How to Spell Appointment and Related Words

The correct spelling is A-P-P-O-I-N-T-M-E-N-T

Appointment is spelled with two P's, one O, one I, and ends in -ment. The word comes from the verb "appoint," which means to arrange a meeting or assign someone to a role. When you add the suffix -ment (which turns a verb into a noun), you keep both P's from the root word.

The most common mistake is spelling it with one P — "apoint" — which is incorrect. The double P appears because "appoint" itself has two P's, and that structure stays when you form the noun. This error happens often enough that it's worth drilling the correct spelling into memory, especially if you write appointment confirmations, emails, or forms regularly.

Key Takeaways

• Appointment uses two P's: A-P-P-O-I-N-T-M-E-N-T, not one.
• The word breaks into "appoint" (the verb) plus "-ment" (the suffix that makes it a noun).
• Common misspellings include "apoint," "appointement," and "appointmant," all of which are wrong.
• Related words like "appoint," "appointed," and "appointee" follow the same double-P pattern.
• Sounding out the word syllable by syllable — a-POINT-ment — helps you catch the double P before you send written communication.

Breaking down the spelling by syllable

Saying the word out loud can help you spell it correctly. Appointment has four syllables: a-POINT-ment. The stress falls on the second syllable, which is where the double P sits. When you pronounce it naturally, you hear "uh-POINT-uh-ment," with the emphasis on POINT.

When you sound it out slowly — "uh-POINT-uh-ment" — you can hear each part clearly. The first syllable is just "a." The second syllable is "point" (with the double P). The third syllable is "uh." The fourth is "ment." Putting them together gives you the full word. This method works especially well if you are typing quickly and want to double-check your spelling before hitting send.

Why the double P matters

English spelling rules say that when a one-syllable word ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, you double the consonant before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel. The word "appoint" ends in a T, not a P, so that rule doesn't apply here. Instead, the double P comes from the root word itself.

The verb "appoint" has always had two P's. When you turn it into a noun by adding -ment, you keep the spelling of the root word intact. This is why "appointment," "appointed," and "appointee" all have two P's — they all come from "appoint." Understanding this connection makes it easier to spell all the related words correctly without having to memorize each one separately.

Common misspellings and how to avoid them

The most frequent error is writing "apoint" with a single P. This happens because people sometimes forget that the root verb has two P's. If you remember that "appoint" (the verb) is spelled with two P's, the noun "appointment" will follow naturally. When you catch yourself about to type a single P, pause and think of the word "appoint" — that mental check usually prevents the error.

Another mistake is adding an extra E: "appointement." This may happen because people think of the French word "appointement," but in English, the suffix is simply -ment, not -ement. A third error is changing the I to an A, spelling it "appointmant," which changes the vowel sound and is incorrect. A fourth variation is doubling the T at the end — "appointmentt" — which happens when people are typing fast and hit the key twice by accident.

Related words that use the same root

Once you know how to spell "appoint," the related words follow the same pattern. "Appointed" (the past tense) is A-P-P-O-I-N-T-E-D. "Appointee" (a person who is appointed) is A-P-P-O-I-N-T-E-E. "Appointer" (someone who appoints) is A-P-P-O-I-N-T-E-R. All of them keep the double P from the root verb.

"Reappoint" and "reappointment" work the same way — the double P stays, and you simply add the prefix "re-" at the beginning. The spelling does not change when you add prefixes or suffixes; the core structure of "appoint" remains constant. This consistency makes it easier once you lock in the root spelling.

How to remember the correct spelling

A simple memory trick is to think of the word "point" inside "appoint." The word "appoint" is "a" plus "point." Since "point" has two P's, "appoint" has two P's, and so does "appointment." When you write the word, you can mentally separate it into "a-point-ment" to make sure you include both P's.

Another approach is to remember that appointment is a formal word used in professional and medical settings. Taking a moment to spell it carefully — especially in written communication like emails, text messages, or forms — shows attention to detail. If you are unsure while typing, sounding out the syllables slowly can catch the error before you send it. Many spell-checkers will flag "apoint" as wrong, but they may not catch every variation, so your own knowledge is the best safeguard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it "appointment" or "appointement"?

It is "appointment." The suffix in English is -ment, not -ement. The French spelling "appointement" does not apply to English. Stick with A-P-P-O-I-N-T-M-E-N-T.

Why does "appointment" have two P's?

The double P comes from the root verb "appoint," which has always been spelled with two P's. When you add the suffix -ment to form the noun, the spelling of the root word stays the same, so both P's remain.

How do you spell the past tense of appoint?

The past tense is "appointed," spelled A-P-P-O-I-N-T-E-D. It keeps the double P from "appoint" and adds -ed at the end. The double P does not change when you add different suffixes.

What is the difference between "appoint" and "appointment"?

"Appoint" is a verb meaning to arrange a meeting or assign someone to a position. "Appointment" is the noun form — the actual meeting or the position itself. Both are spelled with two P's.

Can you use "appointment" in a sentence?

Yes. Example: "I have a dental appointment on Tuesday at 2 p.m." The word refers to the scheduled meeting. Another example: "Her appointment as manager was announced last week," where it means the act of assigning her to that role.