Spell: give the letters of a word

The idea

Ask How do you spell your name? or Could you spell the address? The past can be spelled; British English also uses spelt.

Examples

• How do you spell your name?
• She spelled the word slowly.
• Please spell the address for me.
• He can spell his name.
• We spelled the new words yesterday.
• They asked me to spell the street name.

Watch out

Spelling identifies the letters and their order. It does not necessarily explain what the word means or how it is pronounced.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the verb for giving the letters in order. Please give the letters of the name in order: ___ the name. (spell / explain)

   Show answer or example answer

   spell

   Spell requests the letters in order.

2. Choose the set of accepted past forms. Which set contains accepted past forms of spell? (spelled or spelt / spell or spelling)

   Show answer or example answer

   spelled or spelt

   Both spelled and British spelt are past forms.

3. Decide whether spelling alone establishes meaning. You know the spelling of a word. Does that alone tell you its meaning? (no / yes)

   Show answer or example answer

   no

   Knowing spelling alone does not establish the meaning.

Use it today

Ask someone to spell a name and then spell your own name.