If you’re stuck between referred and refered, this one is clean-cut: referred is the correct spelling, and refered is a misspelling. The extra r isn’t optional—it’s tied to how refer behaves when you add endings.
- Base Verb: refer
- Form: past tense / past participle
- Common In: academic, medical, business writing
- Related: referring, referral, reference
What “Referred” Means
Referred is used when someone directed a person or thing somewhere, or pointed to something by mention. It’s the past form of refer, so it naturally shows up in writing that sounds formal but still needs to be clear.✅Source
- Sent someone to another person or place for help or a decision (common in health and services).
- Mentioned something as a point of reference (“she referred to the earlier note”).
- Directed a matter for review (“the issue was referred to a committee”).
Meaning check: referred usually implies a connection or a handoff—either you send someone somewhere, or you point to something already known.
Why “Refered” Is Wrong
Refered looks tempting because the base verb is refer, but standard spelling doesn’t keep the single final r when you add -ed. In edited English (books, schools, workplaces), refered is treated as a plain spelling error, not an alternative form.
Where You’ll See The Mistake
- Fast typing where the brain keeps one final letter instead of doubling it.
- Autocorrect off, then muscle memory wins.
- People who know refer but haven’t met the doubling pattern.
What Standard References Show
Major dictionaries list referred as the correct past form of refer, with the double r built in. That’s why referred looks “normal” to spellcheckers and editors.✅Source
The Double R Rule
The spelling pattern behind referred is about stress and a final consonant. In re-FER, the stress lands on the last syllable, and the ending sound is a single r. When English adds a vowel-starting ending like -ed or -ing, that final consonant typically doubles in this setup.
- Base: refer ends with a single written r.
- Stress: it’s pronounced re-FER, with the last syllable carrying stress.
- Ending: add -ed and the final r doubles, giving referred.
Same family vibe: You’ll notice the same spelling behavior in verbs like prefer → preferred and transfer → transferred. The shared piece is that stressed -fer ending.
Real Examples in Context
Referred often appears in sentences that sound official or procedural, but it also shows up in everyday writing when you’re simply mentioning something. Below, the correct and incorrect forms are side by side.
✅ Correct Examples
- The doctor referred the patient to a specialist.
- In the meeting, she referred to last quarter’s report.
- The case was referred to a review team for a final decision.
- He referred me to the correct page in the manual.
❌ Incorrect Examples
- The doctor refered the patient to a specialist.
- She refered to last quarter’s report.
- The case was refered to a review team.
These read fine in meaning, but the spelling refered is the part that’s off. Standard usage expects referred with the doubled r.
Related Forms and Nearby Words
People often bump into referred alongside other forms built from refer. Seeing the family together makes the spelling feel less random: referring keeps the double r, and referral keeps it too. This is normal morphology, not a special case.✅Source
| Form | Correct Spelling | What It Is | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | refer | verb | “I refer to the notes.” |
| Past | referred | past tense / past participle | “She referred to the chart.” |
| -ing | referring | present participle / gerund | “He is referring to a policy.” |
| Noun | referral | noun | “A referral was issued.” |
| Noun | reference | noun | “Use it as a reference.” |
- Referred vs Referee
- Referred comes from refer. Referee is a different word with its own meaning (an official who oversees a game). The similar letters can trick the eye, but they’re not the same family.
- Referred vs Referenced
- Referred often means “pointed to” or “sent to.” Referenced focuses more on “cited” or “used as a source of information.” Both are valid, but they aren’t interchangeable in every sentence.
Why The Misspelling Happens
The spelling slip refered usually comes from treating refer like a “regular” verb that simply takes -ed with no letter changes. But referred follows a wider English pattern where a final consonant doubles in certain stress setups. That’s why double r keeps showing up in the whole set: referred, referring, referral.
- Sound-first thinking: the ear hears “refer + ed,” the hand types refered.
- Visual shortcuts: the brain keeps the base form refer unchanged.
- Stress is hidden: the role of re-FER stress isn’t obvious unless you already know the pattern.
FAQ
Questions People Ask About “Referred” vs “Refered”
Is “refered” ever correct?
No. In standard English spelling, refered is treated as a misspelling. The accepted form is referred with a double r.
Why does “referred” have two r’s?
Because refer is stressed on the last syllable (re-FER). With that stress pattern, adding -ed usually triggers a doubled final consonant, giving referred.
Does American English spell it differently from British English?
No. Both use referred as the standard past form of refer. The double r is consistent across major varieties of English.
What’s the difference between “referred” and “referring”?
Referred is past tense / past participle. Referring is the -ing form (present participle or gerund). Both keep the double r.
Is “referral” related to “referred”?
Yes. Referral is a noun built from the same base (refer), and it keeps the double r as part of that word family.