Crummy means shabby, miserable, or of little value. The word was originally spelled crumby, but crumby is shedding that definition and is increasingly confined to its older senses---(1) full of or covered in crumbs, and (2) tending to break into crumbs. In the second sense, it's synonymous ... Read more
Log in vs. login
Login, spelled as one word, is only a noun or an adjective. For example, the information you use to sign into your email is your login (noun), and the page where you sign in is the login page (adjective). Log in is two words when it functions as a verb. For example, you log in with your login ... Read more
Installment vs. instalment
The noun referring to something issued or paid at intervals is spelled installment in the U.S. Outside the U.S., it's spelled with one l---instalment. Canada is the only English-speaking country outside the U.S. where installment is common; it appears in 21st-century Canadian books and news ... Read more
Likable vs. likeable
For the adjective meaning pleasant or attractive, writers from outside North America generally use likeable. Likable---without the first e---is the preferred spelling in U.S. English. In Canadian news publications that make their content available online (which aren’t always reliable for gauging ... Read more
Modeling vs. modelling
In American English, the verb model becomes modeled and modeling. Outside North America, the preferred participles are modelled and modelling, with two l's. Canadians prefer the double-l forms, though the single-l forms appear about a third of the time. (In contrast, the double-l forms ... Read more
Lovable vs. loveable
Lovable is the more common spelling of the word meaning pleasing or worthy of being loved, and the fact that it is more common makes it the safer choice. Loveable is not wrong, however. It is approximately as old as lovable (both are many centuries old), and it appears regularly throughout the ... Read more
Holey vs. holy
Holey means full of holes. It is a perfectly good word, no matter what spell check says. Its more common homophone holy has several definitions: 1. sacred, or associated with a deity; 2. worthy of worship; 3. saintly; 4. deserving reverence. Both words are old. Holy has roots in Old English and ... Read more
Totaled/totaling vs. totalled/totalling
In American English, the participles corresponding to the verb total are totaled and totaling---with one l. Totalled and totalling, with two l's, are the preferred spellings in varieties of English from outside the U.S. This has been the case since the early 20th century, when many verbs ... Read more
Caliber vs. calibre
Caliber and calibre are different spellings of the same word, referring to (1) the internal diameter of a gun, or (2), figuratively, the quality or capacity of a person or thing. Caliber is the preferred spelling in the U.S., and calibre is standard in all other main varieties of English. The ... Read more
Chili vs. chilly
Chili is (1) a hot pepper, and (2) (short for chili con carne) a Mexican stew usually made with beans and meat and often containing the pepper. Chilly is an adjective meaning cool enough to cause chill. ... Read more
