If you’ve ever typed “adress” and then stared at that red underline, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most commonly mistyped words in English, and the mix-up usually comes down to one missing letter.

The correct spelling is address, with two D’s. In this guide, you’ll get the quick answer, a simple memory trick to lock it in for good, plus real examples so you never second-guess it again.

Quick Answer: Is It Address or Adress?

“Address” is correct. “Adress” is always wrong in English.

The word has two D’s and two S’s: a-d-d-r-e-s-s. There’s no context, dialect, or writing style where “adress” is acceptable. Whether you’re filling out a form, writing an email, or drafting a formal letter, the spelling never changes.

You’re Not Alone

This mistake is extremely common, and there’s a simple reason for it. When you say “address” out loud, you don’t hear the double D. The word sounds like “uh-dress,” so your ear doesn’t give you any clue that a letter is doubled.

If autocorrect has ever caught you writing “adress,” that’s a sign your instincts are picking up the sound, not the spelling. Once you know why it happens, it’s easy to fix for good.

Why This Mistake Happens

There are three main reasons people drop a D from “address.”

The pronunciation hides it.

English doesn’t stress the second D when the word is spoken, so it’s easy to assume there’s only one.

Other languages spell it with one D.

Dutch and Afrikaans use “adres,” while Swedish and Norwegian use “adress.” If you’ve seen or used these spellings before, that pattern can carry over into English.

The word’s structure isn’t obvious.

“Address” is built from two smaller parts, but most people never learn this, so the double D looks random instead of logical.

Word Origin

“Address” entered English in the 14th century from the Old French word adresser, meaning “to direct” or “to guide.” That word traces back further to the Vulgar Latin phrase ad directiare, roughly “to make straight” or “to point toward.”

The original sense was about directing attention or action. Over time, English speakers extended the meaning to cover the specific place something is directed to — which is how we got today’s meaning of a home, business, or email address.

The Spelling Trick

Here’s a simple way to remember it: split the word into its two building blocks.

AD + DRESS = ADDRESS

Each half contributes one D, and both stay intact when you join them. Think of it like two Lego pieces snapping together — nothing gets dropped in the process.

A quick way to apply this: before you write “address,” picture the word splitting apart into “AD” and “DRESS.” If you can see both halves, you’ll never forget either D.

Address as Noun vs Verb (Pronunciation Difference)

The spelling of “address” never changes, but the pronunciation can shift depending on how you’re using it — and this trips people up too.

As a noun

(a physical or email address), many speakers stress the first syllable: AD-ress. This is more common in everyday, casual speech.

As a verb 

(to speak to someone, or to write on an envelope), the stress moves to the second syllable: ad-DRESS.

Both pronunciations are widely accepted, and dictionaries list them as regional or stylistic variants rather than errors. What matters for spelling purposes is that the written word stays exactly the same either way: address.

Address vs Adress vs Addresse — Comparison Table

Spelling	Correct?	Why
address	✅ Correct	Standard English spelling — two D’s, two S’s
adress	❌ Incorrect	Missing one D; matches Dutch/Swedish spelling, not English
addres	❌ Incorrect	Missing the final S; usually a fast-typing error
addresse	❌ Incorrect	Extra E at the end; borrowed from French, not valid in English
adres	❌ Incorrect	Missing both a D and the doubled structure

Examples in Context

As a noun (location):

• Please confirm your shipping address before checkout.
• Her office address changed after the company relocated.

As a noun (email/web):

• What’s your email address? I’ll send the file over.
• Double-check the web address before you click the link.

As a noun (speech):

• The mayor gave a short address to open the ceremony.

As a verb (speak to):

• The manager will address the team’s concerns on Monday.
• She addressed the audience with confidence.

As a verb (deal with):

• The report addresses three major budget issues.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Keep an eye out for these frequent errors:

• adress — the most common mistake, missing one D
• addres — missing the final S, usually from typing too quickly
• addresse — an extra E added at the end, often from confusion with French
• adres — combines two errors at once

If you’re ever unsure while typing, pause and picture the AD + DRESS split. It only takes a second and it’s far more reliable than guessing.

Other Words With the Same Spelling Pattern

“Address” isn’t the only English word where a prefix doubles a letter when it joins a root word. This happens because of a pattern called assimilation, where the prefix’s spelling shifts to match the sound of the word it’s attached to.

A few examples that follow a similar doubling pattern:

• accommodate — from ac- (a form of ad-) + commodate
• occasion — from oc- (a form of ad-) + cas
• attract — from at- (a form of ad-) + tract
• assign — from as- (a form of ad-) + sign

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell address or adress?

The correct spelling is “address,” with two D’s and two S’s. “Adress” is always incorrect in English, no matter the context.

Are there two ways to spell address?

No. “Address” is the only correct spelling. “Adress” may appear in languages like Dutch or Swedish, but it’s never accepted in English.

Why does address have two D’s?

Because the word comes from two parts: AD (meaning “to”) and DRESS (meaning “to direct”). When combined, both D’s are kept: AD-DRESS.

What are the two meanings of address?

As a noun, “address” means a location (like a home or email address) or a formal speech. As a verb, it means to speak to someone or to deal with a problem.

How do you spell “address an issue”?

It’s spelled the same way: “address.” Here it’s used as a verb meaning to deal with or handle a problem, as in “the team will address the issue.”

Is “adress” ever correct in British or American English?

No. The spelling “address” is identical in both British and American English. There’s no regional variation for this word.

Does spellcheck always catch “adress”?

Most modern spellcheckers and browsers flag “adress” automatically. But it’s still worth learning the correct spelling, since some quick messaging apps or informal platforms may not catch it.

Final Thoughts

Now you know the answer for good: it’s address, never “adress.” Two D’s, two S’s, no exceptions — whether you’re filling a form, writing an email, or delivering a speech.

Next time you pause mid-sentence, just remember the trick: AD + DRESS = ADDRESS. It’s a small detail, but getting it right makes your writing look sharper and more polished.