Harass is one of those words that consistently trips writers up — not because it is complicated, but because its spelling does not match what people expect. The double-letter question is what causes the trouble: writers know there is a double letter somewhere, but they put it in the wrong place. The most common mistake is harrass — double R and double S — which feels right because other similar words, such as embarrass, do have double letters in both positions. Harass does not. It has one R and two Ss, and once you know that, the spelling is straightforward.
This guide settles the question once and for all and gives you the tools to spell harass correctly every time.
The Correct Spelling
HARASS
h-a-r-a-s-s | One R, Double S
The Correct Spelling
The correct spelling is harass — one R and double S.
h — a — r — a — s — s
The common misspelling harrass — with double R and double S — is incorrect. So is harras — with double R and single S. The only correct spelling is harass: one R, two Ss.
Why Is Harass So Often Misspelled?
The confusion comes from a reasonable but incorrect assumption: that harass follows the same doubling pattern as other similar-sounding words. Many English words that sound like “harass” do have double letters — for example, embarrass (double R and double S) and arraign. This leads writers to assume harass must also have a double R.
The word comes from the French harasser, which itself derives from the Old French harer (to set a dog on). Neither the French origin nor the English form has ever had a double R — the single R has always been correct. Knowing this helps explain why harrass, despite feeling intuitively right to many writers, is simply wrong.
Memory Trick
Memory Trick
Harass has one Rear and two Sides — one R and two Ss. Alternatively, remember: HARd to spell? just one R, double S.
Another useful approach: think of the word being split as ha + rass. The second part — rass — has one R and double S, just like the full word. Once you see it as ha-rass, the spelling becomes clear.
What Does Harass Mean?
Harass is a verb meaning to subject someone to repeated and unwanted aggressive, threatening or intimidating behaviour. It can also mean to persistently irritate or trouble someone. The word is used in both everyday and formal/legal contexts, including employment law, criminal law and online behaviour policy.
To harass someone at work — to subject a colleague to bullying, discriminatory or hostile behaviour
Sexual harassment — unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature
Online harassment — targeted threatening or intimidating behaviour on social media or other platforms
Examples in Sentences
She reported that a colleague had been harassing her for several months.
The legislation makes it unlawful to harass an employee on the grounds of race or religion.
The online campaign was described by police as a coordinated attempt to harass the journalist.
The Equality Act 2010 defines harassment as unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic.
He was found guilty of harassing his former partner following the breakdown of their relationship.
Related Words
All related words follow the same single-R, double-S pattern:
Harassment (noun) — The company’s harassment policy was updated following the tribunal.
Harassed (past tense / adjective) — She felt harassed by the constant interruptions during her presentation.
Harassing (present participle) — The behaviour was described as persistent and harassing.
Harasser (noun) — The tribunal found the harasser had acted contrary to company policy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harass or harrass?
The correct spelling is harass — with one R and double S. Harrass (double R, double S) is a common misspelling but it is incorrect. The only correct spelling is harass: h-a-r-a-s-s.
How do you remember how to spell harass?
Remember: harass has one R and two Ss. Think of it as ha-rass — one R in the middle, double S at the end. Alternatively: “one Rear, two Sides.” Once you see the pattern, it is difficult to forget.
Is the spelling the same in British and American English?
Yes — harass is spelled identically in both British and American English. Unlike some words where spelling varies between the two varieties, harass has always been spelled with one R and double S in both. There is no variation.
What is the noun form of harass?
The noun form is harassment — following the same one-R, double-S pattern as the verb. Harassment is used in everyday language as well as in legal and employment contexts.
Is “harassed” one word or two?
Harassed is one word — the past tense and past participle of the verb harass. It is also used as an adjective, as in “she looked harassed.” In all its forms, the spelling follows the same pattern: one R, double S.
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Summary
The correct spelling is harass — one R and double S: h-a-r-a-s-s
Harrass (double R, double S) is incorrect
Memory trick: one Rear (R), two Sides (SS) — or think ha-rass
All related words follow the same pattern: harassment, harassed, harassing, harasser
The spelling is identical in British and American English
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