😱 Appal vs Appall Meaning Usage and the Real Difference Explained

Language is full of fascinating quirks, and the “Appal vs. Appall” debate is one of them. These two spellings often confuse writers because they sound identical and mean the same thing. So why the difference?

This guide dives deep into everything you need to know — from origins and definitions to regional usage, grammar rules, real examples, and expert tips to help you never mix them up again.

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Why the Confusion Exists

It’s easy to get confused between appal and appall because both versions look and sound almost identical. In fact, they share the same pronunciation, meaning, and grammatical role. The only difference is regional preference.

• Appal → preferred in British English
• Appall → standard in American English

So, when someone says “The news appalled me,” they’re not wrong in either version — they’re simply following the spelling standard of their region.

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The Core Difference Between “Appal” and “Appall”

The word means the same thing in both forms: to horrify, shock, or fill someone with dismay. The difference lies in spelling convention, not meaning.

Here’s a quick overview:

Version	Used In	Meaning	Example Sentence
Appal	British English	To horrify or shock deeply	The cruelty of the act appalled the villagers.
Appall	American English	To disgust or shock intensely	The crime would appall anyone with a conscience.

Think of it like color vs. colour or honor vs. honour — same meaning, different side of the Atlantic.

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Meaning and Definition

According to both Merriam-Webster and Oxford English Dictionary, appal/appall means:

“To cause (someone) to feel fear, shock, or disgust.”

It conveys an intense emotional reaction — often moral or visceral — in response to something dreadful or offensive.

Synonyms include:

• Horrify
• Shock
• Outrage
• Disgust
• Terrify

Examples:

• The violence of the scene appalled the audience.
• Her ignorance of basic facts appalled the teacher.
• The poor living conditions appalled the visitors.

So, whether you spell it with one or two L’s, the emotion remains the same — strong, negative, and unforgettable.

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Origin and Etymology of “Appal” and “Appall”

The story of these spellings begins centuries ago.

Middle English Roots

• Derived from the Old French word apalir, meaning to grow pale.
• That French root came from the Latin “pallere,” meaning to be pale or blanch.

The original idea was that shock makes someone pale, hence appal — literally, “to make pale.”

Evolution of Spelling

During the 16th and 17th centuries, spelling wasn’t standardized. Words often had multiple variants:

• Appale
• Apalle
• Appall
• Appal

By the 18th century:

• British English settled on appal (single L)
• American English kept appall (double L), following Noah Webster’s reforms, which aimed to simplify and regularize spelling.

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Timeline of the Word’s Development

Period	Spelling Variants	Region	Notes
1300s	Appalle, Apalle	England	Derived from Old French apalir
1500s	Appall	England	Gained popularity in Middle English texts
1800s	Appal vs Appall	Split between UK and US	Webster’s reform made “appall” dominant in America

So, the two forms are siblings, not rivals — born of the same linguistic ancestor but raised in different dialects.

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Usage Over Time: What the Data Shows

Let’s look at the numbers.

Google Ngram Viewer reveals a clear shift:
Between 1800 and 1900, appal dominated in both regions. But by the mid-20th century, appall surged ahead in American publications, while appal held its ground in British literature.

Usage Patterns (1800–Present)

Year	Appal Frequency (UK)	Appall Frequency (US)
1800	High	Low
1900	Moderate	Rising
2000	Declining	Dominant
2024	Rare	Standard

COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English) confirms that appall appears in American writing 98% more frequently than appal today.

Meanwhile, BNC (British National Corpus) still features appal in reputable outlets like The Guardian and BBC News.

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Grammar and Verb Forms

Both spellings follow identical grammar and conjugation rules. The only variation is spelling consistency.

Tense	Form (British)	Form (American)	Example Sentence
Base	appal	appall	Such cruelty appalls me.
Past	appalled	appalled	The war appalled the world.
Present Participle	appalling	appalling	The conditions are appalling.
Past Participle	appalled	appalled	They were appalled by the news.

Adjective Forms

• Appalling: means extremely bad or shocking.
  Example: The appalling service ruined the meal.
• Appalled: describes a person’s reaction.
  Example: She was appalled by the unfair treatment.

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Usage Examples in Context

British English Examples (Appal)

• The decision to close the library will appal many residents.
• It would appal any parent to hear such stories.
• The cost of living crisis continues to appal the public.

American English Examples (Appall)

• The corruption scandals appall voters nationwide.
• It would appall me to see such negligence.
• His lack of empathy appalls his colleagues.

“What appalls me is not the wickedness of the wicked but the weakness of the good.” — Winston Churchill

Notice how both spellings carry the same emotional gravity, whether used in formal or casual writing.

