceptable. I would hesitate to say that «wrong» is more common. It might be in some dialects or regions.
And one of those regions would, I suppose, be North America.
By
Last updated:
August 16, 2022
17 Commonly Mispronounced Words in English: How to Say Them Correctly (With Video)
English can be so weird.
Why are there so many words that look completely different than they sound?
English pronunciation can be so complicated that even native speakers go their whole lives mispronouncing certain words.
There are probably at least a few that you have been saying incorrectly without knowing it.
Well, not anymore!
We will teach you 17 of the most often mispronounced words in English, including some very common words that you will encounter all the time.
Master their pronunciation and you might even have a thing or two to teach a native English speaker!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
In the list below, we will spell out the common incorrect pronunciations as well as the correct pronunciation for each word. We will put the stressed syllables in bold.
1. Açaí
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Uh-kai” or “Ah-kai“
How it is actually pronounced: “Ahh-sai-ee”
Açai berries are a type of South American fruit.
Even native English speakers mispronounced this word for a while when açaí bowls first became popular in the U.S.
Let’s all go out for açaí bowls, I’m starving!
2. Flautist
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Floo-tist”
How it is actually pronounced: “Flah-tist” (U.S.) or “Floh-tist” (U.K.)
A flautist is a musician who plays the flute. Flutist (pronounced “floo-tist”) is an older word that is also an appropriate way to use to describe a flute player, but mostly in the U.S. Typically, Americans will say flutist while the rest of the world’s English speakers will say flautist.
Tyler is an accomplished and talented flautist.
3. Definitely
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Dee-fie-ant-lee” or “Def-in-it-lee”
How it is actually pronounced: “Def-in-it-lee”
Not only is this word sometimes mispronounced by non-native speakers, but its spelling is also butchered (destroyed) by just about everyone.
Who knows why? It kind of sounds how it is spelled, but we just cannot get “definitely” right! We might spell it “definately” or “defiantly” for years, even after being corrected. It is a cursed word.
I’m definitely going to study my English lessons tonight.
4. Library
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Lie-bear-ee”
How it is actually pronounced: “Lie-brair-ee”
The “r” sounds in this word are hard for a lot of non-native speakers to figure out. Though it is clearly spelled with an “r” right next to the “b,” even native speakers tend to leave it out.
We went to the local library to check out some books.
5. Itinerary
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Eye-tin-air-ee” or “Eye-ten-ee-air-ee”
How it is actually pronounced: “Eye-tin-er-air-ee”
When you plan to go on vacation somewhere, you will probably make a list of things you plan to do while you are there. This would be known as an itinerary, but boy is that word weird to say!
Just remember to pronounce it how it is spelled, even if it sounds weird, and you will be good to go.
Sophia wrote up an itinerary for our trip to the Bahamas.
6. Pronunciation
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Pro-nun-say-shun”
How it is actually pronounced: “Pro-nun-see-ay-shun”
Well this is kind of a pun, huh? Pronunciation is mispronounced a lot, but it is quite the complex word to say (and to spell!) due to all those syllables.
The correct pronunciation will be listed in your textbook.
7. Pseudonym
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Puh-soo-doh-nim” or “Soo-doh-name”
How it is actually pronounced: “Soo-doh-nim”
A pseudonym is a fake name used by authors or artists. It is a great example of the silent “p” sound, which is found frequently in English.
J.K. Rowling used a pseudonym when she started writing crime fiction.
8. Salmon
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Saul-mon” or “Saul-man”
How it is actually pronounced: “Sam-in”
So many words in English have silent “l” sounds. Think of words like half, calf, talk, walk, and would. We just love shoving the letter “l” into whatever word we want!
In the case of this tasty fish, the “l” is silent as well.
I had salmon for lunch yesterday.
9. Subtle
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Sub-tell”
How it is actually pronounced: “Suh-tell”
We have been covering a lot of words with silent letters in this article, but “subtle” really takes the cake (is exceptional) for being an odd one. Silent “b” sounds in English are rare, but they do pop up.
The metaphors in this novel are quite subtle.
10. GIF
How it is mistakenly pronounced (up to debate): “Jiff”
How it is actually pronounced: “Giff”
You have definitely seen a GIF (the abbreviation for “Graphics Interchange Format”) online. It is a small image file, often with a quick animation or motion.
