English is a complex language filled with rules, exceptions, and peculiarities. As a result, even native speakers often struggle with spelling mistakes. One of the most common errors in English writing is the confusion between the words “comming” and “coming.” While this mistake may seem small, it can affect your English writing skills and the professionalism of your writing. In this blog post, we will explore how to spell “coming” correctly, why “comming” is a common English spelling error, and how to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
Whether you are writing an email, an academic paper, or a business report, understanding spelling rules in English is essential for clear communication. By mastering spelling and grammar, you ensure that your work looks polished and professional. Let’s dive deeper into this topic and uncover the spelling rules behind these words.
Understanding the Difference: “Comming” vs. “Coming”
At first glance, “comming” and “coming” may appear to be similar, but there is a clear difference between the two. The correct spelling is “coming,” while “comming” is incorrect. Understanding the distinction between the two words is crucial for improving your English grammar rules and avoiding common English spelling errors.
“Coming” is the present participle form of the verb “come.” It is used to indicate an action that is happening or will happen. For example, you might say, “She is coming to the party later.” The spelling “comming” does not follow any standard English spelling rules, which is why it is considered a spelling error.
The main problem with “comming” is that it involves an unnecessary doubling of the letter “m.” This mistake is often caused by phonetic confusion in spelling or typing errors. It is important to follow the correct verb forms in English when adding suffixes like “-ing” to verbs.
Why “Comming” Is Incorrect
So why is “comming” incorrect? To understand this, we need to explore a couple of important spelling rules in English.
Consonant Doubling in English
In English, when a verb ends in a single consonant and is followed by a short vowel, the consonant is doubled before adding “-ing.” For example, the word “run” becomes “running,” and “sit” becomes “sitting.” However, this rule does not apply to words like “come”, because it does not fit the pattern.
The verb “come” ends with an “e,” not a consonant. So, instead of doubling the letter “m,” the silent “e” rule applies. In English, when a verb ends in a silent “e,” the “e” is dropped before adding “-ing.” Therefore, “come” becomes “coming,” not “comming.”
This is why “comming” is a spelling error. The word “come” does not follow the consonant doubling rule because it ends in an “e.”
Phonetic Confusion in Spelling
Sometimes, people mistakenly add an extra “m” in “comming” because of the way the word “come” sounds. The pronunciation of “come” might lead some individuals to believe they need to double the “m.” However, English spelling is not always based on phonetic patterns. Spelling errors and solutions often arise because pronunciation does not always align with the rules.
The key takeaway is that English spelling must be learned and practiced, rather than relying solely on how words sound.
Consonant Doubling Rule
As mentioned earlier, the consonant doubling rule applies when a verb ends in a single consonant, preceded by a short vowel. Let’s take a closer look at this rule and how it works with other examples.
The consonant doubling rule is simple:
- When a verb ends in a single consonant (like “run” or “sit”) and the preceding vowel is short, you double the consonant before adding “-ing.”
For example: - Run becomes running
- Sit becomes sitting
In contrast, verbs like “come” do not meet this rule because “come” ends with an “e,” not a consonant. Therefore, no doubling of the letter “m” is necessary.
Examples of Correct Doubling
When applying the consonant doubling rule, here are some examples of verbs that follow the correct spelling pattern when adding “-ing.”
| Base Word | With “-ing” | Reason for Doubling |
| Run | Running | Short vowel sound, single consonant |
| Begin | Beginning | Last syllable stressed |
| Stop | Stopping | Ends in a single consonant after a short vowel |
These are the correct forms based on the consonant doubling rule. It’s essential to remember that this rule does not apply to all verbs.
Examples Without Doubling
Some verbs don’t require doubling their final consonant before adding “-ing.” This typically happens when:
- The stress is on the first syllable.
- The vowel before the consonant is long.
- The word ends in two consonants.
Here are some examples:
| Base Word | With “-ing” | Why No Doubling? |
| Happen | Happening | Stress is on the first syllable |
| Meet | Meeting | Contains a long vowel sound |
| Listen | Listening | Ends in two consonants |
As you can see, these words don’t need to follow the consonant doubling rule because they don’t meet the conditions for doubling.
The Silent “E” Rule
The silent “e” rule is another important factor in understanding why “comming” is incorrect. When a word ends with a silent “e,” the “e” is dropped before adding an “-ing” suffix.
