Learn English – When to use double-t (“-tt-“), when to use a single-t (“-t-“) in spellings

orthography

I have the following questions:

  1. Why do words like "Committee" have a double-t ("-tt-") while words like "satisfy" have a single-t ("-t-")?
  2. Is there a general rule concerning when should one use a double-t ("-tt-") and when should a single-t ("-t-") be used?

Best Answer

I'm afraid, English Learner, that like most of English spelling, the rule is "use -tt- in words that have -tt- and use -t- in words that have -t-".

I know that's unhelpful, but there are no general rules.

There are partial rules for specific cases (for example, you often double the 't' when adding suffixes like '-ing' and '-ed' "hitting", "plotted"; but even that is not invariable, eg "editing), but that's all.

Your particular examples are both derived from Latin, and reflect a real difference in the way the Latin words were written, and, probably, how they were pronounced. ("committee" is from a Latin word "committo") But you would need to know Latin to know that. In English, I'm afraid you just have to learn that one has one 't' and the other has two.

Edited to correct "spelt" to "pronounced".

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