The pronunciation of this word has been the subject of many memes through the years. Even Steve Wilhite, the inventor of the GIF file format, claims that it is pronounced “jiff.”
But you could argue that “jiff” is not correct, since GIF is an abbreviation. “Graphics” has a hard “g,” so it is only sensical that GIF be pronounced with a hard “g” as well.
Did you see that GIF of a cat doing a backflip? Hilarious.
11. Chimera
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Chim-air-uh” or “Kim-air-uh”
How it is actually pronounced: “Kie-mear-uh”
Honestly, this word does not pop up in English very often. How many casual English conversations involve a chimera, a fire-breathing mythical beast with lion, goat and snake parts? Still, it is a very commonly mispronounced word among native and non-native speakers.
How cool would it be to see a real-life chimera?
12. Gyro
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Guy-ro” or “Gee-ro” or “Hee-ro”
How it is actually pronounced: “Yee-ro”
A gyro is a Greek wrap made with shredded meat that is cooked on a vertical rotisserie. English-speakers in the U.S. and the U.K. love this dish, but everybody seems to pronounce it wrong. To be fair, you do not see words with a silent “g” in English very often. The correct pronunciation comes from the original Greek word.
I usually order a lamb gyro with a side of hummus when I eat at the Greek restaurant down the street.
13. Ask
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Axe”
How it is actually pronounced: “Ah-sk”
Pronouncing “ask” is weirdly uncomfortable, but saying “axe” is somehow easier. Lots of native and non-native English speakers get this one wrong for that very reason.
Note that in black communities in the U.S., “axe” can be considered a proper pronunciation.
I must ask John where he left the library books.
14. Wednesday
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Wed-nez-day”
How it is actually pronounced: “Wenz-day”
Why on earth is Wednesday spelled like that? Apparently, it is due to the word’s German origins. “Wednesday” was pronounced more like “Wodan’s Day” in old German, a tribute to the Anglo-Saxon god Wodan.
On Wednesdays we wear pink.
15. Stomach
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Stoh-mahk” or “Stoh-match”
How it is actually pronounced: “Stum-ick”
It is a bit weird to pronounce “ach” as “ick,” but that is how “stomach” is properly pronounced.
My stomach is killing me, I need some food.
16. Meme
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Mehm” or “Mee-mee”
How it is actually pronounced: “Meem”
If you are guilty of mispronouncing this word, do not fret. This word was almost never used until the rise of Internet memes, so it makes sense why it would confuse some people.
Did you see that meme about the moth and the lamp? Hilarious.
17. Bury
How it is mistakenly pronounced: “Buh-ree”
How it is actually pronounced: “Bare-ee”
“Bury” and “berry” are homophones, meaning they have the same pronunciation, if you were interested in a fun fact.
Let’s bury the evidence, nobody will ever know.
English words can be quite complex when it comes to pronunciation. With a little bit of hard work, any English learner can definitely figure them out. It just takes some context, the proper pronunciation and a desire to master the English language. Good luck!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Can you tell me which word to use in this sentence? Wrong? Wrongly? Or both? If you are so confused about how to tell the difference between wrong and wrongly, then this blog is for you. After that, you can confidently tell me what should I use in this case.
First of all, let’s have a deeper understanding of each of these words.
Read more
- “Wronger” or “More Wrong” – Are they the same?
We all know about wrong as an antonym of right. Hence, we can easily define wrong as ‘not right’. But there are more about the word wrong you need to know other than that.
If Wrong was a guy, “he” would be a bad boy. “He” can “act” like an adjective, an adverb, a noun, or a verb. Seriously, what kind of “person” you actually are, Wrong?
Wrong as an adjective
When being an adjective, Wrong has 4 meanings.
One of them, most of you could possibly know, is ‘not correct’. If something is wrong, it is not correct. If someone is wrong, they are not correct in their opinion, or assessment about something. In case you want to be more specific, you can use these phrases: ‘be wrong about sth/ be wrong in doing sth’.
Ex:
- Your answer is completely wrong.
- You give him the wrong facts about the event.
- I was so wrong in giving him the second chance.
Another definition of wrong as an adjective is ‘not suitable or not in a way that should’ve been done’.
Ex:
- I was so nervous that I got in the wrong room.
- What’s wrong with you today, Brian? (= What makes you worrying/ upsetting today, Brian?)
- We all laughed out loud when seeing Freddie dressed his t-shirt the wrong way round on stage. (the wrong way round = the part that should be at the front is at the back)
If something is morally unacceptable, you can say that it’s wrong.
