Recommend and recomend look almost identical, but only one is the correct English spelling. If you’ve come across the word “recomend” and wondered whether it is correct, the confusion usually comes from leaving out one of the two m letters in recommend. The correct spelling is recommend, while recomend is a common misspelling.
The recommend vs recomend difference is simple: recommend is the standard spelling used in English, while recomend is incorrect. The word recommend means to suggest or advise someone to choose, use, or consider something because you believe it is suitable or worthwhile. Related words and expressions include suggest, advise, endorse, propose, encourage, and advocate, although they can have slightly different meanings depending on context.
In this guide, you’ll learn whether “recommend” or “recomend” is correct, why “recomend” is misspelled, what “recommend” means, and how to use it correctly in sentences. You’ll also see clear examples, common spelling mistakes, and helpful tips for remembering the correct spelling.
By the end, you’ll know exactly why recommend is correct and how to avoid the common recomend spelling mistake in your writing.
Recommend vs Recomend at a Glance
Here is the answer in the simplest possible form:
| Spelling | Correct? | Meaning |
| recommend | ✅ Yes | To suggest something as suitable, useful, or worthwhile |
| recomend | ❌ No | Misspelling of recommend |
| recommended | ✅ Yes | Past tense and past participle of recommend |
| recommending | ✅ Yes | Present participle of recommend |
| recommendation | ✅ Yes | Noun referring to an act or suggestion of recommending |
The key difference
The correct spelling contains two consecutive m’s:
reco + mm + end
So:
Recommend ✅
Recomend ❌
A useful visual trick is to notice the middle of the word:
recoMMend
The two m’s are easy to overlook when you write or type quickly, which is one reason recomend appears as a common spelling error.
Is Recommend or Recomend Correct?
Recommend is the correct English spelling.
The form recomend is not the standard spelling of the English verb. If you are writing an email, school assignment, business document, website, résumé, or formal message, use recommend.
Correct examples
- I recommend this book.
- We recommend arriving early.
- She recommended the restaurant.
- They recommend checking the instructions first.
- My teacher recommended that I read the article.
- I highly recommend this course.
Incorrect examples
- I recomend this book.
- She recomended the restaurant.
- They recomend checking the instructions.
- I would recomend this course.
The mistake is not a difference between American and British English. Recommend is the standard spelling in both varieties.
Why the double M matters
The word is spelled:
r-e-c-o-m-m-e-n-d
not:
r-e-c-o-m-e-n-d
That single missing letter changes a correctly spelled word into a misspelling.
What Does Recommend Mean?
Recommend is a verb used when you suggest that someone or something is a good choice, suitable for a particular purpose, or worth considering.
Cambridge Dictionary gives examples involving food, promotion, proposals, exercise, and safety instructions. The word can therefore appear in casual conversations as well as professional, academic, medical, and business writing.
For example:
I recommend this restaurant.
Here, the speaker is telling someone that the restaurant is a good choice.
You can also recommend an action:
I recommend taking an umbrella.
In this sentence, the speaker suggests that taking an umbrella would be a good idea.
Common meanings of recommend
The word commonly expresses several closely related ideas:
- Suggesting a choice: “I recommend this laptop.”
- Giving advice: “I recommend getting there early.”
- Endorsing a person: “The manager recommended Sarah for the position.”
- Supporting an action: “The doctor recommended regular exercise.”
- Presenting something as suitable: “The guide recommends this route.”
- Speaking favorably about something: “She highly recommends the book.”
The underlying idea is that you are putting forward something as worthy of consideration.
Why Is Recomend Incorrect?
The spelling recomend is incorrect because the standard English form contains mm, not a single m.
The correct form is:
recommend
The incorrect form is:
recomend
This mistake is easy to make because the word does not necessarily sound as though it contains two separate m sounds. Pronunciation therefore does not provide a reliable clue about the spelling.
Cambridge lists the pronunciation of recommend as /ˌrek.əˈmend/ in both its British and American entries.
The spelling can be broken down visually
Try remembering it like this:
re + co + mm + end
The middle mm is the part that matters.
You do not need to pronounce two separate m sounds to remember the spelling. Treat mm as a fixed part of the word.
Why people may write “recomend”
Several factors can lead to the error:
- The double letter is easy to overlook.
- Pronunciation does not clearly signal two m’s.
- Fast typing encourages omitted letters.
- Writers may associate the word with similar-looking forms.
- The word is relatively long compared with simpler verbs such as suggest.
A spell-checker can catch recomend in many situations, but knowing the correct spelling is more useful than relying entirely on software.
Recommend Spelling Rules
There is no special spelling rule that allows you to write recomend. The standard form simply needs the double m.
Why Recommend Has Two Ms
The spelling has a historical connection to commend.
