Pronunciation: [dˈa͡ɪ͡əlɪŋ] (IPA) 
The correct spelling of the word "dialing" is often a point of confusion due to the differences between British and American English. In British English, it is spelled "dialling," while in American English, it is spelled "dialing." The pronunciation of this word is [ˈdaɪəlɪŋ], with the stress on the first syllable. The "i" in the second syllable is pronounced as a short "i" sound followed by a soft "ng" sound, as in "sing."
Dialing is a verb that refers to the act of inputting a telephone number into a phone or telephone keypad for the purpose of making a call. It involves the manual manipulation of the dial or keypad to select the desired numbers in a specific order based on the phone number being called. This process is commonly used in traditional landline phones, cell phones, and other phone systems.
The term "dialing" originated from the early days of telephony when phones were equipped with rotating dials that had numbers from 0 to 9 arranged in a circle. To dial a number, the user would turn the dial clockwise until the desired number was reached, and then release it. The dial would then rotate back to its original position, signaling the number had been successfully dialed. With the advent of touch-tone technology, dialing can now also refer to pressing the buttons on a keypad, typically labeled with numerical digits from 0 to 9.
Dialing a phone number allows individuals to establish a connection with another party or location, enabling voice communication over a distance. The process involves physically interacting with the phone device to transmit the desired number sequence and establish the call. Today, with the advancement of digital technology, many modern phones also provide the option to "dial" by simply selecting the desired contacts or numbers from a digital menu or by using voice commands.
• The art of constructing dials: dial-plate, the face of a watch or clock.
• See dial.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "dialing" comes from the Middle English term "dialen", which was derived from the Old French word "dialer", meaning "to indicate or show by a clock or sundial". This Old French word was ultimately derived from the Latin word "dialis", meaning "daily" or "of a day". The word "dialing" originally referred to the action of indicating or showing numbers on a clock or sundial by means of a pointer or hand. Over time, it became specifically associated with the action of inputting numbers on a telephone or other similar device with numbered buttons or a circular dial.
