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How do you spell Controversial?

Correct spelling

controversial

CONTROVERS + IAL. Think: controversy.

Why is controversial spelled this way?

From Latin controversia, a turning against. CONTRA (against) + VERSUS (turned). A controversy is a turning against — opposing positions facing each other.

Common misspellings of controversial

contraversialcontroversalcontrovercialcontrovershial

Example

The decision was controversial.

Frequently asked questions

How do you spell controversial?+
The correct spelling is "controversial". CONTROVERS + IAL. Think: controversy.
Is it contraversial or controversial?+
The correct spelling is "controversial", not "contraversial". This word gets 6,000+ monthly searches.

Other commonly misspelled words

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More spelling guides

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