Publicly vs Publically: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Publicly is the standard and correct spelling of the adverb meaning “in a public way” or “openly.”

Publically is a less common variant and is usually treated as incorrect or nonstandard in modern English, especially in formal writing.

The confusion exists because the word comes from public + -ly, and some writers add an extra -al before -ly, following patterns found in words such as specifically or practically.

This guide explains the difference between publicly vs publically, their history, spelling rules, and use in British and American English.

You will also learn which form to use in emails, news writing, social media, academic work, and professional communication.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

Publicly is the correct and widely accepted spelling.

Publically is a rare variant, but it is not the preferred form in modern standard English.

Word	Status	Meaning	Example
publicly	Standard	In a public way; openly	She publicly thanked her team.
publically	Rare/nonstandard	Same intended meaning	She publically thanked her team.

The safest choice is publicly.

For example:

The company publicly announced the new policy.
He publicly apologized for the mistake.
The actor publicly supported the campaign.
The school publicly shared its new rules.

The spelling publicly may look unusual because it drops the second -l found in publical. However, the standard form is built directly from public + -ly.

The Origin of Publicly vs Publically

The word publicly comes from public, which traces back to the Latin word publicus, meaning “of the people” or “belonging to the people.”

English later developed the noun public and the adjective public to describe things connected with people, communities, or society.

The adverb is formed by adding -ly:

public + ly = publicly

This follows a common English word-building pattern. The suffix -ly often turns an adjective into an adverb.

Examples include:

quick → quickly
clear → clearly
sudden → suddenly
public → publicly

The spelling publically likely developed because some speakers and writers perceive an extra -al sound or spelling pattern between public and -ly. English contains many words ending in -al, so adding another syllable can seem natural.

However, standard modern English generally prefers publicly.

The difference is therefore not mainly about two different meanings. Both forms are intended to mean “in a public manner,” but publicly is the established standard form.

British English vs American English Spelling

Both British English and American English use publicly as the standard spelling.

Unlike some spelling differences, this word does not normally change between the two major varieties of English.

English variety	Preferred spelling	Example
American English	publicly	The company publicly released the report.
British English	publicly	The company publicly released the report.
Canadian English	publicly	The minister publicly addressed the issue.
Australian English	publicly	The group publicly rejected the claim.
International English	publicly	The results were publicly available.

The form publically can appear in some texts from different English-speaking regions, but it is much less common and is not the preferred spelling for polished professional writing.

Why Does Publicly Have Only One L?

A common reason for confusion is the spelling of the base word.

The word is:

public

Add -ly:

public + ly = publicly

You do not need to change public to publical first.

Compare:

public → publicly
tragic → tragically
basic → basically
automatic → automatically

English spelling does not always work through one simple rule, but in this case, remembering the base word makes the spelling easy.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Use publicly in almost every situation.

For American English

Use publicly in:

school assignments
business emails
reports
websites
newspapers
academic writing
official documents

Example:

The company publicly confirmed the changes.

For British and Commonwealth English

The same advice applies. Publicly is the standard choice in British English and other major Commonwealth varieties.

Example:

The minister publicly defended the decision.

For Global English

If you write for an international audience, publicly is the best option because it is widely recognized and accepted.

If your goal is clear, professional English, there is little reason to choose publically.

Common Mistakes with Publicly vs Publically

Mistake 1: Adding an Extra “al”

Incorrect or nonstandard:

The company publically announced the results.

Preferred:

The company publicly announced the results.

The extra al is unnecessary.

Mistake 2: Thinking Publically Is the British Spelling

Some writers assume that publically is British English while publicly is American English.

This is not a standard British-American spelling difference.

Both varieties normally use publicly.

Mistake 3: Treating Both Forms as Equally Common

You may find publically in published writing, but its presence does not make it the preferred modern spelling.

For formal writing, choose publicly.

Mistake 4: Confusing Publicly With Public

These words have different grammatical jobs.

Public can be an adjective or noun:

The meeting was open to the public.

Publicly is an adverb:

The company publicly apologized.

Mistake 5: Using Publically in Formal Writing

Even if readers understand publically, unusual spelling can make formal writing look less polished.

Choose the standard form:

The politician publicly addressed the issue.

Publicly vs Publically in Everyday Examples

Understanding real examples makes the difference easier to remember.

In Emails

Professional:

We are pleased to publicly announce the new partnership.

Less preferred:

We are pleased to publically announce the new partnership.

In News Writing

News articles often use publicly when describing an announcement, statement, or action.

The organization publicly rejected the allegations.

The company publicly released its annual report.

