“Targeted” is the correct spelling. “Targetted,” with a double T, is a common misspelling that isn’t recognized in standard American or British English. The mix-up happens because English usually doubles a final consonant before adding “-ed” โ but only when the last syllable is stressed. In “target,” the stress falls on the first syllable, so that rule doesn’t apply.
Quick Answer
| Status | |
|---|---|
| Targeted | โ Correct in all forms of English |
| Targetted | โ Misspelling โ not recognized in any standard dictionary |
Correct: The company targeted small business owners with the new ad. Incorrect: The company targetted small business owners with the new ad.
The difference comes down to one letter, but it changes how polished and accurate your writing looks.
What Does “Targeted” Mean?
“Targeted” is the past tense and past participle of the verb target. It means aimed at, focused on, or directed toward a specific person, group, or goal. As an adjective, it describes something built around a specific purpose rather than a general one โ a targeted email, a targeted policy, a targeted approach.
Target as a Verb
As a verb, to target means to select something or someone as the object of an action or plan.
Example: Hackers targeted the company’s outdated login system.
Target as a Noun and Adjective
As a noun, a target is the object, goal, or figure something is aimed at โ a sales target, an archery target, a target date. As an adjective, targeted describes something narrowed to a specific audience or purpose rather than aimed broadly.
Example: The clinic offers targeted treatment plans instead of one-size-fits-all care.
Pronunciation and Syllables
Based on Cambridge Dictionary’s transcription of the base word target โ UK <cite index=”57-1″>/หtษห.ษกษชt/</cite> and US <cite index=”57-1″>/หtษหr.ษกษชt/</cite> โ adding the regular “-ed” ending produces an extra syllable, since English pronounces “-ed” as /ษชd/ after a word ending in “t” or “d.”
- US: /หtษหr-gษช-tษชd/
- UK: /หtษห-gษช-tษชd/
- Syllables: 3 (tar-get-ed)
- Stress: First syllable (TAR-get-ed)
That first-syllable stress is the whole reason the spelling rule works the way it does โ more on that below.
Why “Targetted” Is Incorrect: The Consonant-Doubling Rule Explained
English doubles a final consonant before “-ed” or “-ing” only when two things are both true: the word ends in a single vowel plus a single consonant, and the stress lands on that final syllable. Words like stop (stopped) and prefer (preferred) meet both conditions.
Target meets only the first condition. It ends in vowel + consonant, but the stress sits on the first syllable, TAR-get, not the second. Because the final syllable is unstressed, the consonant doesn’t double.
The Stress Rule in Plain English
Say the word out loud: TAR-get. The emphasis lands at the front. Compare that to begin (be-GIN) or prefer (pre-FER), where the stress falls on the last syllable โ those words double their final consonant when a suffix is added (beginning, preferred). Since “target” doesn’t stress its last syllable, it just adds “-ed” as-is.
Other Words That Follow the Same Rule
Target isn’t unusual โ it belongs to a large group of two-syllable words stressed on the first syllable, all of which skip the doubling:
- market โ marketed
- budget โ budgeted
- visit โ visited
- edit โ edited
- limit โ limited
- profit โ profited
If none of those double their final letter, “target” shouldn’t either.
Word Origin: Where “Target” Comes From
Target traces back through <cite index=”9-1″>Middle English and Middle French “targette,” a diminutive of “targe,” meaning a light shield, ultimately from a Germanic root related to the Old Norse word for shield.</cite> The word’s shift from “shield” to “something aimed at” reflects a natural flip in meaning โ from what you defend with to what you aim toward. The adjective form has its own long history: <cite index=”12-1″>the Oxford English Dictionary’s earliest recorded use of “targeted” as an adjective dates to the 1650s,</cite> while <cite index=”14-1″>the more familiar modern sense โ describing marketing or messaging aimed at a specific group โ is first recorded in the 1940s.</cite>
Targeted vs Targetted at a Glance
| Feature | Targeted | Targetted |
|---|---|---|
| Correct spelling | Yes | No |
| Recognized by dictionaries | Yes | No |
| Used in US English | Yes | Never |
| Used in UK English | Yes | Never |
| Example | She targeted new investors. | She targetted new investors. โ |
Is There a Difference Between American and British English?
No โ “targeted” is the standard spelling in both American and British English. Unlike pairs such as color/colour or traveled/travelled, where the two varieties genuinely diverge, “targeted” doesn’t change across regions. British English does double certain final consonants more often than American English (as with travelled), but that pattern depends on stress and specific word endings โ and “target” simply doesn’t qualify, in either variety.
Common Mistakes When Spelling “Targeted”
Mistake 1: Doubling the T automatically Incorrect: The ad targetted college students. Correct: The ad targeted college students. Why: Writers apply the “stop โ stopped” pattern without checking where the word’s stress actually falls.
Mistake 2: Doubling in the “-ing” form too Incorrect: The brand is targetting a younger crowd. Correct: The brand is targeting a younger crowd. Why: The same stress-based rule governs “-ing,” not just “-ed.”