This rule helps maintain the smooth flow of words in English and prevents unnecessary letters from cluttering up your writing. For example:
- Love becomes loving.
- Make becomes making.
- Come becomes coming.
In the case of “come,” the silent “e” is dropped, and the correct form is “coming,” not “comming.”
Scenario Example: The Incorrect Use of “Comming”
Let’s imagine a situation where “comming” is used incorrectly. You’re sending an email to a colleague in a professional setting, and you write:
“Thank you for comming to the meeting today.”
While the message is understandable, the misspelling of “comming” makes the email appear careless. This may harm your professional image, especially if you’re communicating with clients or colleagues in a business setting. Small spelling errors like this can make your work look rushed or unpolished.
Now, let’s correct the sentence and use the right spelling:
“Thank you for coming to the meeting today.”
This correction ensures that your email appears professional and well-crafted, which is important in maintaining a strong professional reputation.
The Correct Use: “Coming”
Now that we’ve discussed why “comming” is incorrect, let’s look at how to use coming in the right way.
“Coming” is the present participle of “come,” used to indicate an action that is ongoing or will happen in the future. It is essential to use the correct verb form to ensure your writing is clear and grammatically accurate.
Examples of using coming in different contexts:
- In a business email: “The new team is coming together nicely.”
- In a motivational speech: “You are coming closer to your goals every day.”
- In casual conversation: “Are you coming to the party this weekend?”
- In literature: “The storm clouds were coming, and the villagers hurried to their homes.”
Why Do We Make This Mistake?
There are a few common reasons why people make the mistake of using “comming” instead of “coming.” The most common causes are:
- Overgeneralizing spelling rules: People may mistakenly apply the consonant doubling rule to “come” because it ends with a consonant.
- Phonetic confusion: The pronunciation of “come” may sound like it should be spelled with two “m’s.”
- Typographical errors: Sometimes, when typing quickly, an extra “m” is added by mistake.
Understanding the silent “e” rule and verb forms in English can help prevent these kinds of errors.
Common Spelling Errors and How to Avoid Them
Spelling mistakes are common in English, but by practicing regularly and understanding English spelling rules, you can avoid many errors. Some other common spelling errors include:
- Definately vs. Definitely: Remember, “finite” is part of the word, so it’s spelled definitely.
- Seperate vs. Separate: Mnemonic: “A rat” is in “separate.”
- Recieve vs. Receive: Follow the “I before E, except after C” rule.
Familiarizing yourself with these rules and using grammar tools for writers like Grammarly can help you spot errors before they become a problem.
How Writing Tools Can Help
Writing tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid are invaluable resources for spotting and correcting spelling mistakes. These tools can help catch errors like “comming” and offer suggestions for improvement. They also provide real-time feedback, helping you refine your writing style and avoid common spelling errors in English.
Grammarly is great for checking spelling and grammar, offering suggestions for clarity and style. ProWritingAid takes it a step further, helping you improve sentence structure, readability, and word choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is “coming” the correct form?
“Coming” is the correct form because “come” ends in a silent “e,” which is dropped before adding the “-ing” suffix, following the silent “e” rule.
What are some other words that follow the same pattern?
Other words that follow the same pattern include “make” (making), “love” (loving), and “dance” (dancing).
Can spell-check tools like Grammarly catch this mistake?
Yes, spell-check tools like Grammarly can catch this mistake and suggest the correct spelling “coming.”
How can I avoid making the “comming” mistake in the future?
To avoid the mistake, remember that verbs ending with a silent “e” drop the “e” when adding “-ing,” as in “come” to “coming.”
Why does this mistake happen so often?
This mistake often happens due to phonetic confusion, where people mistakenly double the consonant “m” because of the way “come” sounds.
Conclusion
In this post, we explored how to spell “coming” correctly and why “comming” is a common mistake. We also learned about important spelling rules, such as the silent “e” rule and consonant doubling. By mastering these rules and using grammar tools for writers, you can avoid spelling errors in emails, business communication, and all your writing projects. Improving your English spelling is essential for clear communication, both professionally and personally.
Next time you find yourself about to type “comming,” remember the correct spelling usage and confidently use “coming” instead.
