Committee or Commitee: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Have you ever paused while writing the word committee and wondered whether it should be spelled committee or commitee? You’re not alone. This is one of the most frequently misspelled words in English because it contains double “m” and double “t.” Many students, professionals, and even experienced writers accidentally leave out one “t” and write commitee, but only one spelling is correct in standard English.

The correct spelling is committee. It is a noun that refers to a group of people chosen or appointed to perform a specific task, make decisions, or manage a particular responsibility. Committees are common in schools, businesses, governments, charities, clubs, and organizations. Whether you’re talking about a hiring committee, a finance committee, or a planning committee, committee is always the correct spelling.

People often misspell it as commitee because they forget that the word contains two “m” letters and two “t” letters. Although the pronunciation does not strongly emphasize the double letters, the spelling always includes them.

In this guide, you’ll learn the correct spelling, meaning, pronunciation, grammar rules, examples, common mistakes, memory tricks, and frequently asked questions about committee or commitee.


Quick Answer

SpellingCorrect?
✅ CommitteeCorrect
❌ CommiteeIncorrect

Committee means a group of people appointed to perform a specific duty or make decisions.

Examples

  • The committee approved the proposal.
  • She serves on the finance committee.
  • The planning committee meets every Monday.

What Does “Committee” Mean?

Committee is a noun.

It refers to a group of people selected to discuss issues, make decisions, organize activities, or carry out a particular task.

Examples

  • The school formed a safety committee.
  • The hiring committee interviewed five candidates.
  • The committee presented its report.
  • Every department has its own committee.

Why Is “Commitee” Incorrect?

The spelling commitee is incorrect because the word committee always contains:

  • Double “m” (mm)
  • Double “t” (tt)

The correct spelling is:

Committee

No standard English dictionary recognizes commitee as a correct spelling.


Grammar Role of Committee

Committee functions as a noun.

It may be treated as singular or plural, depending on whether you’re using American or British English.

Common Expressions

  • Committee meeting
  • Committee member
  • Committee chair
  • Executive committee
  • Finance committee
  • Selection committee
  • Planning committee
  • Advisory committee

Examples

  • The committee meets once a month.
  • She is a member of the committee.

Committee in American English

In American English, committee is usually treated as a singular noun.

Examples

  • The committee has reached its decision.
  • The committee is reviewing the applications.
  • The committee meets every Friday.
  • The committee approved the budget.
  • The committee has announced the winners.

Committee in British English

In British English, committee may be treated as either singular or plural, depending on whether the group is acting as one unit or as individual members.

Examples

  • The committee has announced its findings.
  • The committee have agreed on a new policy.
  • The committee meets every month.
  • The committee are discussing the proposal.
  • The committee has completed its report.

Both singular and plural verb forms are acceptable in British English, depending on the context.


Committee vs Commitee

FeatureCommitteeCommitee
Correct spelling✅ Yes❌ No
Dictionary wordYesNo
MeaningGroup appointed for a taskNo meaning
Part of speechNounIncorrect spelling
Used in formal writingYesNo
American EnglishYesNo
British EnglishYesNo

Pronunciation

Committee

UK IPA: /kəˈmɪt.i/

US IPA: /kəˈmɪt̬.i/

Pronunciation:

kuh-MIT-ee

Although the pronunciation doesn’t highlight every double letter, remember that committee is spelled with MM and TT.


Common Uses of “Committee”

In Schools

  • The discipline committee reviewed the case.
  • The event committee organized the ceremony.

In Business

  • The hiring committee selected the final candidate.
  • The finance committee approved the budget.

In Government

  • The committee submitted its recommendations.
  • Parliament created a special committee.

In Nonprofit Organizations

  • The fundraising committee planned the campaign.
  • The volunteer committee welcomed new members.

Committee vs Similar Words

WordMeaning
CommitteeA group appointed for a specific purpose
BoardA governing body
PanelA small group of experts
CouncilAn advisory or governing group
TeamPeople working together toward a goal

Examples

  • The committee made the decision.
  • The board approved the policy.
  • The panel answered questions.
  • The council discussed the issue.
  • The team completed the project.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

❌ The commitee approved the proposal.

Correct

✅ The committee approved the proposal.


Incorrect

❌ She joined the hiring commitee.

Correct

✅ She joined the hiring committee.


Incorrect

❌ The planning commitee meets today.

Correct

✅ The planning committee meets today.


Incorrect

❌ Every commitee needs a chairperson.

Correct

✅ Every committee needs a chairperson.


Real-Life Examples

School

  • The student committee planned the graduation ceremony.
  • The admissions committee reviewed applications.

Office

  • The executive committee met this morning.
  • The committee discussed next year’s budget.

Government

  • A special committee investigated the issue.
  • The committee released its report.

Community

  • The festival committee organized the event.
  • The neighborhood committee held a meeting.

American English Example Sentences

  1. The committee has made its decision.
  2. The committee is reviewing the proposal.
  3. She serves on the finance committee.
  4. The committee approved the budget.
  5. Our committee meets every Wednesday.
  6. The committee selected three finalists.
  7. The hiring committee interviewed applicants.
  8. The committee announced the results.
  9. Every committee needs a leader.
  10. The committee will meet again next week.

British English Example Sentences

  1. The committee have reached an agreement.
  2. The committee has published its findings.
  3. The committee are discussing the proposal.
  4. She sits on the education committee.
  5. The committee meets every month.
  6. The committee have completed their work.
  7. The planning committee organised the event.
  8. The committee has issued a statement.
  9. Every committee needs clear objectives.
  10. The committee are preparing their report.

Easy Memory Tricks

Remember the Double Letters

Committee = MM + TT

Two M’s and two T’s.


Break It Into Parts

Com

Mit

Tee

Think of the ending as “tee”, but remember there are two T’s before it.


Practice

Write it three times:

Committee

Committee

Committee


Frequently Asked Questions

Is committee or commitee correct?

Committee is the correct spelling.


Is commitee a real word?

No. It is a common spelling mistake.


What does committee mean?

It means a group of people appointed to perform a specific task or make decisions.


Is committee a noun?

Yes.


How do you spell committee?

C-O-M-M-I-T-T-E-E


Is the spelling different in British and American English?

No. Both use committee.


How do you pronounce committee?

kuh-MIT-ee


Can committee be singular or plural?

Yes. In American English, it is usually singular. In British English, it can be singular or plural depending on the context.


People Also Ask

Why do people spell committee as commitee?

Because they often forget one of the “t” letters. The pronunciation doesn’t clearly indicate that the word contains both double “m” and double “t.”


Is committee used in formal writing?

Yes. It is widely used in business, education, government, legal documents, nonprofit organizations, and academic writing.


What’s the easiest way to remember committee?

Remember the simple pattern:

Committee = MM + TT

If you can remember two M’s and two T’s, you’ll spell it correctly every time.


What is the plural of committee?

The plural form is committees.


Conclusion

If you’re wondering “Committee or Commitee: Which Spelling Is Correct?”, the answer is simple: committee is the only correct spelling. The word commitee is a common spelling mistake caused by leaving out one of the “t” letters.

Committee refers to a group of people appointed to perform a specific task, make decisions, or oversee a project. It is commonly used in schools, businesses, governments, nonprofit organizations, and workplaces. Since both American English and British English use the same spelling, you only need to remember one correct form.

A simple memory trick is “Committee = MM + TT.” Remember that the word always contains two M’s and two T’s. With this easy rule and regular practice, you’ll confidently spell committee correctly every time.

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