78th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 78th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held June 1–2, 2005 in Washington D.C.^[2][1]

78th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Date	June 1–2, 2005
Location	Grand Hyatt Washington, Washington D.C.
Winner	Anurag Kashyap
Age	13
Residence	Poway, California
Sponsor	San Diego Union-Tribune
Sponsor location	San Diego, California
Winning word	appoggiatura
No. of contestants	273[1]
Pronouncer	Jacques Bailly
Preceded by	77th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by	79th Scripps National Spelling Bee

Anurag Kashyap, 13, won the competition. He spelled the word appoggiatura, a musical term, correctly.^[2] He had finished 47th in the prior year's competition.^[1]

Eleven-year-old Samir Patel of Colleyville, Texas and Aliya Deri, 13, of Pleasanton, California tied for second place. Patel misspelled the word Roscian. Deri misspelled the word trouvaille.

There were 273 spellers this year, 146 boys and 127 girls, ages 9 to 14. 51 survived until the final day of competition. Only 71 spellers made it successfully through the third round, and 20 more dropped out in the fourth round.^[3]

The first place prize was $30,000 and other non-cash prizes.^[1]