This spelling pair looks close, but only one version is standard. The correct form is embarrassed with a double r and a double s. The version embarrased is a misspelling, even though it pops up a lot in fast typing.
In standard English spelling, the adjective/past-participle form keeps both doubles: embarrassed has two r’s and two s’s.
Which Spelling Is Correct
Embarrassed is the standard spelling in English. The key detail is the internal pattern: rr and ss appear before the -ed ending. The form embarrased drops one r, so it’s treated as incorrect in edited writing.
✅ Correct embarrassed = embarrassed
❌ Incorrect embarrased = missing one r in the middle
- Letter count matters: two r’s and two s’s are part of the base spelling.
- Suffix stays normal: the -ed ending is standard for past participles and many adjectives.
- Search results can mislead: misspellings appear online, but they are not accepted spellings.
What Embarrassed Means
Embarrassed describes someone who feels self-conscious or emotionally uneasy in a situation. In dictionaries, it’s defined as feeling or showing a state of self-conscious confusion and distress. ✅Source
Grammatically, embarrassed can work as an adjective (“an embarrassed smile”) and as a past participle in verb phrases (“she was embarrassed”). Both uses keep the same rr and ss spelling.
- Part Of Speech
- Adjective (common) or past participle used with a helper verb.
- Core Idea
- Feeling awkward, self-aware, or socially uncomfortable.
- Spelling Core
- embarrassed keeps double r and double s.
Why The Misspelling Happens
The misspelling embarrased is usually a visual shortcut: the word looks long, and the double letters don’t “sound” extra loud. In normal speech, you don’t pronounce two separate r sounds or two separate s sounds, so the brain trims the spelling.
Another factor is the internal cluster -rrass-. Many writers remember one doubled consonant and forget the other, producing near-misses like embarassed or embarrased. The standard spelling keeps both doubles, not just one.
- Base pattern: rr comes before ss.
- Ending pattern: -ed attaches without changing the doubles.
- Result: embarrassed stays visually consistent with embarrass.
Word Family and Related Forms
The spelling is easier to trust when you look at the whole word family. Standard dictionaries list the base verb embarrass and show its common forms: embarrasses, embarrassed, and embarrassing. ✅Source
The same double r and double s carry across the family. That’s why the “one-r” variant embarrased doesn’t match the established base spelling embarrass, and it stands out in careful writing.
| Form | ✅ Standard Spelling | ❌ Common Misspellings | Role In A Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb (base) | embarrass | embarass | Action: to make someone feel awkward or uncomfortable. |
| Past/Adjective | embarrassed | embarrased, embarassed | State/feeling: “She looked embarrassed.” |
| Adjective | embarrassing | embarassing, embarasing | Describes a situation: “That was embarrassing.” |
| Noun | embarrassment | embarassment, embarresment | Names the feeling or the awkward event. |
Spelling Detail That Doesn’t Change
Double r plus double s is the stable core: embarrass, embarrassed, embarrassing, embarrassment. The internal chunk -rrass- is the part people shorten by mistake.
Word Origin and History
Historically, embarrass entered English through French (embarrasser), and major dictionaries trace it further back through Iberian forms. The verb is recorded in English from the late 1500s, and the recorded history keeps the same rr and ss core. ✅Source
This matters for spelling because it explains why embarrassed is not a “modern preference.” It’s the normal derived form of embarrass, and the doubles are part of the established written shape.
Examples In Real Sentences
In everyday English, embarrassed most often follows linking verbs like am, is, was, and felt. It also appears after the verb embarrass when describing what caused the feeling. Cambridge dictionary examples show this standard usage clearly. ✅Source
✅ Standard Examples
- I felt embarrassed when I noticed the typo.
- He looked embarrassed, then gave an awkward smile.
- She was embarrassed by the sudden attention.
❌ Misspelling Examples (For Recognition Only)
- ❌ I felt embarrased when I noticed the typo.
- ❌ He looked embarassed after the comment.
- ❌ That was embarassing to watch.
These are common errors because they drop a double letter. The standard spellings keep rr and ss.
Common Mistake Patterns
Most mistakes fall into a few predictable patterns. The spelling embarrased usually comes from dropping one r. Other misspellings drop one s or simplify both doubles. The meaning stays obvious, but the spelling looks off in formal text.
- One-r versions: embarrased, embarassed
- One-s versions: embarased (less common, still wrong)
- Related-form errors: embarassing, embarassment
A quick visual check that stays consistent across forms is the internal chunk -rrass-. If the word doesn’t contain rr and ss together, it isn’t the standard spelling for this family.
Embarrassment vs Embarrassed
Embarrassment is the noun for the feeling or the awkward moment. Embarrassed describes the person’s state. Dictionaries define embarrassment as the feeling of being embarrassed, or something that causes that feeling. ✅Source
- Embarrassed (adjective)
- A person feels embarrassed. Example: “She looked embarrassed.”
- Embarrassment (noun)
- The feeling is embarrassment. Example: “He blushed with embarrassment.”
FAQ
Is “embarrased” ever correct?
No. In standard English, embarrased is treated as a misspelling. The accepted form is embarrassed, with two r’s and two s’s.
Does British vs American English change the spelling?
No. Both major varieties use embarrassed with rr and ss. The variation shows up more in pronunciation than in spelling.
Is “embarrassed” a verb or an adjective?
It can be both in practice. Embarrassed often acts as an adjective (“an embarrassed look”), and it also appears as a past participle in verb phrases (“was embarrassed”). The spelling stays the same.
What are the other correct forms in the same family?
Common standard forms include embarrass, embarrasses, embarrassed, embarrassing, and embarrassment. They share the same rr + ss core.
Why do people drop a letter so often in this word?
The doubles are easy to forget because they don’t sound “double” when spoken. The internal sequence -rrass- is also visually dense, so writers shorten it to one r or one s without noticing.