Appal and appall are two spellings of the same English verb, which means to shock, horrify or deeply upset someone. The main difference is not meaning or pronunciation but regional spelling preference. Appal is the spelling traditionally associated with British English, while appall is the spelling commonly used in American English. Both forms are correct, so choosing between them depends largely on which variety of English you are writing in.
The word describes a strong emotional reaction to something shocking, disturbing, or morally offensive. For example, you can say, “The cruelty appalled everyone” or in British spelling, “The cruelty appalled everyone.” Although the spelling difference is small, it can cause confusion because learners may wonder whether one form is a misspelling of the other. Understanding the British American spelling pattern makes the distinction much easier to remember.
Quick Answer: Appal vs Appall
Appal and appall have the same meaning: to shock, horrify, or greatly disturb someone. Appal is the preferred British spelling, while appall is the preferred American spelling. Both are correct. The difference is mainly regional spelling, not meaning or pronunciation.
Why People Confuse Appal and Appall
The confusion comes from the fact that both spellings are used in English.
You may see:
The decision appalled the public.
And:
The decision appalled the public.
The past tense is spelled appalled in both varieties.
The difference is most visible in the base form:
- British English: appal
- American English: appall
This is part of a broader spelling pattern involving certain verbs ending in -l.
For example:
- British: cancel
- American: cancel
- British: travel
- American: travel
But their past forms can differ:
- British: cancelled
- American: canceled
- British: travelled
- American: traveled
Appal/appall has a different pattern because the base word itself commonly differs by one l.
Appal: Meaning and Definition
Appal means to shock, horrify, or cause someone to feel extremely disturbed or upset.
It is particularly associated with British English.
Examples
The violence appalled the community.
The conditions in the prison appalled the investigators.
Her behavior appalled everyone at the meeting.
The word generally suggests a strong negative emotional reaction.
Appall: Meaning and Definition
Appall has exactly the same meaning as appal.
It means:
- to horrify
- to shock
- to deeply disturb
- to cause great dismay
It is the spelling commonly preferred in American English.
Examples
The news appalled the entire nation.
The amount of waste appalled the environmental group.
His treatment of the animals appalled the public.
Appal vs Appall: Comparison Table
| Feature | Appal | Appall |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Shock or horrify | Shock or horrify |
| Pronunciation | Same | Same |
| British English | Preferred | Less common |
| American English | Less common | Preferred |
| Part of speech | Verb | Verb |
| Example | The story appalled her. | The story appalled her. |
| Difference | Spelling | Spelling |
When to Use Appal
Use appal when following British English spelling conventions.
This spelling is appropriate in contexts involving:
- British publications
- British academic writing
- UK-based organizations
- British audiences
- British English style guides
For example:
The shocking discovery appalled the investigators.
When to Use Appall
Use appall when following American English spelling conventions.
This spelling is common in:
- American publications
- US academic writing
- American websites
- US-based organizations
- American English style guides
For example:
The shocking discovery appalled the investigators.
Appal vs Appall in Different Forms
One useful point is that the spelling distinction becomes less obvious in some grammatical forms.
Base form
- British: appal
- American: appall
Third-person singular
- British: appals
- American: appalls
Present participle
- British: appalling
- American: appalling
Past tense
- British: appalled
- American: appalled
Past participle
- British: appalled
- American: appalled
Therefore, the clearest spelling difference is usually seen in the base form and forms directly built from it.
15 Examples of Appal/Appall
Because the meanings are identical, these examples can be written with either spelling depending on your preferred variety of English.
- The cruelty appalled everyone who witnessed it.
- The report appalled the investigators.
- His behavior appalled his parents.
- The conditions in the building appalled the inspectors.
- The amount of waste appalled the environmentalists.
- The decision appalled many members of the community.
- The evidence appalled the jury.
- The shocking images appalled viewers.
- The treatment of the workers appalled the public.
- The discovery appalled the entire team.
- The level of corruption appalled the journalists.
- Her insensitive remarks appalled her colleagues.
- The story appalled everyone in the room.
- The terrible conditions appalled the visitors.
- The scale of the damage appalled the residents.
