Transferred is the correct spelling. Transfered is incorrect in standard English.
The confusion happens because transfer ends in a single r, but when you add -ed, the final r is doubled:
transfer → transferred
The same spelling rule appears in the present participle:
transfer → transferring
So, if you are writing an email, report, application, or any other formal text, use transferred, not transfered.
The Correct Spelling
Transferred is the past tense and past participle of the verb transfer.
Transfered is a common spelling mistake caused by adding -ed directly to transfer without doubling the final consonant.
| Spelling | Correct? | Use |
|---|---|---|
| transferred | ✅ Yes | Standard English |
| transfered | ❌ No | Common spelling error |
For example:
- The money was transferred to my account.
- She transferred to another department.
- The patient was transferred to a different hospital.
- He has transferred ownership of the property.
Why Is There a Double “R” in Transferred?
The spelling comes from the way English forms certain past-tense verbs.
Transfer ends with a stressed final syllable and a single consonant:
transfer → transferred
When -ed is added, the final r is doubled:
transfer + ed = transferred
This is why transfered is not the standard spelling.
You can think of it as:
transfer → trans + fer → trans + ferr + ed → transferred
The doubled r is part of the spelling, even though you do not pronounce two separate r sounds.
Transfer, Transferred, and Transferring
The spelling can become confusing when different forms of the verb appear together.
Transfer
Transfer is the base form.
- I want to transfer the money.
- Can we transfer the files?
- She plans to transfer to another school.
Transferred
Transferred is the past tense and past participle.
- I transferred the money yesterday.
- The files were transferred successfully.
- She transferred to another branch.
Transferring
Transferring is the -ing form.
- I am transferring the files now.
- He is transferring to another department.
- They are transferring the funds.
Notice the spelling:
transfer → transferred → transferring
The final r is doubled before both -ed and -ing.
When to Use Transferred
Use transferred when something moved from one person, place, account, department, system, or situation to another.
The transfer can involve money, information, responsibility, ownership, employees, students, patients, or many other things.
Money
The bank transferred the payment this morning.
Work
Maria was transferred to the New York office.
School
James transferred to a different university.
Information
The data was transferred to the new system.
Responsibility
The manager transferred the responsibility to her assistant.
The word works in both everyday and formal English, so transferred is a useful spelling to remember.
Transferred in American and British English
There is no UK-versus-US spelling difference here.
Both American and British English use:
transferred
For example:
- American English: The employee was transferred to another office.
- British English: The employee was transferred to another office.
So changing from British English to American English does not make transfered correct.
If you are unsure, remember the standard form:
transfer → transferred
Common Mistake: Transfered
The incorrect form transfered looks natural at first glance because many English verbs simply take -ed:
- talk → talked
- work → worked
- clean → cleaned
But transfer follows a different spelling pattern.
Compare:
- transfer → transferred
- prefer → preferred
- refer → referred
These verbs double the final consonant before -ed.
So writing transfered is not just an alternative spelling. In standard English, it is a spelling error.
How to Remember Transferred
A simple memory trick is:
Transfer has two R’s when it gets -ed or -ing.
Think of these forms together:
transfer → transferred → transferring
The extra r helps you avoid the common mistake transfered.
You can also connect it with preferred and referred:
preferred, referred, transferred
All three contain a doubled final consonant before -ed.
Transferred in Real Sentences
Here are some natural examples showing how the word works in different contexts:
- The funds were transferred to the new account.
- She transferred the documents to her laptop.
- The company transferred him to its London office.
- The student transferred to another college.
- We have transferred the files to the new server.
- The patient was transferred to a specialist unit.
- Ownership was transferred to the buyer.
- The call was transferred to the customer service team.
These examples also show why context matters. Transferred can describe a physical movement, a change of location, or the movement of something such as money or information.
Transferred vs. Transferring
One useful way to understand the spelling is to compare the two forms.
Transferred describes a completed transfer or one that happened in the past:
The money was transferred yesterday.
Transferring describes an action that is happening or continuing:
We are transferring the money now.
Both forms double the r.
❌ transfered
❌ transfering
✅ transferred
✅ transferring
Is Transfered Ever Correct?
In standard modern English, transfered is not the correct spelling of the past tense or past participle of transfer.
You may see it online because it is a common typing or spelling mistake. Its appearance in a website, post, document, or search result does not make it a standard spelling.
For professional writing, use transferred.
Quick Way to Check the Spelling
If you are writing quickly and cannot remember whether there are two r’s, start with the base word:
TRANSFER
Now add -ED while doubling the final r:
TRANSFER + R + ED = TRANSFERRED
That gives you the correct form immediately.
The same pattern works for transferring:
TRANSFER + R + ING = TRANSFERRING
FAQs
1. Is it transferred or transfered?
Transferred is correct. Transfered is a misspelling.
2. Why does transferred have two r’s?
The final r in transfer is doubled when the suffix -ed is added, giving transferred.
3. Is transfered a word?
Transfered is not the standard spelling of the past tense or past participle of transfer. Use transferred instead.
4. Is transferring spelled with two r’s?
Yes. The correct spelling is transferring, with two r’s.
5. Is transferred the past tense of transfer?
Yes. Transferred is the simple past and past participle form of transfer.
6. Do Americans spell it transferred or transfered?
American English uses transferred. British English uses the same spelling.
7. What is the correct spelling: transfered money or transferred money?
The correct phrase is transferred money.
The bank transferred the money to my account.
8. What is the difference between transfer and transferred?
Transfer is the base form of the verb, while transferred is its past tense and past participle.
I will transfer the files.
I transferred the files yesterday.
9. What is the correct spelling: transferred or transferrred?
Transferred is correct, with two r’s, not three.
10. Is transferred used in both British and American English?
Yes. Transferred is the standard spelling in both varieties of English.
Conclusion
Transferred is the only standard spelling of the past tense and past participle of transfer. The form transfered is a common spelling mistake.
The easiest rule to remember is:
transfer → transferred → transferring
When -ed or -ing is added, double the final r. So write transferred, not transfered, in your emails, essays, reports, and other formal writing.
Hi, I’m Guy Cook from spellixy.com. I create simple, helpful content and easy digital writing tips to make learning clearer and faster.
