The word "rallying" is often confused with the spelling "ralllying". The correct spelling is "rallying" and it is pronounced /ˈræliɪŋ/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "a" sound, followed by a long "e" sound. The final syllable is pronounced with an "ing" sound. The word is often used to describe the act of coming together for a common cause or purpose, such as rallying for a political campaign or a sporting event.
Rallying can be defined as a sport or activity involving high-speed racing on public or private roads, typically on diverse terrains like gravel, tarmac, or snow. It is a form of motorsport where drivers, accompanied by co-drivers or navigators, compete against the clock in timed stages or sections, aiming to complete each stage in the shortest time possible. The sport is known for its challenging and unpredictable nature due to varying weather conditions, tight corners, jumps, and overall rough surfaces that demand exceptional driving skills, precise navigation, and teamwork.
In rallying, competitors drive purpose-built cars that are modified to withstand the extreme conditions and terrain encountered during races. The cars are equipped with advanced features like four-wheel drive, turbocharged engines, enhanced suspension, and protective equipment. The importance of communication and teamwork between the driver and co-driver is crucial in ensuring the accurate navigation of the course and making split-second decisions during the race.
Rallying events often take place over multiple days and cover extensive distances, comprising a series of stages or special timed sections connected by road sections on which competitive driving is not allowed. The excitement and popularity of rallying lie in the combination of speed, skill, stamina, and strategic planning required to conquer the various challenges encountered on the racecourse.
Collecting and reducing to order.
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 "rallying" is derived from the noun "rally", which originates from the Old French word "rallier", meaning "to unite again, to call again". The Old French term further derives from the Frankish word "ragilōn", meaning "to give a battle cry". The meaning of the word expanded to include a gathering of people for a common purpose or to revive someone's spirits. Eventually, "rallying" as a verb came into existence to describe the act of coming together or regrouping for a common cause, figuratively or literally.