Anually vs. Annually: Which Spelling is Correct?

If you are looking for the correct spelling, here it is: Annually is the only correct spelling in standard English.

The word requires two "n"s and two "l"s (A-N-N-U-A-L-L-Y). Spelling it as "anually" with a single "n" is universally considered a grammatical error in professional, academic, and casual writing. If you struggle with this word, you are not alone—it is one of the most frequently misspelled words in the American English language.

Notice how the root "annus" ends in a double "n", which is carried into English. The suffix "-al" plus "-ly" creates the double "l".

To understand why the double letters exist, we have to look at Latin. The word comes from the Latin word annus, which translates to "year." It is built from this base root, carrying the double "n" directly into English.

When the suffix "-al" is added to create the adjective "annual," the double "n" is preserved to maintain the root's meaning. Subsequently, when adding the "-ly" to form the adverb "annually," the existing double "l" from the suffix creates a second set of double letters. Therefore, to honor the history of the word, you must include two "n"s and two "l"s.

Noah Webster, the father of American English spelling, intentionally simplified many words, but he left "annually" alone because its Latin roots required the double consonants to retain their structural meaning.

• Occur annually
• Meet annually
• Published annually
• Reviewed annually
• Updated annually
• Reported annually

In daily conversation, "annually" is often used when talking about routines, health check-ups, or subscriptions. For example, telling a friend, "I visit the dentist annually" means you go once a year. It is a precise, slightly formal way to say "every year."

• I visit the dentist annually for a deep cleaning.
• We update our emergency contact information annually.
• I clean out the garage annually to get rid of clutter.
• My car requires an inspection annually to stay registered.
• He renews his gym membership annually to save money.

In academic writing, "annually" is frequently used to describe data collection intervals, recurring natural phenomena, or scheduled assessments. For instance, "The wildlife population is counted annually by park rangers." It indicates a strict, periodic recurrence.

• Standardized testing is administered annually to all students.
• The university publishes a review of its research annually.
• The wildlife population is counted annually by park rangers.
• Student enrollment numbers are tracked annually.
• The library clears out outdated archives annually.

In business emails, "annually" is a cornerstone of financial and operational language. Saying "The budget is reviewed annually" sounds much more professional than "We look at the budget every year." It implies a structured, scheduled corporate process.

• The company releases its earnings report annually.
• Employees are evaluated on their performance annually.
• The audit is conducted annually to ensure compliance.
• The budget is approved annually by the board of directors.
• Subscriptions are billed annually to save on monthly fees.