Modern English recommend ultimately comes through Medieval Latin recommendare, related to Latin commendare. Etymological sources trace the English verb to Middle English forms dating from the late 14th century.
That history also helps explain why commend and recommend both contain mm.
Compare:
- commend
- recommend
Both have the same important middle spelling:
mm
Dictionary.com specifically notes that recommend and commend are spelled with one c and two m’s.
Recommend vs Other Words With Double Consonants
English contains many words where a doubled consonant is easy to miss:
| Correct spelling | Common error |
| recommend | recomend |
| accommodate | acommodate |
| necessary | neccessary |
| occurrence | occurence |
| beginning | begining |
| committee | commitee |
These words do not all follow exactly the same spelling pattern, but they share one problem: a missing repeated letter can turn the standard spelling into an error.
Common Forms of Recommend
Learning the complete word family can make the spelling easier to remember.
| Form | Example |
| recommend | I recommend this book. |
| recommends | She recommends this restaurant. |
| recommended | He recommended the movie. |
| recommending | They are recommending a new approach. |
| recommendation | Thanks for the recommendation. |
Notice that the mm remains in all of these forms.
Recommend vs Recomend Examples
Seeing the two spellings side by side makes the difference straightforward.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| I recomend this book. | I recommend this book. |
| She recomends the movie. | She recommends the movie. |
| He recomended the restaurant. | He recommended the restaurant. |
| They are recomending a new plan. | They are recommending a new plan. |
| I appreciate your recomendation. | I appreciate your recommendation. |
| We recomend taking notes. | We recommend taking notes. |
More examples with recommend
- I recommend watching the documentary.
- My friend recommended this podcast.
- The teacher recommends reading the entire chapter.
- Our guide recommended a quieter route.
- I would recommend this product to beginners.
- Doctors may recommend regular physical activity.
- The committee recommended several changes.
- She is recommending the restaurant to everyone.
In every case, the spelling contains mm.
How to Use Recommend in a Sentence
Knowing how to spell recommend is only the first step. The word also has several useful grammatical patterns.
Recommend + Noun
One of the simplest constructions is:
recommend + noun
Examples:
- I recommend this book.
- She recommended the restaurant.
- They recommend this hotel.
- He recommended a different approach.
- My colleague recommended the course.
This pattern works when you are directly identifying the thing you think someone should consider.
Recommend + -ing Verb
When recommend is followed directly by another verb, standard English uses the -ing form, not to + verb.
Correct:
I recommend taking an umbrella.
Incorrect:
I recommend to take an umbrella.
Cambridge’s grammar guidance specifically identifies recommend doing something as the appropriate pattern when another verb follows directly.
More examples:
- I recommend checking the instructions.
- She recommends booking in advance.
- We recommend arriving early.
- They recommended waiting until morning.
- I recommend reading the terms carefully.
This is one of the most useful grammar points to remember about recommend.
Recommend That + Clause
Another common pattern is:
recommend + that + subject + verb
Examples:
- I recommend that you check the details.
- She recommended that we leave early.
- The doctor recommended that he get more exercise.
- They recommend that customers keep their receipts.
Cambridge gives examples such as “The doctor recommended (that) I get more exercise.”
The word that can sometimes be omitted:
I recommend that you read the instructions.
or:
I recommend you read the instructions.
Both structures are widely used.
Recommend Something to Someone
You can also identify the person receiving the recommendation:
recommend + something + to + someone
Examples:
- I recommended the book to my sister.
- She recommended the restaurant to her friends.
- He recommended the course to me.
- We recommended the hotel to our clients.
This is different from the structure involving an action:
I recommend checking the website.
Not:
I recommend to check the website.
The distinction becomes much easier when you remember that to can introduce a recipient without introducing the verb that follows.
Recommend Grammar and Word Forms
The verb changes according to tense and grammatical function.
| Word | Part of speech | Example |
| recommend | base verb | I recommend this book. |
| recommends | third-person singular | She recommends this book. |
| recommended | past tense/past participle | He recommended this book. |
| recommending | present participle/gerund | She is recommending this book. |
| recommendation | noun | That was a useful recommendation. |
Recommend
Use the base form after modal verbs and with plural or first-person subjects where appropriate.
- I recommend it.
- We recommend this option.
- They recommend arriving early.
- You should recommend a suitable alternative.
Recommends
Add -s when the subject is third-person singular in the present tense.
- She recommends the book.
- He recommends the restaurant.
- The guide recommends this route.
- The company recommends regular maintenance.
Recommended
The past tense and past participle form is recommended.
- She recommended the movie.
- He recommended that I wait.
- The doctor recommended regular exercise.
- This product is highly recommended by users.
Notice the spelling:
recommend → recommended
The double m remains.
