graveyard shift
"graveyard-shift" is a 14-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“graveyard shift” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 15
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A work shift late at night, especially one from midnight to 8 AM on a three-shift schedule.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | graveyard shift |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| Letters | 15 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “graveyard shift” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
graveyard shift is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.
Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for graveyard shift, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: By association of the spooky, cold and silent properties of both the night and graveyards. The correct English form is graveyard shift, spelled G-R-A-V-E-Y-A-R-D- -S-H-I-F-T.
Definition
- 1A work shift late at night, especially one from midnight to 8 AM on a three-shift schedule.
- 2A group of workers who work during this time slot.
Etymology
By association of the spooky, cold and silent properties of both the night and graveyards.
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 “graveyard shift”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is G-R-A-V-E-Y-A-R-D- -S-H-I-F-T - 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.