Awful vs. Awfull: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Awful vs. awfull is a common English spelling confusion. Both forms look similar, but only one is correct in standard English. If you want to describe something terrible, unpleasant, or very bad, you need to know which spelling to use.

The correct spelling is awful. The spelling awfull is incorrect because it adds an unnecessary second l at the end.

This guide explains the difference between awful and awfull, covers the word’s meaning and pronunciation, and provides practical examples to help you avoid this mistake.

Quick Answer

Awful is the correct spelling. Awfull is a misspelling and should not be used in standard English writing.

• Correct: The weather was awful yesterday.
• Incorrect: The weather was awfull yesterday.

Remember: Awful has one l at the end, not two.

What Does Awful Mean?

Awful is an adjective that usually means extremely bad, unpleasant, upsetting, or uncomfortable. People use it to describe experiences, situations, feelings, conditions, and things they strongly dislike.

Awful Means Very Bad or Unpleasant

The most common meaning of awful is very bad. It can describe something that causes discomfort, disappointment, or frustration.

Examples:

• We had awful weather during our vacation.
• The restaurant served awful food.
• I had an awful day at work.
• The movie received awful reviews.
• There was an awful smell coming from the kitchen.

In each example, awful describes something negative or unpleasant.

Awful Can Describe Strong Feelings

People also use awful to describe emotional or physical feelings, especially when they feel very uncomfortable or unwell.

Examples:

• I feel awful about missing your birthday.
• She felt awful after hearing the news.
• He had an awful headache.
• I felt awful when I realized my mistake.

In these sentences, the word expresses discomfort, regret, or distress.

Awful Can Emphasize Something Extreme

In informal English, awful sometimes acts as an intensifier, meaning very or extremely.

Examples:

• It is awfully cold outside.
• She was awfully kind to us.
• The meeting took an awfully long time.

Notice that awfully is the adverb form. The adjective remains awful.

Why Do People Confuse Awful and Awfull?

People often confuse these spellings because English adjectives sometimes double their final consonants when forming other words. For example, full has two l letters, and fully also keeps both.

However, awful follows a different spelling pattern. It has only one l, even though it is related to the word full.

The historical connection does not mean that the adjective should be spelled awfull. The accepted modern spelling is awful.

The Letter That Makes the Difference

Spelling	Status	Explanation
Awful	Correct	Ends with one l
Awfull	Incorrect	Adds an unnecessary second l

Memory tip: Think of the phrase “awful has one L.” This simple reminder can help you remember the correct spelling.

Awful vs. Awfull: Key Differences

Feature	Awful	Awfull
Correct spelling	Yes	No
Part of speech	Adjective	No standard usage
Meaning	Very bad or unpleasant	No accepted meaning as a standard spelling
Final letters	One l	Two l letters
Example	That was an awful experience.	That was an awfull experience.

The difference is purely a spelling issue. Awful is the established English word, while awfull is a spelling error.

How to Use Awful in a Sentence

Use awful when describing something extremely bad, unpleasant, or distressing. It works in casual conversations as well as many types of everyday writing.

Examples About Experiences

1. We had an awful experience at the hotel.
2. The traffic was awful this morning.
3. He had an awful day at school.
4. Their trip became awful after the flight was canceled.
5. I watched an awful movie last night.

Examples About Feelings

1. I feel awful about what happened.
2. She felt awful after arguing with her best friend.
3. He felt awful when he forgot the appointment.
4. They were awful sorry to hear about the loss.

The last example uses an informal regional expression. In standard American English, “very sorry” is more natural.

Examples About Quality or Conditions

1. The internet connection is awful today.
2. The room had an awful smell.
3. The service at the store was awful.
4. The road conditions became awful after the storm.
5. That was an awful decision.

These examples show how the word applies to many situations.

Is Awful the Same as Bad?

Not exactly. Both words can describe something negative, but awful often expresses a stronger degree of dislike or unpleasantness than bad.

Compare these examples:

• Bad: The food was bad.
• Awful: The food was awful, and nobody could finish it.

The distinction depends on context and personal judgment. In everyday conversation, people sometimes use the words interchangeably, but awful often sounds more emphatic.

Awful, Awfully, and Awfulness: Related Word Forms

Learning related forms can help you use the word correctly.

Awful

Awful is an adjective that describes something very bad or unpleasant.

Example: The weather was awful.

Awfully

Awfully is an adverb. It can mean very or extremely, or it can describe an action in a negative way.

Examples:

• It is awfully hot today.
• He behaved awfully during the meeting.
• I am awfully sorry for the delay.

Awfulness

Awfulness is a noun that describes the quality or state of being awful.

Examples:

• We were surprised by the awfulness of the situation.
• The report described the awfulness of the conditions.

Although these forms are related, they have different grammatical roles. Use awful when you need an adjective.

Common Spelling Mistakes to Avoid

Even familiar words can be misspelled when their spelling does not follow an expected pattern. These tips can help you remember awful.

1. Do Not Add a Second L

The most common mistake is writing awfull instead of awful.

• Correct: awful
• Incorrect: awfull

2. Remember the Difference Between Full and Awful

The word full has two l letters, but awful has only one. Do not copy the spelling of full into awful.

3. Learn the Related Forms

Remember these spellings together:

• Awful
• Awfully
• Awfulness

Each uses one l immediately after the letter u in the root awful.

4. Check Your Writing Before Publishing

A spellchecker can help identify awfull, but proofreading is still useful. Check common mistakes in messages, assignments, emails, and website articles before publishing them.

Synonyms for Awful

The best synonym depends on what you want to describe and how strong you want your statement to sound.

• Terrible: Extremely bad or unpleasant.
• Horrible: Very unpleasant, upsetting, or frightening.
• Dreadful: Very bad or distressing.
• Atrocious: Extremely poor or unacceptable.
• Unpleasant: Not enjoyable or comfortable.
• Abysmal: Extremely poor, often describing quality or performance.

Examples:

• The service was terrible.
• We had a horrible journey.
• The weather was dreadful.
• The team delivered an atrocious performance.

These words have slightly different meanings, so choose the one that best matches the situation.

FAQs

Is Awful or Awfull Correct?

Awful is correct. Awfull is a misspelling because the standard word ends with one l, not two.

How Do You Spell Awful Correctly?

Spell it a-w-f-u-l. Remember that awful has only one l at the end.

What Does Awful Mean?

Awful usually means very bad, unpleasant, or distressing. For example, “We had awful weather during our trip.”

Why Is Awful Spelled With One L?

The accepted spelling is awful, even though the related word full has two l letters. Modern English spelling does not require awful to keep both letters.

Is Awfully the Correct Spelling?

Yes. Awfully is the correct adverb form of awful. For example, “It is awfully cold today.”

What Is Another Word for Awful?

Common synonyms include terrible, horrible, dreadful, and unpleasant. The best choice depends on the context.

Conclusion

The correct spelling is awful, while awfull is incorrect. Use awful to describe something very bad, unpleasant, or distressing. When you need the adverb, use awfully, and when you need the noun, use awfulness.

To avoid this common spelling mistake, remember one simple rule: awful has only one L. This small detail will help you write more accurately in everyday conversations, schoolwork, and professional content.