across the board
"across-the-board" is a 14-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“across the board” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a prep_phrase - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 16
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Pertaining to all categories or things.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | across the board |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Prep_phrase |
| Letters | 16 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “across the board” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for across the board is 16 letters long, classified as a prep_phrase. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
No misspelling variants are generated for across the board in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: Originated with horse racing, where an "across the board" bet was one which covered first, second and third on the betting board. The correct English form is across the board, spelled A-C-R-O-S-S- -T-H-E- -B-O-A-R-D.
Definition
- 1Pertaining to all categories or things.
- 2Having an equal amount staked on a competitor placing first, second, or third.
- 3Of a move or sequence of play, made in response to developments occurring in the game, as opposed to pre-planned or according to theory.
Etymology
Originated with horse racing, where an "across the board" bet was one which covered first, second and third on the betting board.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “across the board”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is A-C-R-O-S-S- -T-H-E- -B-O-A-R-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.