Is it focussed or focused? A work colleague asked me how to spell this word today and I had to look it up. The Colllins English dictionary and Merriam Webster‘s website indicated that both spellings were correct. I decided to Google it to find out which is preferred.
Future-perfect.co.uk says “This word [focussed or focused] can take either double or single s, with the single option being highly preferred”. A senior member of the Word Reference Forum wrote that they prefer to use focused because it follows the ‘stress-based rule’. The future-perfect site also mention this rule and suggest that if the stress is not on the preceeding vowel (as in focused) then there is no doubling i.e. it has a single s. The same applies to the words focussing and focusing.
Here are some examples of other words:
- Entered has no stress on the preceeding e, therefore entered has only one r.
- The vowel u is stressed in occurred and therefore it has a double r.
Why no try this rule on a few other words and drop me a comment.
My thoughts: Although either can be used, I think I’m going to use focused from now on.
That’s all for today. This blog post forms part of my writing challenge. Don’t forget that you can subscribe to receive my daily blogs by email so that you don’t miss any. Just click ‘sign me up’ on the home page. Alternatively you can follow my blogs on Twitter or my ‘Tips and Luxuries‘ Facebook page. Requests for future blogs (punctuation/grammar/writing tips) are always welcome.
Until tomorrow…
Sandra
Freelance writer
Please visit www.sandramadeira.com for more information on my services as a freelance writer.
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Reference list:
Merriam Webster Dictionary – http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/focussing
Future perfect website – http://www.future-perfect.co.uk/grammartips/grammar-tip-focussed-focused.asp
Word Reference – http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=3458
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