Recommending
The present participle is recommending.
- She is recommending a new book.
- They are recommending another solution.
- I am recommending this approach because it is simple.
Again, the spelling keeps the two m’s:
recommending ✅
not:
recomending ❌
Recommendation
The noun is recommendation.
It can refer to an act of recommending, advice about what to choose or do, or something presented favorably. Dictionary.com and Collins both define recommendation in terms of recommending, advice, or a favorable presentation.
Examples:
- Thanks for the recommendation.
- Your recommendation was helpful.
- We considered the committee’s recommendations.
- She gave me a great recommendation for a restaurant.
Common Misspellings of Recommend
Recomend is not the only spelling error people make.
Here are several forms you may encounter:
| Misspelling | Correct form |
| recomend | recommend |
| reccomend | recommend |
| recommmend | recommend |
| recomended | recommended |
| recomendation | recommendation |
| recomending | recommending |
Recomend
This version drops one of the two m’s.
recomend ❌
recommend ✅
Reccomend
This version moves the extra consonant to the wrong place.
reccomend ❌
recommend ✅
The correct word has one c and two m’s.
Recomended
When forming the past tense, the double m stays:
recommended ✅
The incorrect version:
recomended ❌
Recomendation
The noun form is especially tricky because it contains several letters that writers may accidentally double or omit.
The correct form is:
recommendation
Dictionary.com notes that recommendation can be difficult to spell because writers may be unsure about whether certain consonants are doubled.
A useful way to see it is:
recommend + ation → recommendation
Recommend vs Suggest vs Advise
These three words are related, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence.
Recommend vs Suggest
Recommend often implies that you consider something a good or suitable choice.
I recommend this restaurant.
You are giving the restaurant a positive endorsement.
Suggest is broader. It can mean putting forward an idea, possibility, or option without necessarily endorsing it strongly.
I suggest trying the restaurant across the street.
The speaker is proposing an option.
Compare:
| Word | Typical idea | Example |
| recommend | Present something as a good choice | I recommend this book. |
| suggest | Put forward an idea or possibility | I suggest reading this book. |
| advise | Give guidance about what someone should do | I advise you to read the instructions. |
The difference can be subtle because the three verbs overlap in some contexts.
Recommend vs Advise
Advise is commonly associated with giving guidance.
The doctor advised me to rest.
Recommend can also be used in a professional context:
The doctor recommended regular exercise.
Both can involve guidance, but their grammatical patterns differ.
A particularly useful distinction is:
- recommend doing something
- advise someone to do something
For example:
I recommend taking notes.
I advise you to take notes.
The first uses recommend + -ing. The second uses advise + object + to-infinitive.
Recommend, Suggest, and Advise Examples
Consider this situation: a student wants to improve their writing.
Recommend:
I recommend this grammar book.
Suggest:
I suggest reading a few pages every day.
Advise:
I advise you to review your mistakes after each exercise.
All three are natural, but each emphasizes a slightly different relationship between the speaker and the advice.
Memory Trick for Spelling Recommend
If recommend vs recomend keeps causing trouble, use a simple visual memory trick:
Reco + MM + end
Think:
recoMMend
The double m sits right in the middle.
Another useful connection is:
commend → recommend
Both words contain mm.
- commend
- recommend
This connection can be easier to remember than trying to memorize the entire word letter by letter.
A quick spelling test
Before submitting an important piece of writing, ask:
“Does recommend have one M or two?”
The answer is:
Two M’s.
recommend ✅
Recommend vs Recomend in Formal and Informal Writing
The spelling distinction matters in every type of standard English writing.
School assignments
Use recommend, not recomend:
I recommend that students read the entire chapter before the exam.
A spelling error may seem minor, but repeated errors can distract readers from your argument.
Professional emails
Use the standard spelling in workplace communication:
I recommend reviewing the attached proposal before the meeting.
Business writing
The word frequently appears in reports, proposals, product descriptions, reviews, and customer communications.
For example:
We recommend updating the software before installing the new feature.
Online writing
Casual communication does not change the standard spelling.
A text message might say:
I definitely recommend this movie.
Even in an informal message, recommend remains the correct form.
A Practical Case Study: Fixing a Common Spelling Error
Imagine someone writes this product review:
“I would definately recomend this laptop to students because it is affordable and easy to use.”
There are actually two spelling problems:
- definately → definitely
- recomend → recommend
The corrected sentence is:
“I would definitely recommend this laptop to students because it is affordable and easy to use.”
The second correction is particularly important for this topic because recommend requires the double m.
What changed?
| Original | Corrected |
| definately | definitely |
| recomend | recommend |
The meaning did not change. The correction simply brings the sentence into standard written English.
This illustrates an important point: spelling accuracy does not require complicated vocabulary. A short, familiar word can still cause errors.
