Appall vs. Appal
“Appall” and “appal” are regional spelling variants of the same verb. Cambridge labels “appal” UK and “appall” US.
Use “appall” in US English and “appal” in UK-oriented English, unless your house style specifies otherwise.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Form | Regional convention | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| appall | US English | Same verb and meaning. |
| appal | UK English | Same verb and meaning. |
Quick tests
Regional spelling test
Are you following US English?
If yes: Prefer “appall.”
If no: In UK-oriented prose, prefer “appal.”
Caveat: Do not treat either regional form as a different meaning.
Examples
US: The conditions appall many visitors.
“Appall” is the US spelling.
UK: The conditions appal many visitors.
“Appal” is the UK spelling.
Further guidance
Core difference
“Appall” and “appal” are regional spellings of the same verb.
Usage Boundary
Use “appall” in US English and “appal” in UK-oriented English unless a house style directs otherwise.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Appal — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct evidence identifying appal as UK and appall as US spelling.