The 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee, held this week in National Harbor, Maryland, has exposed a persistent transatlantic divide in orthographic conventions. American competitors, accustomed to simplified spellings such as “color” and “theater,” have faltered on words retaining their British forms: “colour,” “theatre,” and “centre.”
The contest, which began on Tuesday, has seen a higher than usual elimination rate in early rounds. Of the 245 participants, only 42 advanced to Thursday’s quarter-finals, a drop of 15 per cent compared to last year. Organisers attribute this to an increased number of words derived from British English, French, and Latin roots that diverge from standard American usage.
At the centre of the controversy is the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the official reference for the Bee. Its entries include both American and British spellings, but for words with dual forms, it prioritises the American variant. This year, however, the Bee’s word panel selected a higher proportion of the British alternatives.
“We aim to challenge our spellers with the richness of the English language,” said Dr. Jacques Bailly, the Bee’s official pronouncer. “But we must also be fair. We are reviewing our word selection criteria.”
British lexicographers have reacted with bemusement. Dr. Susie Dent, a lexicographer and etymologist, told the BBC: “The spelling bee is a wonderful celebration of language, but it should not be a source of distress. English is a living language; variations are inevitable. However, the British standard remains the historical root.”
The Oxford English Dictionary, in a statement, noted that it “has no official position on the Bee’s word choices” but reaffirmed its own adherence to British orthography. “Our role is to document, not prescribe,” a spokesperson said.
The cultural implications are significant. The spelling bee, a fixture of American education since 1925, is meant to foster literacy and academic ambition. Yet the current difficulties have prompted calls for a separate “American English” category. The National Education Association has declined to comment, but several school boards have expressed concern.
From a geopolitical perspective, this episode underscores the soft power dynamics embedded in language. The United States, home to over 300 million English speakers, has long exported its linguistic norms through technology and media. Britain, while smaller in population, retains a cultural authority rooted in the language’s origins. The debate over spelling, therefore, is not merely academic.
“English is a dual monarchy,” said Professor David Crystal, a linguist at Bangor University. “The Queen’s English and the President’s English coexist. Occasionally, there is friction. But the language is robust enough to accommodate both.”
For the young spellers, the immediate challenge is practical. “I studied for months, but I didn’t realise there would be so many British words,” said Aditi M., a 13-year-old from Ohio, eliminated in the third round after misspelling “harbour.” “It’s frustrating.”
The Bee continues through Friday, with the final rounds scheduled to stream live on ESPN. Organisers have not announced any rule changes, but the lexicographic community watches with interest. Whatever the outcome, the event has reaffirmed that even the most standardised languages retain a capacity to surprise.
