Embarrass vs Embarass: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Have you ever paused while typing embarrass because you couldn’t remember whether it has one r or two? You’re not alone. Thousands of people search for “Embarrass vs Embarass” every month because this is one of the most commonly misspelled words in English.

The confusion usually comes from the word’s unusual spelling. It contains double “r” and double “s”, which makes many writers accidentally remove one of the letters. As a result, “embarass” appears frequently in emails, social media posts, school assignments, and even professional documents.

The good news is that the rule is simple once you understand it.

In this guide, you’ll learn the correct spelling, why people often make this mistake, how to remember the word forever, its origin, pronunciation, real-life examples, common mistakes, and much more.

Quick Answer

The correct spelling is embarrass.

The spelling embarass is incorrect and isn’t recognized as a standard English word.

Word	Correct?	Meaning
Embarrass	Yes	To make someone feel awkward, self-conscious, ashamed, or uncomfortable.
Embarass	No	A common misspelling of embarrass.

Example:

Correct: I didn’t mean to embarrass you during the meeting.

Incorrect: I didn’t mean to embarass you during the meeting.

If you’re writing in American English or British English, the spelling remains exactly the same: embarrass.

Why People Confuse “Embarrass” and “Embarass”

The word embarrass has a reputation for being difficult to spell. Even experienced writers occasionally stop to double-check it.

Unlike many English words that follow simple spelling patterns, embarrass contains two consecutive doubled letters. That unusual structure makes it easy to accidentally leave one out.

Several factors contribute to this confusion:

• The pronunciation doesn’t strongly emphasize both double letters.
• English contains many words with only one r or one s.
• Fast typing increases the chance of dropping a letter.
• Spellcheck often fixes the mistake automatically, so many people never learn the correct spelling.

For example, someone might type:

• embarass
• embaras
• embarras
• embarrass

Only embarrass is correct.

The Double Letter Rule Explained

The correct spelling follows this pattern:

E + M + B + A + R + R + A + S + S

Notice two important details:

• RR
• SS

Both pairs are required.

If either pair loses a letter, the spelling becomes incorrect.

Think of it like this:

Embarrass has two R’s because one isn’t enough, and two S’s because one won’t do.

Although this isn’t an official grammar rule, it serves as a helpful memory trick.

Why This Misspelling Is So Common

Some words naturally cause spelling problems because they don’t look exactly like they sound.

When people pronounce embarrass, they often hear something close to:

“em-ba-rass.”

That pronunciation doesn’t clearly signal that both r and s should appear twice.

Other commonly misspelled words have similar issues:

Correct	Common Misspelling
Accommodation	Accomodation
Occurred	Occured
Separate	Seperate
Receive	Recieve
Embarrass	Embarass

These words frequently appear on lists of the most misspelled English words because they contain doubled letters or uncommon spelling patterns.

Is “Embarass” Ever Correct?

No.

Embarass is never considered the correct spelling in standard English.

Major dictionaries recognize only embarrass.

Whether you’re writing:

• an academic paper,
• a business email,
• a social media post,
• a novel,
• or a legal document,

you should always use embarrass.

Spellcheck programs usually underline embarass because it isn’t part of standard English vocabulary.

There are no regional exceptions either.

English Variety	Correct Spelling
American English	Embarrass
British English	Embarrass
Canadian English	Embarrass
Australian English	Embarrass

Every major English-speaking country uses the same spelling.

What Does “Embarrass” Mean?

The verb embarrass means to make someone feel awkward, uncomfortable, ashamed, or self-conscious.

Embarrassment is usually emotional rather than physical. It happens when someone feels exposed, judged, or socially uncomfortable.

For example:

• Forgetting a speech may embarrass a student.
• Calling someone by the wrong name can embarrass both people.
• Tripping in front of a crowd might embarrass anyone.

Sometimes embarrassment is minor and lasts only a few seconds. Other times, it can stay in someone’s memory for years.

Definition

According to leading English dictionaries, embarrass means:

To cause someone to feel awkward, ashamed, or uncomfortable, especially in front of other people.

The word can also mean making a situation difficult or creating complications, although this meaning appears less often today.

Pronunciation

The standard pronunciation is:

/ɪmˈbær.əs/

You can break it into syllables like this:

im • BAR • us

Notice that the pronunciation doesn’t clearly reveal the doubled letters, which explains why spelling mistakes are so common.