In Social Media

People may use either spelling online, but publicly is still the standard choice.

She publicly thanked everyone who helped with the project.

The team publicly shared its plans on social media.

In Academic Writing

Academic writing should favor standard spelling.

The researchers publicly presented their findings.

Avoid:

The researchers publically presented their findings.

In Formal Business Writing

Use publicly in reports, proposals, presentations, and official statements.

The company has publicly committed to reducing waste.

In Everyday Conversation

The word is also common in ordinary speech:

He apologized publicly.

She did not want to criticize him publicly.

Publicly vs Publically – Google Trends & Usage Data

Search and usage patterns generally favor publicly by a wide margin. Publicly is the established spelling used in mainstream dictionaries, edited publications, professional documents, and general English.

The alternative publically appears occasionally, but it is much less common.

Usage can vary by context. Informal online writing may contain more spelling variants because social media posts, comments, forums, and user-generated content are not always edited. A rare spelling appearing online does not necessarily mean it is a recommended standard form.

For SEO and professional content, publicly is the stronger choice because it matches the standard form readers expect.

Usage by Context

Context	Recommended form
Academic writing	publicly
Business writing	publicly
News writing	publicly
Government writing	publicly
Website content	publicly
Social media	publicly
Casual writing	publicly
Formal documents	publicly

When analyzing Google search data, remember that search volume can reflect confusion as well as correct usage. Someone searching for publically may be looking for the correct spelling rather than choosing it intentionally.

Publicly vs Publically Comparison Table

Feature	Publicly	Publically
Standard spelling	Yes	No, generally not preferred
Common in modern English	Yes	Much less common
Meaning	In a public way	Intended to mean the same
British English	Preferred	Rare
American English	Preferred	Rare
Formal writing	Recommended	Avoid
Academic writing	Recommended	Avoid
Business writing	Recommended	Avoid
News writing	Recommended	Avoid
Best choice for SEO	Yes	No

How to Remember the Correct Spelling

A simple trick is to start with the base word:

PUBLIC + LY = PUBLICLY

Do not insert AL between public and ly.

Think:

public → publicly

This is easier than trying to remember whether an extra syllable belongs in the middle.

Another useful memory trick is:

Publicly has “public” inside it.

Write the base word first:

public

Then add:

The result is:

publicly

Publicly vs Publically Pronunciation

Both spellings are generally intended to have the same pronunciation.

Publicly is commonly pronounced approximately:

/ˈpʌblɪkli/

The word can be broken into a simple sound pattern:

PUB-lick-lee

Example:

The company publicly announced the decision.

The pronunciation does not provide a reliable reason to choose publically. The spelling difference mainly comes from how the word is formed and written.

Is Publically Ever Acceptable?

You may encounter publically in dictionaries, historical texts, older publications, or user-generated writing. Its appearance does not necessarily mean that it is the best choice for modern standard English.

In some dictionaries, a rare variant may be recorded because dictionaries describe how language is used. A dictionary entry for a variant does not always mean that the variant is equally common or equally suitable in every context.

For modern professional writing, the practical rule is simple:

Use publicly.

If you are writing for school, work, publishing, journalism, or an international audience, publicly is the clear choice.

FAQS

1. Is publicly or publically correct?

Publicly is the standard and preferred spelling. Publically is a rare variant and is generally best avoided in formal modern English.

2. Is publically a word?

Publically can be found in some dictionaries and written sources, but it is much less common than publicly and is not the preferred form for standard professional writing.

3. Is publicly British or American?

Publicly is used in both British and American English. It is not a spelling difference like colour and color.

4. Why is publicly spelled without “al”?

Because it is normally formed directly from public + -ly:

public + ly = publicly

There is no need to insert al.

5. How do you use publicly in a sentence?

You can use publicly when something happens openly or in front of other people.

Example:

The CEO publicly apologized to the customers.

6. Should I use publically in academic writing?

No. Publicly is the safer and more standard choice for academic writing.

7. What is the easiest way to remember publicly?

Remember:

PUBLIC + LY = PUBLICLY

Start with public and add -ly without adding al.

Conclusion

Publicly is the standard spelling, while publically is a rare variant that is generally not preferred in modern formal English.

The practical rule is simple: form the adverb directly from public + -ly, giving publicly.

Use this spelling in schoolwork, business writing, news articles, websites, social media, and professional documents.

Remembering the base word makes the spelling easy: public → publicly.

If you often compare confusing English words, you can also read our related guide on [capital vs capitol] to learn another common spelling and meaning difference.

Choosing the standard form helps your writing stay clear, natural, and professional.