# handling

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhændl̩ɪŋ/ · frequency rank #3,696

## Definitions
1. A touching, controlling, managing, using, taking care of, etc., with the hand or hands, or as with the hands.
2. The mechanism for handling or manipulating something.
3. The mode of using the pencil or brush; style of touch.
4. A criminal offence, the trade in stolen goods.

## Etymology
From Middle English handlinge, hondlunge, from Old English handlung (“handling”), equivalent to handle + -ing. Cognate with Dutch handeling (“trade, operation, action”), German Handlung (“act, action”), Swedish handling (“act, deed, action”).

## Easily confused with
- **hanging** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/handling-vs-hanging)
- **Harding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/handling-vs-harding)
- **hauling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/handling-vs-hauling)
- **hardline** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/handling-vs-hardline)
- **handing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/handing-vs-handling)
- **hailing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hailing-vs-handling)
- **haggling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/haggling-vs-handling)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ahndling`, `hadnling`, `handdling`, `handilng`, `handlign`, `handlingg`, `handlinng`, `handlling`, `handlnig`, `hanlding`, `hanndling`, `hhandling`, `hnadling`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/handling