noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from gerund of spellen to spell — more at spell
1.
a. : the act of one who spells : the formation of words by letters
his spelling has improved
b. : the art or technique of forming words by letters according to accepted usage : orthography
spelling as a subject of instruction is in need of reexamination — Education Digest
2. : a sequence of letters composing a word
where the dictionaries differed, either spelling would do — Time