What state name is misspelled in the Constitution?
Asked by: Abdiel Oberbrunner | Last update: February 24, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (18 votes)
The state with the most notable "misspelling" in the U.S. Constitution is Pennsylvania, which appears as "Pensylvania" (with one 'n') in the list of signatories, though this was an acceptable spelling at the time, similar to the inscription on the Liberty Bell. Other minor inconsistencies include British spellings like "defence" and "controul," and the incorrect possessive "it's" used as "its".
Which state name is misspelled in the Constitution?
Misspelling of “Pennsylvania” “Pensylvania,” Hamilton wrote in The US Constitution. No one corrected it then, and no one has corrected it since. It's especially ironic given that the Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia.
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 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.
Did Hamilton misspell Pennsylvania on the Constitution?
Misspelling of Pennsylvania
Alexander Hamilton assisted in writing the names of states next to the signatories' names. Next to Benjamin Franklin, Hamilton wrote “Pensylvania,” omitting the second n. The misspelled word was an ironic error, given that the Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia.
Here's the most misspelled word in every state
What word is misspelled on Liberty Bell?
On the Liberty Bell, Pennsylvania is misspelled "Pensylvania." This spelling was one of several acceptable spellings of the name at that time. The strike note of the Bell is E-flat.
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 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.
What word is misspelled in the US 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 was Pennsylvania's state constitution written in 1776 so controversial?
Why was Pennsylvania's state constitution written in 1776 so controversial? The Pennsylvania Consitution of 1776 was controversial because it gave personal liberties, including voting rights, to all tax-paying men. Previous documents had only given voting privileges to land-owning men.
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)
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 word does not appear in the U.S. Constitution?
The word “democracy” does not appear in the Constitution; rather, the Constitution frames America as a republic, where citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them rather than voting on decisions directly.
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.
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 rejected the Constitution when it was first written?
Two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island, refused to ratify the new plan of government.
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.
Which state is actually misspelled in the Constitution?
Pennsylvania is spelled incorrectly ...
On the part of the Constitution where the signers affixed their names, Pennsylvania is spelled "Pensylvania," with only one "n." It's not really an error, however. It was commonly spelled that way. In fact, it's spelled that way on the Liberty Bell.
Which is the no. 1 Constitution in the world?
The Constitution of India, adopted on 26 November 1949 and enforced from 26 January 1950, stands as the world's longest written constitution.
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 two amendments were never ratified?
We also know that the First and Second Amendments of the original 12 amendments were not officially ratified.
Which state never came to the Constitutional Convention?
Rhode Island was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Which state was the first state in America?
The first state in the United States was Delaware, which ratified the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787, becoming the first of the original thirteen colonies to join the Union and earning the nickname "The First State".