MEPX
Chapter 2 of 10All chapters
  1. 1Why English is like this
  2. 2Doubling consonants
  3. 3Adding endings
  4. 4The i before e rule
  5. 5Words people mix up
  6. 6The commonly misspelled
  7. 7Plurals and possessives
  8. 8British and American
  9. 9Spell checkers
  10. 10Getting better

Chapter 2 of 10

Doubling consonants

The most useful rule.

When to double

For a one-syllable word ending consonant-vowel-consonant, double the final letter before a vowel suffix: run becomes running, stop becomes stopped.

  • Longer words double only when the stress is on the last syllable: begin, beginning.
  • Prefer becomes preferred, but offer becomes offered.

British and American

British English doubles the l regardless of stress: travelling, cancelled. American English does not. Both are correct within their variety, and consistency within a document matters more.