Today something totally different: I was just wondering about the different, alternative forms of spelling “graffiti”. There are people who write it with double-f, double-t and an ending-i (“graffitti”), those who spell it with single-f, single-t and an ending-y (“grafity”) and others who write it with double-f, single-t and an ending-y (“graffity”)! It’s insane and I don’t know why there are so many different versions (Yes, there are even more, but these are the three most popular!). For that reason I would like to bring the true spelling to light today…

How to write Graffiti?

Graffitti Grafity Graffity

Graffitti Grafity Graffity

First of all, I will describe the importance of this article by showing you some web-statistics. Nowadays, asking google or other established authorities to determine the broad consent about a specific topic is a common practice. When you type “graffitti” into the Flickr-search you’ll find 122,597 photos, for “grafity” 5,550 and for “graffity” 27,101. When you do the same on google, there are 7,470,000 results for “graffitti”, 1,420,000 for “grafity” and 6.140.000 for “graffity”. So you see, it seems to be common to write it in the wrong way.

The solution to this misspelling problem is rather simple: Ask Wikipedia or the Oxford Dictionary!

Graffiti (singular: graffito; the plural is used as a mass noun) is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property. Graffiti is any type of public markings that may appear in the forms of simple written words to elaborate wall paintings. (wikipedia.org)

plural noun (singular graffito /-təʊ/) [treated as singular or plural] writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place: the station was covered in graffiti (oxforddictionaries.com)

As you can see, the only right and correct way is “graffiti”. So please correct your articles, photo-descriptions or what ever. I can’t understand for what reason so many people misspell their favourite hobby…Maybe some of you could explain why!?