Delaware girl learns a new word the hard way at bee
Submitted on June 10, 2004 - 12:00am.
Erinn R. Johnson - 2004 Hampton University Short Course
WASHINGTON – From now on, 14-year-old Erin M. Clendaniel will always remember how to spell virgule.
“I had never heard that word before, and I had no idea how to spell it,” said Erin.
An eighth grader at Milford (Del.) Middle School, Erin was one of 265 competitors in the 77th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. She spelled the French-derived word that means a short diagonal line between two words, as in and/or, “verguil.”
The competition began here June 1. Spellers from around the world are competing for an array of prizes, including a $12,000 cash prize.
“I had never heard that word before, and I had no idea how to spell it,” said Erin.
An eighth grader at Milford (Del.) Middle School, Erin was one of 265 competitors in the 77th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. She spelled the French-derived word that means a short diagonal line between two words, as in and/or, “verguil.”
The competition began here June 1. Spellers from around the world are competing for an array of prizes, including a $12,000 cash prize.
Full text available to subscribers only.