Part of Speech

Embarrass functions as a verb.

Examples include:

• Please don’t embarrass your sister.
• His joke embarrassed everyone.
• She never tries to embarrass anyone.
• They were embarrassed by the mistake.

The word changes form depending on tense and grammar, yet every form keeps the same RR and SS pattern.

How to Spell “Embarrass” Correctly

Many people memorize this word through repetition, but understanding its structure makes it much easier to remember.

Here’s the correct spelling again:

Embarrass

Break it into smaller parts:

Em + barr + ass

Although the final part isn’t related to the animal or slang usage, dividing the word into chunks makes it easier to remember.

You can also write it several times:

• embarrass
• embarrass
• embarrass

Repeating the correct version helps build muscle memory for typing and handwriting.

Easy Memory Tricks

Simple memory tricks often work better than memorizing dictionary entries.

Here are a few reliable methods:

Remember “Double R, Double S.”

Whenever you think of embarrass, remind yourself:

Two R’s. Two S’s.

Picture the word visually.

Many people remember spelling by seeing the word rather than sounding it out.

Practice with related words.

Since all related forms share the same spelling pattern, learning one helps reinforce the others.

For example:

• embarrassed
• embarrassing
• embarrassment
• embarrasses

Common Spelling Pattern

Notice how every related word begins with:

Embarr-

That beginning never changes.

Then different endings are added:

Base Word	Related Word
Embarrass	Embarrassed
Embarrass	Embarrassing
Embarrass	Embarrasses
Embarrass	Embarrassment

Learning the family of words makes future spelling mistakes much less likely.

Mnemonics That Actually Work

Here are several memorable tricks:

• Two R’s because you’re really embarrassed.
• Two S’s because the situation is super awkward.
• Embarrass never travels alone—it always keeps RR and SS together.

These aren’t official grammar rules, yet they’re surprisingly effective because they connect spelling with meaning.

Embarrass in Everyday English

The verb embarrass appears in everyday conversations, workplaces, schools, social media posts, and formal writing. People use it whenever they want to describe a situation that makes someone feel awkward, self-conscious, or uncomfortable.

Although the word often refers to small social mistakes, it can also describe more serious situations that affect a person’s confidence.

Here are a few common situations where people use embarrass:

• Forgetting someone’s name at a party.
• Tripping while walking into a meeting.
• Answering a phone that wasn’t yours.
• Sharing incorrect information in front of coworkers.
• Telling an inappropriate joke during a presentation.

Each example describes an event that could make someone feel uncomfortable without causing physical harm.

Formal Writing

In professional writing, embarrass usually appears when discussing reputation, public image, diplomacy, or communication.

Examples:

• The company apologized to avoid embarrassing its customers.
• The spokesperson tried not to embarrass the organization during the interview.
• The manager handled the issue privately instead of embarrassing the employee.

Using the word carefully in formal settings helps maintain a respectful tone.

Casual Conversations

Friends and family often use embarrass in lighthearted conversations.

Examples:

• Don’t embarrass me in front of my friends.
• Dad always embarrasses us with his jokes.
• I can’t believe I embarrassed myself again.

In these situations, the word usually describes harmless or funny moments rather than serious problems.

Academic Writing

Students frequently encounter embarrass in essays, psychology papers, and literature.

For example:

• Public speaking can embarrass students who experience social anxiety.
• Researchers studied situations that embarrass teenagers more than adults.
• The novel explores how shame and embarrassment influence decision-making.

Academic writing often uses the noun embarrassment alongside the verb embarrass.

Business Communication

Professional communication requires tact. Instead of embarrassing someone publicly, effective leaders address mistakes privately.

Consider these examples:

Appropriate:

• The supervisor corrected the report without embarrassing the employee.

Less Appropriate:

• The supervisor embarrassed the employee during the meeting.

This small difference can affect workplace morale and trust.

Read More: Discipline vs Disipline: Which Spelling Is Correct? 

Correct Usage Examples

Seeing words in context is one of the fastest ways to remember them correctly.

Here are examples using embarrass in different situations.

