“Stoped” or “stopped”: which is correct?
stopped
The short answer
The correct spelling is stopped.
Why people get it wrong
The error occurs because of confusion about the rules for doubling consonants when forming the past tense. In English, when a verb ends with a single consonant preceded by a single vowel and the stress is on the final syllable, the final consonant is doubled before adding -ed. Since stop is a one-syllable verb ending with a consonant p preceded by a vowel o, the p should be doubled.
What kind of mistake it is
Spelling error involving incorrect formation of the past tense.
Examples with stopped
- I stopped the car at the red light.
- She stopped talking when the class started.
- They stopped working at noon.
Quick check
I the car at the red light.
The correct spelling is stopped.
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