Targetted or Targeted? Learn the Correct Spelling & Usage

Does English spelling ever leave you thinking? It can be hard, particularly when it comes to words that seem like they should adhere to a particular pattern but don’t. One troublesome pair is ‘targetted’ or ‘targeted.’ Many writers, students, and even professionals wonder what the correct version is.

If you’ve ever stopped in the middle of a sentence to ponder if you should write ‘targeted’ or ‘targetted,’ rest assured, you are not the only one. While the difference may appear negligible, it can make your writing seem rough around the edges. The good news is that it is not that complicated, and we intend to help you sort things out.

This article will detail the accurate spelling, outline why one version is correct, and the other is not, and provide copious examples to ensure you never doubt yourself again.

Table of Contents

What’s the Correct Spelling? Targeted or Targetted?

The correct spelling is “targeted.” The word “targetted” is incorrect and not recognized in standard English.

So, if you’ve been writing “targetted,” it’s time to correct that mistake! Using the wrong spelling might make your writing appear unprofessional or unclear.

✅ Correct: The company targeted a new audience with their marketing campaign.
❌ Incorrect: The company targetted a new audience with their marketing campaign.

Since “targetted” is never correct, it’s important to understand why. Let’s break down the grammatical rule that explains this mistake so you can avoid it in the future.

Why is “Targetted” Incorrect? (The Spelling Rule Explained)

To understand why “targetted” is incorrect, we need to look at the rule for doubling consonants when adding “-ed” or “-ing.”

The Rule of Doubling Consonants

English has a specific rule for when to double the final consonant of a word before adding “-ed” or “-ing.”

🔹 Rule: A consonant is doubled only when:

The word has one syllable (or the stress is on the last syllable).
The word ends in a vowel + consonant.

For example:

Permit → Permitted (Stress is on the second syllable: per-MIT)
Occur → Occurred (Stress is on the second syllable: oc-CUR)
Prefer → Preferred (Stress is on the second syllable: pre-FER)

However, if the stress is on the first syllable, the consonant is NOT doubled.

Now, let’s apply this to “target.”

Why is “Targeted” Correct?

The word “target” consists of two syllables: TAR-get, with stress placed on the first syllable.

Since the stress falls on the first syllable, English spelling rules dictate that we do not double the final “t” when adding suffixes like “-ed” or “-ing.”

✅ Correct: Target → Targeted, Targeting
❌ Incorrect: Target → Targetted, Targetting

This pattern applies to other words with a similar syllable structure and stress pattern:

Market → Marketed (NOT marketted)
Benefit → Benefited (NOT benefitted)
Focus → Focused (NOT focussed)
Limit → Limited (NOT limitted)
Budget → Budgeted (NOT budgetted)

By understanding this simple spelling rule, you can avoid common mistakes. Now, let’s see how “targeted” is correctly used in both American and British English.

Is There a Difference in American and British English?

Just like other words that have British and American distinctions like nuance in spelling (color vs. colour, traveled vs. travelled), “targeted” is a word that remains the same in both languages having no controversy.

The misspelling “targetted” has never been documented in any official English dictionaries. Therefore using this word makes one look sloppy and unprofessional when writing, leading to incorrect conclusions.

When Writing a casual letter, academic essay or even a business report, “targeted” should always be used if the objective is spelling accuracy and unambigous communication.

Common Mistakes with “Targeted” vs. “Targetted”

So many people think that “targeted” follows the same pattern as “admitted” and “occurred.” As noted previously, the stress in “target” is on the first syllable, therefore, we do not double the ‘t’ as well. This helps aid in preventing unnecessary blunders that can make someone’s writing, or a professional document look unprofessional.

Here are some common errors people make when using this word:

❌ Wrong: We targetted the issue last week.
✅ Right: We targeted the issue last week.

❌ Wrong: She is targetting a promotion at work.
✅ Right: She is targeting a promotion at work.

With this rule in mind, you will not experience this regular spelling issue and also keep your writing error free. Whether you are writing a business email, an academic paper, or a social media post, using “targeted” provides better clarity and professionalism.

Comparison Table: Targeted vs Targetted

Word	Correct/Incorrect	Reason
Targeted	✅ Correct	Follows English spelling rules; stress on first syllable; universally accepted spelling
Targetted	❌ Incorrect	Incorrectly doubles the consonant “t”; not recognized in standard English

Examples in Sentences

Sentence	Correct/Incorrect
She targeted a new audience with her campaign.	✅ Correct
She targetted a new audience with her campaign.	❌ Incorrect
They are targeting a new market.	✅ Correct
They are targetting a new market.	❌ Incorrect

Key Insight

What is the correct spelling, targeted or targetted?

The correct spelling is “targeted.” The word “targetted” is wrong and not used in proper English.

Why is “targetted” incorrect?

English spelling rules say we do not double the “t” in “target” because the stress is on the first part of the word.

Is “targeted” correct in both American and British English?

Yes! “Targeted” is the right spelling in both American and British English.

Do other words follow the same rule as “targeted”?

Yes! Some examples are:

Market → Marketed (not marketted)
Limit → Limited (not limitted)
Budget → Budgeted (not budgetted)

What does “targeted” mean?

It means to aim at something or to focus on something.
Example: The company targeted young customers for their new product.

Can “targeted” be used in past and future sentences?

Yes! Example sentences:

Past: We targeted the right audience last year.
Future: Next month, we will target new customers.

Is “targetting” correct?

No! The right spelling is “targeting.”
❌ Wrong: She is targetting a new job.
✅ Right: She is targeting a new job.

How can I remember the correct spelling?

Just think of similar words like “marketed” or “limited.” If those don’t have double letters, “targeted” shouldn’t either!

Final Thoughts

Even with the best of intentions, one may make unintentional blunders. Understanding the set rules makes their writing easier. Words like “targeted” may be spelled incorrectly as “targetted” Did you know the reason behind this? Simple, infact, the logic behind it is very basic. Just note that in “target,” the first syllable gets the stress, which means we do not double the “t.”

This applies to both British and American English. No matter where you are, ‘targeted’ is the only correct form. Correct spelling guarantees accuracy along with professionalism. Everything looks well and good having regard to writing standards.

So the next time you are drafting an article, report, or an email, pay close attention to the details, especially spelling. Small things like these add up positively and help the reader trust your abilities.