Tabular Difference Between spelt and spelled
Differences | “Spelt” | “Spelled” |
Usage | British English and other varieties of English outside of North America, Australia, and New Zealand | American English, Canadian English, and some other varieties of English |
Meaning | The past tense and past participle form of “spell” and also refers to a type of wheat grain. | The past tense and past participle form of “spell” and can also mean “declared or proclaimed”. |
Origin | Old English | Middle English |
Frequency | Less common | More common |
Spelling | “Spelt” is the correct spelling in British English and other varieties of English outside of North America, Australia, and New Zealand | “Spelled” is the correct spelling in American English, Canadian English, and some other varieties of English. |
Pronunciation | /spɛlt/ | /spɛld/ |
Etymology | From the Old English verb “spellan” meaning “to relate, narrate, talk about”. | From the Middle English verb “spellen” meaning “to tell, talk, speak” |
Use in recipes | Spelt flour is used in some recipes as a healthy alternative to wheat flour . | Spelled is not used in recipes as a substitute for any ingredient. |
Regional variations | Spelt is widely used in Europe and the UK for human consumption. | Spelled is widely used in the US, Canada, and some other countries for human consumption. |
Legal contexts | Spelt cannot be used in legal or political contexts as a synonym for “declared or proclaimed”. | Spelled can be used to mean “declared or proclaimed,” especially in legal or political contexts. |
Spelt or Spelled I Difference with Example
“Spelt” and “spelled” are two different forms of the past tense and past participle of the verb “spell.” The words spelt and spelled both are correct spellings and used interchangeably in different parts of the world as per their convenience. However, there are some differences in how they are used and preferred.