Tattling is a common word used to describe the act of reporting someone's wrongdoings to an authority figure without a valid reason. The spelling of this word is quite straightforward, with the pronunciation being /ˈtætlɪŋ/, with the first syllable pronounced with a short "a" sound like "cat." The double "t" in the middle of the word serves to separate the two syllables and create the slight pause between them, which is important for conveying the correct pronunciation of the word.
Tattling is a verb that refers to the act of revealing or reporting someone else's wrongdoing or misbehavior to an authority figure, typically with the intention of getting the person in trouble or seeking attention. This term is often used in the context of children or adolescents and is considered a negative behavior. Tattling is typically done by someone who is not directly involved in the situation and may be driven by a desire for personal gain, such as seeking praise or avoiding punishment.
The behavior of tattling is often seen as problematic because it can contribute to a negative social environment. It can lead to the creation of mistrust and resentment among individuals, as well as damage relationships. Tattling is usually distinguished from reporting, which involves sharing information with the intention of preserving safety, seeking help, or solving a problem that genuinely affects others.
Tattling behavior can manifest in various ways, such as intentionally exaggerating or fabricating stories involving others, or consistently and persistently reporting trivial or minor incidents. The term "tattletale" is sometimes used to describe a person who has a tendency to tattle frequently. Overall, tattling is generally seen as an undesirable behavior as it can promote a culture of suspicion, disrupt social dynamics, and create unnecessary conflicts and tensions among individuals.
• Given to idle talk; apt to tell tales.
• Idle talk.
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 tattling has its origins in the Middle English term tatelen, which dates back to the 14th century. Tatelen meant to stammer or to speak indistinctly. Over time, this word evolved to include the meaning of to tell tales or to gossip, resulting in the modern term tattling.