letterbyletter

Letter-by-letter, often written with hyphens as letter-by-letter, refers to the process of spelling out a word one letter at a time. It is used to avoid miscommunication when names, codes, or unclear speech are involved.

In practice, letter-by-letter spelling appears in telecommunications, customer service, and education. For example, callers are asked to spell a surname letter by letter to ensure accuracy, and instructors use letter-by-letter spelling to teach literacy and correct spelling.

In media and digital contexts, the term also describes a text presentation technique in which characters are revealed sequentially, typically for dramatic effect or to aid readability. This usage overlaps with concepts such as typing effects and progressive disclosure in user interfaces.

As a proper noun, letterbyletter may appear as a brand name, project, or title. However, there is no single canonical entity universally associated with the term, and its exact meaning can vary by context.

See also: spelling alphabet, phonetic alphabet, telephony spelling, typing effect, progressive disclosure.