Littany vs. Litany: Which is Correct?

"Littany" is the incorrect spelling of "litany."
A "litany" is a repetitive or prolonged list or recitation, often used in a religious or ceremonial context, expressing prayers, petitions, or praises.

For example...

❌ The politician's littany of empty promises echoed in the wind, leaving only the sting of disappointment in the voters' hearts.

✅ The politician's litany of empty promises echoed in the wind, leaving only the sting of disappointment in the voters' hearts.

The use of "litany" in this sentence is effective in creating a vivid image of a politician making empty promises, leaving behind a sense of disillusionment and betrayal. It's a powerful word choice that adds depth and nuance to the message.

Litany

Part of speech: Noun

1. Ecclesiastical:

A formal prayer or hymn recited responsively, usually consisting of a series of petitions or supplications by a priest or leader, followed by a short response from the congregation or choir.

Example: The priest led the congregation in a litany for peace and healing.

2. Figurative:

A long, tedious, or repetitive series or list of complaints, pleas, or descriptions.

Example: We were subjected to a litany of complaints about the service.

💡

Helpful tip

The figurative use of "litany" often carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the list is tiresome or overly negative.

3. (Less common):

Any sizeable series or set.

Example: The litany of stars in the night sky dazzled the onlookers.

Origin

From the Greek "litaneia," meaning "supplication, entreaty."

How do we pronounce litany?

In American English, "litany" is pronounced li·duh·nee.

In British English, "litany" is pronounced li·tuh·nee.

Additional notes:
These are just the standard pronunciations, and there may be slight variations depending on regional accents and individual speech patterns.

Examining the graph below, we can see that "litany" and "littany" are used in differing amounts; "litany" is used much more than "littany." Until the 1900s, the use of the word "litany" was used greatly, but since the 1920s, its use has decreased to the same levels it is now.

Why does the misspelling of litany as littany occur?

1. Doubling consonants:

English spelling often doubles consonants after short vowels, especially when the vowel is stressed (e.g., "glitter," "batter," "hopping"). This may lead people to mistakenly apply this rule to "litany," even though the vowel isn't stressed.

2. Phonetic similarity:

The sounds of "t" and "tt" can be very similar, especially in casual speech. This might lead someone to mishear or misremember the correct spelling.

3. Analogy to other words:

There are some words in English where "tt" follows a short "i" sound, like "bitter" or "kitten." This might lead someone to mistakenly assume "littany" follows the same pattern.

If you want to prevent any grammatical or spelling errors, you can get the help of an AI proofreader.

Other misspellings of litany

Below are other common misspellings of "litany" other than "littany."

Litanny
Litanyy
Litini
Litinay
Letany

Example sentences for the misuse of the word litany as littany

Below are example sentences highlighting that "littany” is an incorrect spelling.

Hold on, "littany" is missing a letter. It's spelled 'litany', with one 't'.
That should be "litany", not "litanyy". Remember, one "t" and no extra vowels.
While "litini" might sound similar, it's not quite right. The correct spelling is "litany.
Whoops, looks like your autocorrect got a little confused there. It's "litany", not "litany."
Oof, that double "t" in "littany" is a bit of a trip-up. Just stick with "litany."

Example sentences for litany

The speaker recited a litany of grievances, listing one complaint after another.
As the storm raged outside, she whispered a litany of prayers for safety.
The employee presented a litany of reasons for the project's delay during the meeting.
The politician delivered a litany of promises during the campaign, aiming to address various issues.
In therapy, she shared a litany of challenges she had faced throughout her life.
The professor went through a litany of historical events to illustrate the complexity of the geopolitical situation.
The customer service representative listened patiently as the frustrated customer presented a litany of problems with the product.
The detective listened to the witness's litany of details, trying to piece together the sequence of events.
Despite her best efforts, she couldn't escape the litany of criticism from her colleagues.
The coach delivered a motivational litany to inspire the team before the championship game.

Synonyms for litany

Catalog: The professor provided a catalog of historical examples to support her argument.
Roster: The team captain reviewed the roster of players for the upcoming match.
Enumeration: The report included a detailed enumeration of the project's achievements.
Roll Call: The sergeant conducted a roll call of soldiers before the mission.
Recitation: The student gave a recitation of key facts from the textbook.
Listing: The real estate agent presented a listing of available properties in the area.
Inventory: The scientist conducted an inventory of the lab equipment.
Chronicle: The historian chronicled a series of events that led to the war.
Registry: The office maintains a registry of all employees and their contact information.
Tally: The accountant performed a tally of the company's expenses for the month.

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