Contraversy or controversy?
Did you mean controversy? Here's the right spelling and how to remember it.
Incorrect
contraversy
Correct
controversy
Correct spelling: controversy. Misspelling: contraversy.
letters the misspelling gets wrong or leaves out letters that shouldn't be there
Memory tip
It starts with contro-, like control: contro-versy.
Why people write “contraversy”
The misspelling “contraversy” is only one letter off: it writes A where controversy has O, an easy slip because in an unstressed syllable both vowels can sound like the same soft "uh".
Spell-checkers catch the mistake in a document, but not in a handwritten note, a text message or a word game. Writing the word out a few times while saying the tricky part aloud is the quickest way to make controversy automatic.
Other misspellings of “controversy”
People also write “controversey”. Here is where each one goes wrong.
“controversey”
Correct spelling: controversy. Misspelling: controversey.
letters the misspelling gets wrong or leaves out letters that shouldn't be there
The misspelling “controversey” is only one letter off: it adds an extra vowel, E.
What does “controversy” mean?
controversy noun
- a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement
“they were involved in a violent argument”
Definitions from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Full dictionary entry
“Controversy” in a sentence
- The decision caused controversy.
- They were involved in a violent argument.
Is “controversy” a playable word?
19 points in Scrabble · 21 in Words With Friends
- Scrabble (US)
- Scrabble (UK)
- Words With Friends
“contraversy” is not accepted in any of these games. See every word you can make from CONTROVERSY.