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Synonyms and Related Words

Sometimes, appall might feel too formal or intense for certain contexts. Here are several synonyms and their nuances:

Synonym	Tone	Example
Horrify	Strong, emotional	The scene horrified the audience.
Shock	Neutral to strong	The confession shocked everyone.
Disgust	Moral or physical revulsion	The smell disgusted him.
Outrage	Moral anger	The injustice outraged citizens.
Offend	Mild shock or disapproval	The comment offended the guests.

Each word carries its own degree of emotional weight. Appall often implies moral shock or disbelief — a deeper, more profound reaction than simple surprise.

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“Appalled” and “Appalling” in Context

Let’s explore how these common derivatives appear in real-world writing.

Appalled (Past Tense)

Used to express shock or dismay after an event.

Examples:

• Citizens were appalled by the government’s negligence.
• I was appalled to hear about the mistreatment of workers.
• She looked appalled when she learned the truth.

Appalling (Adjective)

Describes something terrible, horrifying, or disgraceful.

Examples:

• The living conditions were appalling.
• The team’s performance was appalling — they didn’t score once!
• The service was so appalling that customers walked out.

Case Study: Media Usage

A quick comparison between American and British media:

Publication	Region	Usage Example
The Guardian	UK	“The appalling cost of war must not be forgotten.”
The New York Times	US	“The appalling number of casualties left the nation in grief.”
BBC News	UK	“Viewers were appalled by the scenes of cruelty.”
CNN	US	“The appalling weather disrupted thousands of flights.”

Both prefer the form consistent with their regional spelling standards.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Writers often trip over small but important distinctions. Here are the most frequent ones:

1. Mixing Up Spellings

• ❌ It will appall them in London.
• ✅ It will appal them in London.
• ❌ The behavior appaled everyone.
• ✅ The behavior appalled everyone.

2. Confusing with “Appeal”

Because the words sound similar, people sometimes mistype “appeal” instead of “appal.”

• ❌ The movie appealed her.
• ✅ The movie appalled her.

3. Overusing “Appalling”

Appalling is powerful, so use it intentionally. Reserve it for truly shocking or dreadful things, not minor annoyances.

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Writing Tips: Which One Should You Use?

Here’s the golden rule:

If You’re Writing For…	Use This Form	Example
UK, Ireland, or Commonwealth countries	Appal	It would appal the public to know the truth.
US or global digital audience	Appall	The violence in the footage will appall viewers.

Academic vs. Online Writing

• Academic papers (US) → appall
• British academic or print → appal
• Blogs, media, online content → use the regional standard for your main readership.

Pro tip: When in doubt, stick to appall. It’s globally recognized and accepted in digital writing.

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Quick Self-Test: Can You Tell Which One to Use?

Fill in the blanks with the correct word (appal or appall):

1. The cruelty of the experiment would _______ any animal lover.
2. His ignorance of history truly _______ his teachers.
3. The journalist’s account was _______ in its detail.
4. The citizens were _______ at the corruption scandal.
5. The service at the hotel was _______ — I’d never go back.

Answer Key:

1. Appall (US) / Appal (UK)
2. Appalled
3. Appalling
4. Appalled
5. Appalling

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Summary Table: Everything at a Glance

Aspect	Appal	Appall
Region	British English	American English
Meaning	To horrify or shock	Same meaning
Frequency	Less common	Dominant globally
Verb Forms	appal, appalled, appalling	appall, appalled, appalling
Typical Usage	UK print, formal writing	US writing, online media
Examples	“It would appal me to see such waste.”	“It would appall me to see such waste.”

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does “appall” actually mean?

It means to horrify, shock, or disgust someone deeply — often in response to something morally wrong or dreadful.

Is “appal” wrong to use?

No. It’s the correct British English spelling. Americans prefer “appall,” but both are grammatically correct.

Why does American English use two L’s?

Because of Noah Webster’s 19th-century spelling reforms, which simplified some words but doubled consonants in others for clarity.

Which one should I use in professional writing?

Match your audience. If your readers are in the US, use appall. If they’re in the UK, use appal.

Are “appalled” and “appalling” the same thing?

Not exactly. Appalled describes the reaction (how someone feels), while appalling describes the cause (what makes them feel that way).

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Final Thoughts

The “Appal vs. Appall” confusion is a perfect example of how English evolves differently across regions without losing its soul. Both spellings trace their roots to the same Middle English origin and carry the same emotional punch.

Here’s the bottom line:

• Use “appal” for British audiences.
• Use “appall” for American readers.
• Whichever you choose, stay consistent within a piece.

Next time you’re appalled (or appalled, depending where you are) by a spelling debate, you’ll know the reason behind it — and you’ll spell it with confidence.