What words are misspelled in the preamble to the US Constitution?

Answer 1

There are no actual misspellings.

The "misspellings" are a result of the fluid nature of the English written language, and its script forms, through the 18th century.

- The word "insure" is used instead of the modern variant ensure.

- The word "defence" still used the British English spelling (later US defense)

- The word "blessings" uses the prominent "Ss" calligraphic form.

---

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The word "defence" is spelled in the traditional British spelling; the preferred American spelling is now "defense." However, it is incorrect to say that it was spelled incorrectly in the US Constitution, since that spelling was considered correct at the time.

It actually makes more sense to argue that the word "insure" is misspelled in the Preamble, because the authors actually meant to "ensure domestic Tranquility" (make certain that it occurs) rather than "insure domestic tranquility" (provide financial compensation if it does not occur).