Sentences Using “Embarrass”

• I didn’t want to embarrass anyone.
• Please don’t embarrass your younger brother.
• His comment didn’t embarrass her at all.
• That mistake could embarrass the entire team.
• Teachers should never embarrass students in front of the class.
• She smiled instead of letting the situation embarrass her.
• Winning the award didn’t embarrass him. It surprised him.

Examples in Questions

• Did I embarrass you yesterday?
• Why would anyone embarrass a friend on purpose?
• Does public speaking embarrass you?
• Can one mistake really embarrass a company?

Examples in Negative Sentences

• I won’t embarrass you.
• They didn’t embarrass themselves.
• The teacher never embarrasses students.
• Our goal isn’t to embarrass anyone.

Examples Across Different Tenses

Tense	Example
Present	I never embarrass my friends.
Present Continuous	She is embarrassing herself by arguing loudly.
Past	He embarrassed himself during the interview.
Past Continuous	They were embarrassing the guest without realizing it.
Present Perfect	She has embarrassed herself before.
Future	Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you.

Using the word in different tenses helps reinforce both spelling and grammar.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even skilled writers occasionally misspell embarrass. Fortunately, most mistakes follow predictable patterns.

Dropping One “R”

This is the most common mistake.

Incorrect

• Embarass

Correct

• Embarrass

Always remember that the word contains RR.

Dropping One “S”

Some writers remember the double R but forget the second S.

Incorrect

• Embarras

Correct

• Embarrass

The ending must always be SS.

Mixing It With Similar Words

People sometimes confuse embarrass with words that express similar emotions.

Word	Meaning
Embarrass	Make someone feel awkward or self-conscious.
Humiliate	Cause deep shame or loss of dignity.
Shame	Cause guilt or disgrace.
Ashamed	Feeling guilty or embarrassed.
Awkward	Feeling uncomfortable or uneasy.

Although these words overlap, they aren’t interchangeable in every situation.

For example:

• Forgetting your wallet may embarrass you.
• Public ridicule may humiliate someone.

Humiliation is usually much stronger than embarrassment.

Embarrass vs Embarass: Side-by-Side Comparison

The easiest way to remember the correct spelling is to compare both versions directly.

Feature	Embarrass	Embarass
Correct English spelling	Yes	No
Found in dictionaries	Yes	No
Accepted in school writing	Yes	No
Accepted in business writing	Yes	No
Used in books and newspapers	Yes	No
Recognized by spellcheck	Yes	Usually flagged as incorrect
Contains double R	Yes	No
Contains double S	Yes	Yes

Whenever you’re unsure, choose embarrass.

FAQs:

Is “embarass” a correct spelling?

No. Embarass is always incorrect. The only accepted spelling in standard English is embarrass, with two “r”s and two “s”s.

How can I remember the correct spelling of “embarrass”?

A simple trick is to remember: Double R, Double S. You can also think of the phrase, “Being really embarrassed deserves two R’s and two S’s.” Repeating the correct spelling several times will help you remember it.

Is “embarrass” spelled differently in British and American English?

No. Both American English and British English use the same spelling: embarrass. There are no regional spelling variations for this word.

What is the difference between “embarrass” and “humiliate”?

Although both words involve making someone feel uncomfortable, embarrass usually refers to a temporary feeling of awkwardness. Humiliate is much stronger and means causing someone to lose dignity or self-respect, often in front of others.

What are the most common forms of the word “embarrass”?

The most common forms include:

• Embarrass (verb)
• Embarrassed (adjective/past tense)
• Embarrassing (adjective)
• Embarrassment (noun)
• Embarrasses (third-person singular verb)
• Embarrassingly (adverb)

All of these words keep the same spelling pattern with double “r” and double “s.”

Conclusion:

Understanding the difference between Embarrass vs Embarass is straightforward once you know the rule. Embarrass is the only correct spelling in English, while embarass is simply a common misspelling caused by dropping one of the two “r” letters. Whether you’re writing an academic paper, a business email, or a social media post, always use embarrass with double “r” and double “s.”

A good way to avoid future mistakes is to practice the word along with its related forms, such as embarrassed, embarrassing, and embarrassment. The more often you see and use the correct spelling, the more natural it becomes. Remember the simple phrase “Double R, Double S”, and you’ll rarely second-guess yourself again. By mastering this commonly confused word, you’ll improve both your spelling accuracy and your confidence in written English.