What state is misspelled in the Constitution?

Asked by: Dr. Grace Weissnat II  |  Last update: January 31, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (67 votes)

The state with the "misspelling" in the U.S. Constitution is Pennsylvania, which appears as "Pensylvania" (with one 'n') in the list of signers, though it's also correctly spelled with two 'n's in other parts of the document, reflecting inconsistent 18th-century spelling, much like the Liberty Bell.

Which state is misspelled in the Constitution?

For instance, in the list of signatories, the word “Pennsylvania” is misspelled with a single “n” in the first syllable (Pensylvania). The state's correct spelling does appear in Article 1, Section 2, making the contradiction all the more noticeable—and embarrassing. Shallus after all, was from Pennsylvania.

What state was spelled wrong in the Constitution?

This isn't the only place that Pennsylvania is spelled with one “N,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union, Pennsylvania is also spelled “wrong” in the U.S. Constitution. The Liberty Bell was created in 1752 and Bens Guide states that one year later the bell would crack, so they created a second one.

What's the only state in the Constitution that is misspelled?

1. Of the spelling errors in the Constitution, PENSYLVANIA above the signers' names is probably the most glaring because today, Pennsylvania is spelled with two Ns; in 1781, the spelling with one N is also correct. 2. The Constitution does not set forth requirements for the right to vote.

What word is misspelled in the U.S. Constitution?

The U.S. Constitution has 4,400 words. It is the oldest and shortest written Constitution of any major government in the world. Of the spelling errors in the Constitution, "Pensylvania" above the signers' names is probably the most glaring.

Why is the US Constitution so hard to amend? - Peter Paccone

44 related questions found

Is the f word protected speech?

Yes, the "f-word" (profanity/obscenity) is generally protected speech under the First Amendment, as the Supreme Court has ruled that offensive or vulgar words alone aren't enough to restrict speech; however, it loses protection if it crosses into unprotected categories like "fighting words" (direct personal insults likely to provoke violence), true threats, or is part of obscenity, though courts have narrowed these exceptions significantly, as seen in the Brandi Levy case where school-related online swearing was protected. 

Did they misspell Pennsylvania on the Declaration of Independence?

PENSYLVANIA (SPELLING) The Liberty Bell, Constitution and Indepenence Hall all use the spelling of "Pensylvania". This was the accurate way to spell our state name in the early years of the country.

What is the most mispronounced state name?

According to the study, the most mispronounced U.S. state names are: Arkansas (AR-kuhn-saw) Nevada (nuh-VA-duh) Oregon (ORE-uh-gun)

Which state refused the Constitution?

But Rhode Island refused to send a delegation, and the convention instead set about drafting a new Constitution. Rhode Island was the only state that did not participate in its proceedings.

Why is Pennsylvania misspelled on the Liberty Bell?

When casting the Liberty Bell in 1751, the word Pennsylvania was misspelled with a single n. The bell makers were local artisans following written instructions that contained the error, showing how spelling standards were less rigid in colonial America.

Which two states didn't accept the Constitution?

Two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island, refused to ratify the new plan of government. Those who opposed the adoption of the Constitution were known as the Antifederalists.

What does article 7 of the US Constitution say?

Article VII of the U.S. Constitution is about the ratification process, stating that nine of the thirteen states needed to approve it through special state conventions for the Constitution to become the law of the land, replacing the Articles of Confederation. It established the conditions for the new government to take effect and included the date the Constitution was signed (September 17, 1787). 

What word was not used in the US Constitution?

No words indicating race or color, black or white, occur in the text of the Constitution, and neither do the words “slave” or “slavery.” Circumlocutions are used in the text to avoid the use of any form of the word “slave”; for example, “person held to service or labor,” and “such persons as any of the States now ...

What is only 52 words long in the Constitution?

The preamble is an introduction to the highest law of the land; it is not the law. It does not define government powers or individual rights. Establish Justice is the first of five objectives outlined in the 52-word paragraph that the Framers drafted in six weeks during the hot Philadelphia summer of 1787.

What is the most misspelled word in Pennsylvania?

What we know: The most misspelled words in America were revealed in a recent study, along with the word each individual state misspells the most. Pennsylvania residents misspell "scissors" the most, while New Jersey finds "congratulations" to be a difficult word, and Delaware has the hardest time with "beautiful."

Which two states originally rejected the Constitution?

Securing the ninth state was not going to be an easy task. In fact, North Carolina and Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until November 1789 and May 1790, respectively. They did so only after the First Congress sent 12 amendment proposals to the states for ratification.

Which state never ratified the Constitution?

Rhode Island: May 29, 1790 (Rhode Island did not hold a Constitutional Convention.)

When did the US go from 48 to 50 states?

The U.S. went from 48 to 50 states in 1959, with Alaska becoming the 49th state on January 3, 1959, and Hawaii becoming the 50th state on August 21, 1959, making them the last two states admitted to the Union. Before 1959, the contiguous 48 states were completed with the admission of New Mexico (47th) in 1912 and Arizona (48th) in 1912.
 

What state has the oldest Constitution still in effect?

The 1780 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, drafted by John Adams, is the world's oldest functioning written constitution. It served as a model for the United States Constitution, which was written in 1787 and became effective in 1789.

What is the only letter not used in any USA state name?

The letter that does not appear in any U.S. state name is Q, making it the only letter of the English alphabet unused in the 50 state names, while letters like J, X, and Z appear in states such as New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. 

What is the rarest US name?

Unique Baby Names by State

Some of the rarer names identified include Wylder in Vermont, Naim in Delaware, Mazikeen in Wyoming, Babyboy in New Hampshire, and Jahziel in Rhode Island. These names were given to only five babies within their respective states over the past 23 years.

What is the hardest U.S. state to pronounce?

In first place, Arkansas (AR-kuhn-saw). The Natural State has long suffered from phonetic mispronunciation; many mistakenly say “Ar-Kansas” (like the state of Kansas).

What is the most glaring error in the constitution?

🔍 A Hidden Spelling Error Even the Constitution has typos! The most glaring? "Pensylvania" is misspelled above the signers' names.

Which famous U.S. landmark has a misspelled word on it?

The Lincoln Memorial has inspired many, even though a word on the inscription appears to be spelled incorrectly.

Can you still ring the Liberty Bell?

This second crack, running from the abbreviation for "Philadelphia" up through the word "Liberty", silenced the bell forever. No one living today has heard the bell ring freely with its clapper, but computer modeling provides some clues into the sound of the Liberty Bell.