The correct spelling is beginning. The version begining is a misspelling that drops a needed n. This mix-up is common because English keeps sound and spelling on different tracks, and double letters are where people stumble most.
Quick Answer
It keeps two n letters because the base verb begin follows a standard consonant-doubling pattern before -ing.
- Spelling beginning
- Suffix -ing
- Pattern double final consonant
- Common Error single n
Why Beginning Has Two Ns
Beginning comes from the verb begin plus the suffix -ing. In English spelling, a final consonant is often doubled before a vowel-starting suffix when the word ends in one vowel + one consonant and the stress falls on the last syllable. That’s why begin becomes beginning, not begining.✅Source
The same doubling pattern shows up in lots of familiar pairs: commit → committing, prefer → preferring, occur → occurring. The shared idea is stress plus a short vowel before the last consonant.
Small Detail That Matters: The doubled letter in beginning is n, not g. The base word ends with -n, so that’s the letter that duplicates before -ing.
Meaning and Grammar
Beginning is used for the first part of something, or the start of an event, process, or period. It can also refer to origins (often in the plural, beginnings).✅Source
It also appears as the present participle (or -ing form) of the verb begin. That’s the grammar behind sentences like “I am beginning now.” In that role, beginning behaves like a verb form, even though it looks identical to the noun.
Common Prepositions With Beginning
- at the beginning of the meeting
- from beginning to end
- in the beginning of the week
- near the beginning of the chapter
Meaning Shifts You’ll See
- Time: the first moment or stage
- Part: the first section of a thing
- Origin: where something started (often beginnings)
Beginning As a Noun
As a noun, beginning points to a start point or first stage. It can be countable (“a beginning”) or uncountable (“from beginning to end”), depending on what it’s describing.
Examples that show the noun sense clearly: “The beginning of the movie was quiet.” “We missed the beginning.” “Their beginnings were modest.” Notice how beginning behaves like a thing you can point to, not an action.
- Singular
- beginning = the first part of one specific thing
- Plural
- beginnings = origins or early stages across time
- Set Phrase
- from beginning to end = the whole span, start through finish
Beginning As an Adjective
Beginning can also act like an adjective when it describes something that is early-stage or introductory. In that role, it sits in front of a noun: beginning level, beginning student, beginning phase.
This adjective use stays neutral and simply labels a starting point in a sequence. It doesn’t change the spelling rule—whether it’s a noun, adjective, or verb form, the written form remains beginning, never begining.
Common Misspellings and Why They Happen
English spelling has real patterns, but it also has edge cases. Even major references note that many words follow basic spelling rules, yet exceptions exist and have to be learned alongside the patterns.✅Source
That’s why begining pops up: the ear hears one /n/ sound, and the brain forgets the doubling convention. Another factor is that consonant doubling is not perfectly consistent across English; researchers describe it as a pattern that learners often treat as inconsistent and context-dependent, especially in longer words.✅Source
- ✅ beginning: correct double-n spelling
- ❌ begining: missing one n
- ❌ beggining: extra g added
- ❌ begginning: extra g plus extra n confusion
Spelling Pattern Snapshot: begin has the stress on the second syllable (be-GIN), and it ends with vowel + consonant. That combination is why beginning keeps nn before -ing.
Related Forms of Begin
Seeing the full family makes the spelling feel less random. The base verb begin has several standard forms, and only the -ing form triggers the double-n spelling: beginning.
| Form | Word | Role | Example (Everyday Use) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | begin | verb | They begin at 9 a.m. |
| 3rd Person | begins | verb | The show begins soon. |
| Past | began | verb | It began last winter. |
| Past Participle | begun | verb | The work has begun. |
| -ing Form | beginning ✅ | verb form / noun | Beginning early felt easier. |
| Common Error | begining ❌ | misspelling | Not used in standard English writing. |
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Beginning or Begining?
Beginning is the standard spelling. Begining is a misspelling that drops one n.
Why Does Beginning Have Double N?
The verb begin ends with vowel + consonant and has stress on the last syllable (be-GIN), so the final consonant n doubles before -ing.
Is Beginning a Noun or a Verb?
It can be both. As a noun, it means a start (“the beginning of the film”). As a verb form, it’s the -ing form of begin (“I am beginning now”).
What Is the Plural of Beginning?
The plural is beginnings. It often refers to origins or early stages (“their beginnings”).
Can Beginning Be Used as an Adjective?
Yes. Beginning can describe something early-stage, like beginning level or beginning course.
Is Beggining a Real Word?
No. Beggining is another common misspelling. The correct form keeps the double n and does not add an extra g: beginning.