Quick answer: The only correct spelling is targeted with a single “t”. The spelling “targetted” is always a misspelling and should never be used in professional or casual writing.
Writers frequently stumble over this word because English spelling rules for doubling consonants can feel inconsistent. When adding “-ed” or “-ing” to a base word, many assume the final consonant must automatically double. However, the pronunciation and syllable stress of the root word dictate the rule here, making “targeted” the undisputed correct form in every context.
| Term | Meaning / When to use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Targeted | The correct past tense and past participle of the verb “target,” or an adjective describing something aimed at a specific group or goal. | The marketing team targeted a specific demographic for the new campaign. |
| Targetted | An incorrect misspelling. Never use this form in any context, as it violates standard English orthography rules. | (Incorrect) The email campaign was targetted at new subscribers. |
When to use targeted
You should use “targeted” whenever you need the past tense, past participle, or adjectival form of the root word “target.” This applies universally across all forms of English.
The grammatical rule governing this spelling is based on syllable stress. In English, when a two-syllable word ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) pattern, you only double the final consonant when adding a suffix if the primary stress falls on the second syllable.
Let us apply this rule to the word “target.” When you pronounce it, the emphasis is clearly on the first syllable: TAR-get. Because the stress is at the front of the word, the final “t” remains single when you add “-ed” or “-ing.”
As a veteran copy editor, I see this error constantly in cover letters, business emails, and marketing copy. Writers often know the word sounds right, but their fingers betray them due to muscle memory from other words. Below are three concrete, realistic examples of this error in the wild, along with the necessary corrections.
Example 1: The Resume Bullet Point
- Incorrect: “Targetted key enterprise accounts to increase Q3 software revenue by 15%.”
- Correct: “Targeted key enterprise accounts to increase Q3 software revenue by 15%.”
- Why it matters: A resume is your first impression. A misspelled verb here signals poor attention to detail to hiring managers and automated applicant tracking systems alike.
Example 2: The Professional Email
- Incorrect: “Per our discussion, we have targetted the Q3 budget cuts to spare the engineering department.”
- Correct: “Per our discussion, we have targeted the Q3 budget cuts to spare the engineering department.”
- Why it matters: Internal communications require clarity and professionalism. A spelling error distracts the reader from the actual message about budget allocation.
Example 3: The Team Slack Message
- Incorrect: “Hey team, the new social media ads are targetted to locals only, so don’t worry about national spend.”
- Correct: “Hey team, the new social media ads are targeted to locals only, so don’t worry about national spend.”
- Why it matters: Even in casual workplace messaging, maintaining correct spelling prevents the normalization of errors and ensures your instructions are understood without ambiguity.
Beyond the verb form, “targeted” functions perfectly as an adjective. You will frequently see it in phrases like “a targeted approach,” “targeted advertising,” or “targeted therapy” in medical contexts. In every single instance, the single “t” spelling is mandatory.
When to use targetted
The short answer is: you never use “targetted.” It is a misspelling.
If you encounter “targetted” in a published document, a website, or a manuscript, it is a proofreading failure. No reputable style guide, dictionary, or grammar authority recognizes this spelling.
To understand why this mistake is so pervasive, we have to look at a linguistic phenomenon known as “false analogy.” Writers subconsciously compare the word “target” to other two-syllable words that end in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern and do require a doubled consonant.
Consider these words:
- Admit -> Admitted
- Commit -> Committed
- Submit -> Submitted
- Refer -> Referred
- Occur -> Occurred
In all of these examples, the primary stress falls on the second syllable (ad-MIT, com-MIT, sub-MIT, re-FER, oc-CUR). Because the emphasis is at the end, English spelling rules dictate that we double the final consonant before adding “-ed” or “-ing” to preserve the short vowel sound.
Writers incorrectly apply this exact same rule to “target.” They assume that because “target” ends in “g-e-t,” it must behave like “admit.” They ignore the crucial difference in syllable stress. Since we say TAR-get, not tar-GET, the doubling rule does not apply.
Modern spellcheckers in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Grammarly will immediately flag “targetted” with a red squiggly line. If you are relying on automated tools to catch your errors, this particular misspelling is one of the easiest for software to identify and correct. Relying on that feedback is a safe and effective way to ensure your documents remain error-free.
How to remember the difference
Memorizing spelling rules can feel tedious, but you do not need to memorize a textbook to get this right. Here are two highly effective memory tricks and one editor-level insight to ensure you never misspell this word again.
