This article officially explores ‘Philadelphia is difficult to spell’. It defies the Mention Hypothesis, i.e. the concept that the expression ‘Philadelphia’ must be cited at a level fit for the interpretation of that sentence. After the examination of two use-based alternatives, it continues to the protection of a Contextual Hypothesis. It closes with a debate of the consequences of the Contextual Hypothesis, its theoretical execution, and its relations with other semantics issues.