Writting or Writing: Which Spelling Is Correct?

You’re typing a message. You need the word for putting words on paper. Is it “writting” or “writing”?

This mix-up happens all the time, even to people who read and write every day. The good news is, there’s a clear answer, and a simple rule that explains it. Once you understand it, you’ll never mix it up again.

The correct spelling is writing, with only one “t.” “Writting” is incorrect and not a real word. This follows a spelling rule about how English handles the silent “e” at the end of “write” when adding “-ing.”

Writting or Writing: The Correct Spelling

Let’s clear this up right away.

Writing is correct. It has one “t.” “Writting,” with two T’s, is a common misspelling. It does not appear in any standard dictionary.

If you remember nothing else from this guide, remember this: one T, not two. Write it as writing, always.

The Rule That Explains Everything

English has a well-known spelling pattern that explains exactly why “writing” only needs one “t.”

The rule: When a word ends in a silent “e,” you usually drop that “e” before adding “-ing.” You do not double the final consonant in these cases.

Here’s how it works with “write”:

Start with write.
Drop the silent “e” at the end.
Add “-ing.”
Result: writing.

Notice that the “t” stays exactly as it is. It doesn’t need to double, because the “e” being dropped already does the job of keeping the word looking and sounding correct.

Why “Writting” Looks Right (But Isn’t)

If “writing” follows a clear rule, why do so many people still write “writting”? There’s a good reason.

English also has a different rule that doubles consonants in short words, like:

Run → Running
Sit → Sitting
Stop → Stopping

These words don’t end in a silent “e.” They end in a single vowel plus a single consonant, and that’s what triggers the doubling.

“Write” is different. It already ends in a silent “e,” so it follows the “drop the e” rule instead of the “double the consonant” rule. Mixing up these two rules is exactly why “writting” feels believable, even though it’s wrong.

When Does English Double a Consonant (And When It Doesn’t)?

Here’s a simple way to tell the two rules apart.

Double the consonant when:

The word is short (usually one syllable).
It ends in one vowel followed by one consonant.
Example: run → running, hop → hopping.

Just add the ending when:

The word already ends in a silent “e.”
You drop the “e” and add “-ing” without doubling anything.
Example: write → writing, hope → hoping, bake → baking.

“Write” clearly falls into the second group. That’s the entire reason “writing” only has one “t.”

All the Forms of the Verb “Write”

Understanding all the forms of “write” helps the spelling feel more natural over time.

Form	Spelling	Example
Base form	Write	“I write every morning.”
Present participle	Writing	“She is writing a letter.”
Past tense	Wrote	“He wrote a story yesterday.”
Past participle	Written	“The report has been written.”

Notice that only the “-ing” form drops the “e.” The other forms change in their own separate ways.

Writing vs Written: What’s the Difference?

These two words are often confused with each other, even though they serve very different jobs in a sentence.

Writing describes an action happening now, or refers to the general act of writing. Example: “I am writing an email.”
Written is used with helping verbs like “has,” “have,” or “was” to describe something already completed. Example: “The email has been written.”

Simple test: If the sentence needs “am,” “is,” or “are” before it, use “writing.” If it needs “has,” “have,” or “was/were,” use “written.”

Writing in Real Sentences

Seeing the word used correctly makes it easier to remember.

Everyday Examples

“She spends every evening writing in her journal.”
“Writing clearly is an important skill.”
“I enjoy writing short stories on weekends.”

Professional Examples

“Please review the writing style guide before submitting your report.”
“Our team is writing the quarterly summary today.”
“Clear writing helps avoid misunderstandings at work.”

Examples of What NOT to Write

❌ “She is writting a letter.” (Incorrect)
❌ “Writting skills matter in school.” (Incorrect)
✅ “Writing skills matter in school.” (Correct)

Where This Mistake Causes Real Problems

Spelling mistakes might seem small, but “writting” can create real issues in certain situations.

Professional Emails

A misspelled word in a work email can look careless, even if the rest of the message is well written. First impressions matter, especially in professional communication.

Academic Writing

Teachers and professors often deduct points for basic spelling errors. “Writting” is an easy, avoidable mistake that can affect grades.

Business Communication

In reports, proposals, or client messages, small errors like this can reduce how trustworthy your writing appears, even if your ideas are strong.

Common Reasons People Misspell It

Understanding why this mistake happens can help you avoid it for good.

Rule confusion. Mixing up the “double consonant” rule with the “drop the silent e” rule.
Autocorrect gaps. Not every spellchecker catches this error immediately.
Muscle memory from other words. Typing “running” or “sitting” often can make double letters feel automatic.
Fast typing. Rushed typing increases the chance of extra letters slipping in.

Similar Words That Follow the Same Pattern

Once you understand the rule for “writing,” you’ll notice it applies to many other words too.

Base Word	Add “-ing”	Correct Spelling
Write	+ ing	Writing
Hope	+ ing	Hoping
Bake	+ ing	Baking
Smile	+ ing	Smiling
Drive	+ ing	Driving

All of these words end in a silent “e,” so the “e” drops, and the final consonant never doubles.

Quick Spelling Checklist

Use this checklist any time you’re unsure:

[ ] Does the base word end in a silent “e”? (Write does.)
[ ] Drop the “e” before adding “-ing.”
[ ] Do not double the final consonant.
[ ] Double-check: “writing” has one “t,” not two.

Practice Exercise

Try filling in the blanks with the correct spelling.

“She is ______ a new blog post.” (write)
“His ______ has improved a lot this year.” (write)
“They were ______ letters all afternoon.” (write)

Answers:

“writing”
“writing”
“writing”

If you got all three right, you’ve fully mastered the rule.

Conclusion

So, is it writting or writing? The answer is simple: writing, with just one “t,” is always correct. This follows a clear English spelling rule, where words ending in a silent “e” drop that “e” before adding “-ing,” without doubling the final consonant.

Next time you sit down to write an email, an essay, or a story, you can spell “writing” correctly every single time, with no second-guessing.

FAQs About Writting or Writing

Is it writting or writing?

“Writing” is the correct spelling, with one “t.” “Writting” is a common misspelling.

Why does writing only have one “t”?

Because “write” ends in a silent “e,” which is dropped before adding “-ing,” without doubling the final consonant.

Is writting ever correct in any context?

No. “Writting” is not a recognized word in any standard dictionary or style guide.

What is the difference between writing and written?

“Writing” describes an ongoing action (“I am writing”), while “written” is used with helping verbs to describe a completed action (“It has been written”).

How can I remember the correct spelling of writing?

Remember the rule: drop the silent “e” in “write,” then add “-ing,” without doubling the “t.”

Why do some words double their final consonant before “-ing”?

Short words ending in one vowel and one consonant, like “run” or “sit,” double their final letter. “Write” doesn’t follow this rule because it ends in a silent “e” instead.

Is writing considered correct in formal writing?

Yes. “Writing” is fully appropriate in essays, professional documents, and any formal communication.

What are some words similar to writing that follow the same rule?

Words like “hoping,” “baking,” “smiling,” and “driving” follow the same silent “e” dropping pattern.

Gram Vista Admin

100 Posts View All Posts