Leaner Spelling Bee Requires New Strategy

Navneeth Murali wants the Scripps National Spelling Bee to get rid of the onstage, multiple-choice vocabulary questions.
The post-pandemic bee eliminates spellers for misspelling words and based on vocabulary questions.
Vocabulary questions are a permanent part of the competition, so spellers must prepare for them.
Last year's runner-up missed out on returning to the bee due to changes in qualifying.
The bee began with a speller from Guam unable to compete due to airport closure from a typhoon.