The 78th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held June 1–2, 2005 in Washington D.C.[2][1] Anurag Kashyap, 13, won the competition.
He spelled the word appoggiatura, a musical term, correctly.
[1] Eleven-year-old Samir Patel of Colleyville, Texas and Aliya Deri, 13, of Pleasanton, California tied for second place.
There were 273 spellers this year, 146 boys and 127 girls, ages 9 to 14.
51 survived until the final day of competition.