Spelling.School · How to spell

How to spell without

What it means: In the absence of something.

In a sentence: I can tie my shoes without any help. ▶

The part people get wrong

Often misspelled as with out or whithout.

Same family: within, with, outside, except, unless. If you can spell one, the shared part carries to the others.

Where it comes from: “Without” comes from Old English “wiðutan,” which literally meant “against the outside” or “on the outside.” Over time, its meaning shifted to express the idea of something happening in the absence of something else.

Try spelling it

You will hear the word and a sentence. Type it and press Enter. Then four more words from the same level, so you know where you stand.

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