Quick Quiz: Recommend or Recomend?
Test yourself before moving on.
Choose the correct spelling
I would ___ this book to anyone who enjoys mystery novels.
A. recomend
B. recommend
Answer: B — recommend
She ___ that we arrive before 8 a.m.
A. recommends
B. recomendds
Answer: A — recommends
He ___ the restaurant to his coworkers.
A. recomended
B. recommended
Answer: B — recommended
They are ___ a different approach.
A. recomending
B. recommending
Answer: B — recommending
Thank you for the ___ .
A. recomendation
B. recommendation
Answer: B — recommendation
Mini spelling challenge
Fill in the missing letters:
reco__end
The answer is:
recoMMend
That gives you:
recommend
Common Mistakes Beyond Spelling
Spelling is only one part of using recommend correctly.
Mistake: Recommend to do
A common grammar error is:
I recommend to read this book.
In standard English, when recommend is followed directly by another verb, use the -ing form:
I recommend reading this book.
Cambridge explicitly describes this pattern and contrasts recommend doing with the incorrect direct infinitive construction recommend to do.
Mistake: Recommended someone to do
Another construction can sound awkward:
She recommended me to read the book.
A more natural structure is:
She recommended that I read the book.
or:
She recommended reading the book.
You can also say:
She recommended the book to me.
Here, to me identifies the recipient of the recommendation.
Mistake: Confusing recommendation and recommend
Remember:
- recommend = verb
- recommendation = noun
Correct:
I recommend this product.
Correct:
Thanks for the recommendation.
Incorrect:
I recommendation this product.
Origin of the Word Recommend
The spelling becomes more understandable when you look at its history.
Recommend entered English through Middle English forms related to Old French and Medieval Latin. Etymological sources trace it to Medieval Latin recommendare, connected with Latin commendare, meaning to entrust or commend.
The modern sense involving advice developed later. Etymonline dates the sense “advise as to action” to the 18th century.
The related word commend also helps explain the spelling. Both words retain the double m:
commend
recommend
That makes the spelling relationship useful as a memory aid.
Recommend and recommendation
The noun recommendation has an even longer history. Dictionary.com traces it to late Middle English recommendacion, ultimately from Medieval Latin.
So the double m in modern forms is not an arbitrary addition. It belongs to the established spelling history of the word family.
Recommend vs Recomend: A Simple Comparison
| Feature | Recommend | Recomend |
| Standard English spelling | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Contains two m’s | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Used as a verb | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Appears in dictionaries as the standard verb | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Can become recommended | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Can become recommending | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Noun form | recommendation | — |
The answer is straightforward: recommend is the word you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recommend or recomend correct?
Recommend is correct. Recomend is a misspelling. Remember that the standard spelling contains two m’s:
recommend
Why is recomend wrong?
Recomend is missing the second m. The correct spelling is r-e-c-o-m-m-e-n-d.
Why does recommend have two Ms?
The spelling is connected historically with commend and ultimately traces through Medieval Latin forms related to recommendare and commendare. Modern English retains the mm spelling.
What is the past tense of recommend?
The past tense is recommended.
Example:
She recommended the book to me.
What is the noun form of recommend?
The noun is recommendation.
Example:
His recommendation was helpful.
Is recommending spelled with two Ms?
Yes.
The correct spelling is:
recommending
It contains the double m from recommend.
What is the difference between recommend and suggest?
Recommend often presents something as a good or suitable choice, while suggest can simply introduce an idea or possibility.
Compare:
I recommend this restaurant.
I suggest trying the restaurant.
The exact difference depends on context.
What is the difference between recommend and advise?
Both can express guidance, but they often use different grammatical structures.
I recommend taking the train.
I advise you to take the train.
Cambridge lists recommend with patterns such as recommend + -ing and recommend + that clause.
What are common misspellings of recommend?
Common errors include:
- recomend
- reccomend
- recomended
- recomending
- recomendation
The standard forms are:
- recommend
- recommended
- recommending
- recommendation
Recommend vs Recomend: Final Answer
When choosing between recommend vs recomend, there is no spelling variation to worry about.
Recommend is correct.
Recomend is incorrect.
The easiest way to remember the difference is to focus on the two middle m’s:
recoMMend
The same double m appears throughout the word family:
- recommend
- recommends
- recommended
- recommending
- recommendation
Beyond spelling, remember the main grammar patterns. You can recommend a book, recommend doing something, or recommend that someone do something. Cambridge specifically supports patterns such as “recommend writing” and “recommend that I get…” while advising against using recommend to do when the verb follows directly.
So, if you are writing a sentence such as:
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
you have the spelling and grammar right.
Quick rule: When in doubt, think reco + MM + end = recommend.