Mistake 3: Trusting autocorrect blindly Some spell-checkers and browser tools don’t flag “targetted” as an error, especially in older or poorly maintained software. Relying on a dictionary โ not just a red squiggly line โ is the safer habit.
“Targeted” in a Sentence: Examples
- Everyday: My sister targeted the clearance rack the second the store opened.
- Workplace: The team targeted next Friday as the launch date.
- Academic: The study targeted teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17.
- Marketing: The agency built a targeted campaign for first-time homebuyers.
- Legal/investigative: Prosecutors said the scheme specifically targeted elderly retirees.
- Medical: Her doctor recommended a targeted therapy instead of standard chemotherapy.
Targeting vs Targetting: The Same Mistake in Another Form
The identical rule applies to the “-ing” form: targeting is correct, and targetting is a misspelling for exactly the same reason โ unstressed final syllable, no doubling.
Correct: We are targeting a 15% increase in sign-ups this quarter. Incorrect: We are targetting a 15% increase in sign-ups this quarter.
If you remember the rule for “targeted,” you already know the rule for “targeting” โ it’s the same word family, the same stress pattern, and the same answer.
Synonyms and Antonyms of “Targeted”
Synonyms: focused, directed, aimed, tailored, specific, selective
Antonyms: general, broad, random, unfocused
Example: A targeted approach reaches the right audience; a general approach reaches everyone and no one in particular.
Memory Tricks to Never Misspell It Again
These are informal learning aids, not official grammar rules:
- Say it out loud โ TAR-get. If the stress isn’t on the ending, the ending doesn’t double.
- Pair it with “market”: both are marketED and targetED, one T each, no exceptions.
- If you wouldn’t write “visitted,” “profitted,” or “budgetted,” don’t write “targetted” either โ they’re all the same pattern.
Quick Practice Quiz
- Choose the correct spelling: The email campaign ______ small business owners. (a) targetted (b) targeted
- Fill in the blank: The company is ______ a 20% growth rate this year. (a) targetting (b) targeting
- Correct this sentence: “The missile system targetted enemy aircraft.”
- Choose the correct word form: Investigators believe the scam specifically ______ senior citizens. (past tense of target)
- True or false: “Targetted” is an accepted British English spelling.
- Choose the correct spelling: Their marketing plan includes a highly ______ social media strategy. (a) targetted (b) targeted
- Identify the error: “We’re targetting first-time home buyers with this offer.”
- Fill in the blank: The word “target” is stressed on its ______ syllable (first/second).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “targetted” ever correct in any form of English?
No. “Targetted” is not recognized as correct in American, British, Canadian, or Australian English. Every major dictionary lists only “targeted.”
Why do people think “targetted” has two T’s?
Because many common English verbs โ like stop and plan โ double their final consonant before “-ed.” Writers apply that pattern to “target” without checking that it only applies to words stressed on the final syllable.
Is “targeting” or “targetting” correct?
“Targeting” is correct. It follows the identical rule as “targeted”: since “target” is stressed on its first syllable, the final consonant isn’t doubled before “-ing” either.
What part of speech is “targeted”?
“Targeted” functions as both a verb (the past tense and past participle of target) and an adjective (describing something aimed at a specific person or purpose, as in “targeted advertising”).
Does British English ever use “targetted”?
No. Although British English doubles some final consonants more often than American English does, “targeted” is standard in both varieties because the underlying stress rule is the same.
How many syllables does “targeted” have?
Three: tar-get-ed, with stress on the first syllable.
What is a synonym for “targeted”?
Common synonyms include focused, directed, aimed, and tailored, depending on context.
Why doesn’t “target” double its final consonant like “stop” does?
Consonant doubling depends on stress. “Stop” is a one-syllable word, so its single vowel-consonant ending always doubles. “Target” has two syllables with stress on the first one, so the doubling rule for multi-syllable words doesn’t apply.
Do spell-checkers always catch “targetted” as an error?
Not always. Some tools and older software fail to flag it, so it’s worth proofreading manually or checking a dictionary rather than relying on autocorrect alone.
What’s the past tense of “target”?
The past tense is “targeted.” The same form also serves as the past participle, as in “the ad has been targeted at teenagers.”
Final Takeaway
“Targeted” is the only correct spelling, in every context and every English-speaking region. “Targetted” is a common but avoidable mistake, caused by applying a doubling rule that only applies when a word’s final syllable is stressed โ which “target” is not. The same logic covers “targeting” too. A quick check: if you wouldn’t double the T in “marketed” or “visited,” don’t double it in “targeted.”
Practice Answer Key
- (b) targeted โ Past tense of target, no doubled consonant.
- (b) targeting โ Same rule applies to the “-ing” form.
- Corrected: “The missile system targeted enemy aircraft.” โ “Targetted” doubles the T incorrectly.
- targeted โ Correct past-tense form for a completed action.
- False โ “Targetted” is not accepted in any standard English variety, including British English.
- (b) targeted โ Consistent with the no-doubling rule for first-syllable-stressed words.
- Error identified: “targetting” should be “targeting.”
- First syllable โ TAR-get, which is why the consonant isn’t doubled.