Mnemonic 1: The Single Bullseye Visualize a physical archery target. A standard target has one single, central bullseye. Connect that visual to the spelling: one bullseye equals one “t” at the end of the root word. If the word had two “t”s, it would imply two bullseyes, which defeats the purpose of a singular, focused aim.
Mnemonic 2: The Syllable Stress Test When you are unsure how to spell a derivative of a two-syllable word, say the root word out loud and clap on the emphasized syllable.
- Clap on TAR: TAR-get. The stress is at the front. Front stress means the tail stays short (single consonant).
- Clap on MIT: ad-MIT. The stress is at the back. Back stress means the tail doubles (double consonant). If your clap lands on the first syllable, keep the final consonant single.
Editor’s Pro Tip: Root Word Isolation When I am proofreading a dense manuscript and my eyes start to glaze over, I use a technique called root word isolation. I mentally strip the suffix (“-ed” or “-ing”) away from the word and look at what remains. The root word is “target.” We do not spell it “targett.” We do not write “visitt” or “markett.” If the root word does not end in a double consonant, and the stress is on the first syllable, adding “-ed” simply tacks the letters “e” and “d” onto the end. It does not magically duplicate the preceding letter. Isolating the root removes the visual confusion of the longer word and makes the correct spelling obvious.
Common mistakes and exceptions
A frequent point of confusion for writers is whether regional dialects change the rules. Let us address the most common misconceptions and edge cases surrounding this word.
US vs. UK English A widespread myth is that “targetted” might be the accepted British English spelling, while “targeted” is strictly American. This is entirely false. Both American English (as documented by Merriam-Webster) and British English (as documented by the Cambridge Dictionary) exclusively recognize “targeted” with a single “t”. There is no regional exception. If you are writing for an audience in London, New York, Sydney, or Toronto, the spelling remains exactly the same.
Derivatives of the Root Word The single “t” rule applies universally to all grammatical derivatives of “target.” You will never encounter a legitimate scenario where the “t” doubles.
- Present participle: targeting (not targetting)
- Adjective form: targetable (not targettable)
- Third-person singular: targets (not targetts)
Helpful Comparisons with Similar Words To solidify your understanding, it is highly useful to compare “target” with other two-syllable words that share its exact stress pattern and spelling behavior.
- Budget -> Budgeted (Stress on BUD-get, single “t”)
- Profit -> Profited (Stress on PROF-it, single “t”)
- Visit -> Visited (Stress on VIS-it, single “t”)
- Focus -> Focused (Stress on FO-cus, single “s”)
Contrast these with words where the stress shifts to the second syllable, forcing a doubled consonant:
- Control -> Controlled (Stress on con-TROL, double “l”)
- Prefer -> Preferred (Stress on pre-FER, double “r”)
By grouping “targeted” with “budgeted” and “profited” in your mental lexicon, you create a reliable framework for spelling that will serve you well across thousands of other English words.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “targetted” ever correct in British English? No. Both American and British English dictionaries exclusively recognize “targeted” with a single “t”. There is no regional variation that permits the double “t” spelling.
Why do so many people spell it with two t’s? People incorrectly apply the consonant-doubling rule from words like “committed” or “submitted.” They ignore the syllable stress rule, which dictates that only words with second-syllable stress double their final consonant before a suffix.
Does the rule change if I am using “target” as a noun instead of a verb? No. The root word “target” always maintains a single “t” at the end, regardless of its grammatical function. Whether it is a noun (e.g., “We hit the target”) or a verb (e.g., “We targeted the audience”), the spelling of the root remains unchanged.
What about the word “targeting”? The exact same rule applies. Because the primary stress is on the first syllable of “target,” the present participle is spelled “targeting,” never “targetting.” This also applies to “targetable” and any other derivative. For broader context on English grammar, see Wikipedia’s overview of English grammar.
Tyler Miller is an enthusiastic language analyst with a focus on word comparisons who has spent the past five years contributing to WhichWordHub with insightful content. Graduating with a degree in English Language and Linguistics from the University of Michigan, Tyler quickly developed a keen interest in how subtle differences in word choice can alter meaning and tone. Prior to his current role, he worked as a freelance writer and language tutor, where he gained valuable insights into the varied challenges learners face with English vocabulary. His passion for helping others understand these subtleties inspired him to write extensively on word distinctions and their practical applications. Tyler’s articles often emphasize context-driven language use and the importance of selecting the right word to convey the intended message accurately. He is committed to guiding readers through the complex web of English vocabulary, offering clear explanations and real-world examples to enhance their linguistic proficiency.