Ex:
- He had wrong behaviors when talking to his teacher.
- Children should be taught that lying is wrong.
Wrong can also mean ‘not working’. But we don’t say a machine, a piece of equipment or a device is wrong if it doesn’t work. Instead, we say ‘there’s something wrong with it’ or ‘what’s wrong with it’.
Ex:
- There must be something wrong with the TV.
Wrong as a noun
Being a noun, wrong refers to moral respect.
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Wrong means what is not morally acceptable in general, not particularly anything. And because it’s general, wrong is an uncountable noun.
Ex:
- That criminal has no sense of right and wrong.
Besides, wrong can also be a countable noun when it is used with the meaning of ‘an immoral or unequal action’.
Ex:
- You can never undo the wrongs you’ve done.
Wrong as an adverb
As an adverb, wrong means ‘in a way that is not correct’.
Ex:
- You have spelled my name wrong.
- Our TV keeps going wrong.
Wrong as a verb
Used as a verb, wrong is defined as ‘to treat someone unfairly or unacceptably’
Ex:
- Hedwig felt like he had been wronged by the whole team after he made that mistake.
Wrongly
Fortunately, wrongly doesn’t have so many meanings and word classes like wrong. Wrongly is only an adverb and has the only definition of ‘not correctly’.
Ex:
- You have spelled my name wrongly.
- Dennis was wrongly diagnosed as having diarrhea.
Difference between Wrong and Wrongly
Now it’s time for the most interesting part. After having explored each and every meaning of both words, you must be more than ready to find out the difference between wrong and wrongly.
Word class
In the word-class aspect, the difference between wrong and wrongly can be easily spotted.
Wrong can be an adjective, an adverb, a noun, and a verb, while wrongly can only be an adverb.
Meanings (when both being adverb)
You can apparently notice that when being adverbs, wrong and wrongly share the same meaning ‘in a way that is not correct’. However, that similarity causes a “deadly” misuse. You may think that you can use wrong as a replacement of wrongly, and vice versa. But wait, it isn’t true in all circumstances.
Wrong can only follow a verb (or the object of a verb, if any). This means you can only use wrong in active voice.
Ex:
- You have spelled my name wrong.
- Everything has gone wrong after Barry revealed about himself.
Unlike wrong, wrongly can precede verb and follow verb (or the object of a verb, if any). Therefore, wrongly can be used in both active voice and passive voice.
Ex:
- You have spelled my name wrongly.
- Dennis was wrongly diagnosed as having diarrhea.
In conclusion
- Wrong and wrongly can replace each other in active voice.
-
- You have spelled my name wrongly.
= You have spelled my name wrong.
Note: There are some specific phrases of wrong (don’t replace wrong with wrongly in these cases if you don’t want to change the meaning of the phrases)
-
- Don’t get me wrong
- Go wrong
- Get sth wrong
- Only wrongly can be used in passive voice.
-
- Dennis was wrongly diagnosed as having diarrhea.
=> Dennis was wrong diagnosed as having diarrhea.
Self-check quiz
Let’s check yourself how well you can perceive the difference between wrong and wrongly by doing the following exercise.
Choose the appropriate word: Wrong or Wrongly?
- Things might go wrong/ wrongly sometimes, but don’t be upset.
- Jade was wrong/ wrongly informed about the time of the conference.
- Don’t get me wrong/ wrongly, I just want to tell you the truth.
- Children must be taught about right and wrong/ wrongly.
- Casey answer the question wrong/ wrongly.
- They didn’t wrong/ wrongly Claire. She just overacted.
- Please do not spell the brand name wrong/ wrongly.
- He was wrong/ wrongly imprisoned.
Key:
- Wrong
- Wrongly
- Wrong
- Wrong
- Wrong/ wrongly
- Wrong
- Wrong/ wrongly
- Wrongly
And that’s how to tell the difference between wrong and wrongly. If you want to find out more confusing words in English like wrong and wrongly, I have a gift for you: A FREE Confusing Words ebook of eJOY. This is where you can explore numerous confusing words with literally 0$. So, what are you waiting for?
Download eJOY Confusing Words ebook for FREE
Before saying goodbye, do you still remember my question at the beginning? What should I use in that sentence? Wrong or wrongly? Don’t forget to give me a hint in the comment section. Thank you!