Common Mistakes
1. Thinking one spelling is completely wrong
Appal and appall are both legitimate spellings.
The difference is primarily regional.
2. Using both spellings in the same document
If you are writing for a particular audience, it is best to remain consistent.
For example, if you are following American English, use:
appall
If you are following British English, use:
appal
3. Assuming the meanings are different
They are not.
Both mean:
to shock, horrify, or deeply disturb
4. Thinking “appalled” changes between British and American English
The past tense is normally spelled:
appalled
in both varieties.
5. Confusing appal/appall with “appeal”
These words are unrelated.
Appal/appall = shock or horrify
Appeal = attract, request, or formally challenge a decision
For example:
The decision appalled her.
versus:
The idea appealed to her.
Appal vs Appall Pronunciation
Appal and appall are pronounced the same in standard English varieties.
They are approximately pronounced:
uh-PAWL
The spelling difference does not normally create a pronunciation difference.
This is therefore a spelling variation, rather than a pronunciation distinction.
Memory Trick for Appal vs Appall
A simple way to remember the difference is:
British English → Appal
Think:
British = one L
American English → Appall
Think:
American = two Ls
So:
UK → appal
US → appall
The meanings remain exactly the same.
American vs British English
This is primarily a British-American spelling difference.
| Variety | Preferred Spelling |
|---|---|
| British English | appal |
| American English | appall |
| Canadian English | Both may occur |
| Australian English | appal is generally preferred |
| New Zealand English | appal is generally preferred |
The exact spelling preference can vary by publication and style guide, particularly outside the UK and US.
Appal/Appall vs Appalled
A common question is whether appalled is spelled differently in British and American English.
Usually, no.
Both use:
appalled
For example:
British:
I was appalled by the news.
American:
I was appalled by the news.
The difference is mainly visible in the base form:
appal / appall
Appal/Appall vs Horrify
Horrify and appal/appall have similar meanings, but their usage can differ slightly.
Horrify strongly emphasizes causing horror or extreme fear.
The movie horrified the audience.
Appal/appall often emphasizes shock, disgust, moral outrage, or deep dismay.
The cruelty appalled the audience.
Both can describe a very strong negative reaction.
Similar Words
Depending on context, alternatives for appal/appall include:
- horrify
- shock
- disgust
- horrify
- disturb
- outrage
- dismay
- distress
- repel
- alarm
- upset
The closest choice depends on the type of reaction you want to describe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “appal” or “appall” correct?
Both are correct. Appal is the traditional British spelling, while appall is the common American spelling.
What does appal mean?
Appal means to shock, horrify, or deeply disturb someone.
What does appall mean?
Appall means exactly the same thing as appal: to shock, horrify, or greatly disturb.
Is appal British or American?
Appal is primarily the British spelling.
Is appall American English?
Yes. Appall is the spelling commonly preferred in American English.
Are appal and appall pronounced the same?
Yes. They are generally pronounced the same despite their different spellings.
Is “appalled” spelled differently in British English?
No. Appalled is normally spelled with two ls in both British and American English.
Can I use appal in American English?
You can encounter it, but appall is the usual American spelling. If you are following American English conventions, use appall.
Final Verdict: Appal vs Appall
Appal and appall are not different words with different meanings. They are two regional spellings of the same verb. Appal is generally preferred in British English, while appall is generally preferred in American English.
The easiest way to remember the distinction is UK = appal and US = appall. Regardless of which spelling you choose, the meaning remains the same: to shock, horrify, or deeply disturb someone.
Remember This
Appal = British English
Appall = American English
Both mean:
to shock, horrify, or deeply disturb
And remember that the past tense is:
appalled
in both varieties.
Conclusion
The difference between appal and appall is mainly a matter of spelling rather than meaning or pronunciation. British English generally uses appal, while American English generally uses appall. Both forms describe a strong feeling of shock, horror, disgust or deep disturbance.
If you are writing for a British audience, choose appal; if you are following American English, choose appall. Most importantly, stay consistent throughout your writing. Once you remember the simple one L British / two L American distinction, this spelling difference becomes easy to handle.
