Use of wrong/wrongly.

Question

My friend and I are having a debate as to which sentence is correct.

Person 1: I spelt grammar wrong.

Person 2: I spelt grammar wrongly.

We are also arguing on the use of spelled or spelt in the above sentences. Can it be used interchangeably?

e.g. I spelled/spelt grammar wrong/wrongly.

Any help on resolving this would be great as we are at each other throats over this.

MrPedantic · Accepted Answer

Hello Anon

I would accept both versions:

1. I spelt "grammar" wrong. ] "Wrong" acts as an object complement, and modifies "grammar" , i.e. the word "grammar" is wrong.

2. I spelt "grammar" wrongly. ] "Wrongly" is an adverb, and modifies "spelt", i.e. the manner of spelling is wrong.

As for spelt/spelled, you can use either in British English. "Spelt" may be less common in American English, though.

Now release each other's collars very slowly and head for the bar.

MrP

Goodman · Answer

Please allow me to add a comment to your explanation. In the context of the posted sentences, most people would use adjective such as “incorrectly” or “inaccurately” rather than “wrongly”.

If someone is accused and prosecuted of a crime he never committed, then he is said to be wrongly/ wrongfully prosecuted,

I think people in the United States can undnerstand "spelt" without any problem.

Anonymous · Answer

0Agreed with the above comment.  Simply that most people would prefer to sound intelligent.  Using wrongly in the wrong place can sound quite odd. 0-

Yankee · Answer

0In American English, 01b00wrong02b00 is accepted as an adverb and is also commonly used that way. So the most common correct version of your sentence on this side of the pond would be this: "01i00I spelled grammar wrong02i00." 050010id1

Anonymous · Answer

this side of the pond.. you yankees crack me up:)

Use of wrong/wrongly.

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