Midle vs. Middle: Which is the Correct Spelling?

"Midle" is an incorrect spelling of the word "middle."
"Middle" refers to the central point or part of something, often equidistant from its ends or sides.

For example...

❌ She placed the book in the midle of the shelf, making it easy to find.

✅ She placed the book in the middle of the shelf, making it easy to find.

In this context, "middle" describes the central point of the shelf, where she places the book.

What does "middle" mean?

The word "middle" has several meanings, depending on the context. Here are some of the most common interpretations, literal and figurative:

1. Physical Position:

Central Point: In a physical space, "middle" refers to the central point between two or more extremes. Imagine the "middle" of a table, the "middle" of a road, or the "middle" of a line.
Intermediate Position: It can also denote an intermediate position between two or more things, not necessarily the exact center. This could be the "middle seat" in a row, the "middle child" in a family, or the "middle paragraph" in a document.

2. Time:

Midpoint: When referring to time, "middle" signifies the midpoint between two points in time. This could be the "middle of the day", the "middle of the week", or the "middle of the project timeline".

3. Figurative Meanings:

Mediation: Figuratively, "middle" can represent a mediating position or role, acting as a bridge between opposing sides or viewpoints. Imagine a "middle ground" in a negotiation or a "middle path" in a philosophical debate.
Average or Ordinary: It can also suggest something that is average or ordinary, not exceptional or extreme. This could be the "middle class" in society or the "middle of the pack" in a competition.
Transition or Change: In some contexts, "middle" can imply a transitional phase or state of change, being neither the beginning nor the end. This could be the "middle of adolescence" or the "middle of a transformation".

Midle vs. Middle: Which is the Correct Spelling?

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The use of "midle" and "middle" over time

The Ngram graph below shows how often "midle" and "middle" have been used from the 1800s to the 2000s. "Middle" has seen steady use throughout the decades, while its misspelling "midle" has always seen nearly zero use.

How to pronounce "middle"

In both British and American English, "middle" is pronounced like "mi·dl".

Additional notes:
This is just the standard pronunciation, and there may be slight variations depending on regional accents and individual speech patterns.

Why would we misspell "middle" as "midle"?

Typo: "Midle" is a common typo for "middle" since it is only missing one letter from the correct spelling, and someone may accidentally omit the second 'd' while typing quickly.
Phonetic Confusion: The pronunciation of "middle" may lead some to think it should be spelled with a single 'd', like in "medal" or "pedal."

Other common misspellings of "middle"

Middel
Midddle
Middl
Mddle
Middel

Example sentences of the misspelling of "boredom" as "bordum"

"Midle" is an incorrect spelling; the proper term is "middle."
Avoid the misspelling "midle" in your documents to maintain professionalism.
The teacher corrected the student's essay, highlighting the misspelling of "middle" as "midle."
In formal communication, it's crucial to eliminate errors like the misspelling "midle" to ensure clarity.
Recognizing the misspelling "midle" is the first step toward improving your spelling skills.

Example sentences of "middle"

She stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by friends.
The river flows through the middle of the town, dividing it into two halves.
The answer lies somewhere in the middle of those contrasting opinions.
The middle of the movie had the most unexpected plot twist.
After a long hike, they finally reached the middle of the forest.
Placing the ball in the middle of the court, he prepared for the serve.
The middle of the experiment revealed intriguing results.
The middle of the novel was filled with suspense and anticipation.
She found herself in the middle of a heated debate.
The middle section of the cake had the perfect balance of flavors.

Check out our other related blog posts:
🖊️ Medival or Medieval: Which Is Correct?
🖊️ Occured or Occurred: Which Is Correct?

Synonyms for "middle"

Center
Midpoint
Central
Intermediate
Median

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References:

Definition of MIDDLE

equally distant from the extremes : medial, central; being at neither extreme : intermediate; constituting a division intermediate between those prior and later or upper and lower… See the full definition

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