Scripps National Spelling Bee

Her victory made national news, upending stereotypes about race less than 50 years after the end of slavery. It also sparked racist fury.

Spellers were greeted with a new preliminary-round format that gave them no time to get comfortable. They had to get through three words in one turn at the microphone to continue in the bee.

The 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee ended in historic fashion July 8, with Zaila Avant-garde of Louisiana becoming the first African American winner. We talk the history of spelling bees and our fascination with them, with Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty.

The 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee ended in historic fashion July 8, with Zaila Avant-garde of Louisiana becoming the first African American winner. We talk the history of spelling bees and our fascination with them, with Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty.

While Ohio could be the home of a national championship basketball team, with the Cavs competing in their first game of the 2018 NBA Finals Thursday night, the state unfortunately won’t be the home of this year’s national spelling champion. “Popliteal” and “mydriasis” were the two words that took down Ohio’s final participants in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington Thursday.