Putting vs Puting Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on putting vs puting. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
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Correct. The -ing form of put.
“She is putting the books away.”
A misspelling. The doubled t is missing.
Always write putting.
One syllable, one vowel, one consonant: double the consonant.
put, putting. sit, sitting.
A golf stroke. Its -ing form is also spelled putting.
Pronounced differently.
Writers often stop to ask putting vs puting because “puting” looks like a natural, tidy version of the word: just add -ing to put. English spelling is rarely that simple, and this is one of the few cases where a reliable rule explains the answer. This guide explains why “putting” has a double t, why “puting” looks wrong, and how the golf meaning of “putting” fits in.
| Word | Status | What it is | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| putting | Correct | The -ing form of put (placing), and of putt (golf) | She is putting the books on the shelf. |
| puting | Misspelling | The doubled t is missing | Avoid in all writing. |
| put | Correct | Base form, past tense and past participle | I put the keys on the table. |
| putt | Correct | A golf stroke, or to hit one | He sank a long putt. |
| putted | Correct | Past tense of putt (golf) | She putted from the edge of the green. |
What does “putting” mean?
Putting is the -ing form of the verb put, which means to place something in a position. It can work as a verb in progressive tenses or as a noun-like gerund.
- She is putting the books on the shelf.
- Putting the children to bed takes an hour.
- He is putting off the decision until Friday.
It is also found in many phrasal verbs, such as putting up with, putting together and putting away.
Is “puting” ever correct?
No. “Puting” is not a word in standard English. It is a misspelling of “putting,” and spellcheck will normally flag it.
The error is easy to make, because most -ing words are formed by simply adding the ending to the base verb. But short verbs like “put” follow a different rule, which is what makes “putting” correct and “puting” wrong.
Why does “put” double its t?
English has a spelling pattern, often called the doubling rule or the 1:1:1 rule. When a verb has one syllable and ends in one vowel followed by one consonant, you double that final consonant before adding a vowel suffix such as -ing or -ed.
- put → putting
- sit → sitting
- run → running
- stop → stopping
- cut → cutting
The doubled consonant keeps the vowel short. That is why “put” with a short sound stays short in “putting.” The pattern is one of the more reliable rules in English spelling, though there are exceptions with some longer words.
Why does “puting” look wrong?
There is a second reason. Words ending in a silent “e” drop the “e” before -ing, as in mute → muting. In “muting,” the single “t” signals a long vowel sound. So “puting” would look like it should be read as “PYOO-ting,” with a long “u,” which is not how “put” sounds.
The double “t” in “putting” tells readers to keep the short vowel sound.
What about “putting” in golf?
In golf, “putting” is the -ing form of the verb putt, which means to tap a ball into the hole from a short distance. It is spelled the same as the “placing” word, but it is pronounced differently, rhyming with “cutting” instead of “footing.” Words with the same spelling and different pronunciations are called heteronyms.
- He is putting the ball across the green. (Golf: sounds like “cutting.”)
- He is putting the clubs in the bag. (Placing: sounds like “footing.”)
The golf verb “putt” comes from a Scots word meaning to push or shove, and it was recorded in the 1500s. The everyday “put” comes from Old English.
What is the past tense of “put”?
The past tense and past participle of “put” are the same as the base form: put. You say “I put the keys on the table,” not “I putted.” The golf verb “putt” is different, since its past tense is putted.
Is the spelling different in American and British English?
No. “Putting” is spelled the same way in both. Some doubling-rule words do vary between the two, such as travelling and traveling, but that happens only with certain longer words and not with “put.”
Putting vs puting: which spelling should you use?
Always use putting. There is no situation where “puting” is the right choice.
Compare these pairs:
- She is putting the groceries away. (Correct.)
- He is putting for birdie. (Correct, in golf.)
- They are putting up a tent. (Correct, as part of a phrasal verb.)
Common mistakes with putting
- ✗ She is puting the books on the shelf.
✓ She is putting the books on the shelf. - ✗ He is puting for birdie.
✓ He is putting for birdie. - ✗ I putted the keys on the table.
✓ I put the keys on the table. - ✗ She is stoping the car.
✓ She is stopping the car. - ✗ British English spells it with one t.
✓ Both American and British English use two t’s.
How can you remember how to spell putting?
Use the rule and the sound. Here are three memory tricks:
- The doubling trick: One syllable, one vowel, one consonant? Double it. Put becomes putting, like sit becomes sitting.
- The short-vowel trick: The double t keeps the “u” in “putting” short. A single t would look like a long “u,” as in “muting.”
- The pair trick: Think of “put + t + ing.”
FAQ: Putting vs Puting
Is it putting or puting?
It is putting. Puting is a misspelling.
Why does putting have two t’s?
One-syllable verbs that end in a single vowel and a single consonant double the final consonant before -ing or -ed, as in running and sitting.
What is the past tense of put?
It is put, the same as the present tense. The golf verb putt has the past tense putted.
Is putting pronounced differently in golf?
Yes. In golf, putting is usually pronounced like cutting, while the placing sense sounds like footing. The spelling is the same.
Does American English spell putting differently?
No. Putting is spelled the same in American and British English.
Conclusion
When you’re stuck on putting vs puting, remember that “putting” is correct, thanks to the doubling rule that also gives us sitting and running. Think “put + t + ing,” and the double t will stick. Share this with someone who mixes these up!