Amateur vs Amatuer: Which Spelling Is Correct?
Amateur is the correct spelling in standard American and British English. Amatuer is a misspelling caused by reversing the final two vowels. The correct word ends in -eur, not -uer. An amateur is someone who participates in an activity for enjoyment rather than as a profession, or someone who lacks professional experience in a particular field.
Amateur vs Amatuer: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Amateur | Amatuer |
|---|---|---|
| Spelling | ✅ Correct | ❌ Incorrect |
| Ending | -eur | -uer |
| Part of speech | Noun and adjective | Misspelling |
| Meaning | Nonprofessional participant; sometimes an inexperienced person | No separate standard meaning |
| American English | Standard | Not standard |
| British English | Standard | Not standard |
Example:
❌ Incorrect: My brother is an amatuer photographer.
✅ Correct: My brother is an amateur photographer.
Why? The word amateur ends with the letters E-U-R. Reversing the E and U creates a spelling error.
What Does Amateur Mean?
Amateur can function as both a noun and an adjective. Its meaning depends on how it is used in a sentence.
1. Amateur as a Noun
As a noun, an amateur is someone who takes part in an activity without doing it as a profession, often because they enjoy it.
Examples:
- Daniel is an amateur who enjoys photographing wildlife.
- Several amateurs entered the local chess tournament.
- The competition welcomed both amateurs and professionals.
In these sentences, amateur identifies a person rather than describing another noun.
Important: Being an amateur does not automatically mean someone lacks skill. An amateur musician, for example, may be highly accomplished without making music their profession.
2. Amateur as an Adjective
As an adjective, amateur describes a person, activity, or organization that is not professional.
Examples:
- The town has a thriving amateur theater group.
- She joined an amateur cycling club.
- An amateur astronomer spotted the object through a telescope.
- The festival featured several amateur filmmakers.
Here, amateur modifies nouns such as theater, cycling, astronomer, and filmmakers.
3. Amateur Can Suggest Inexperience
In some contexts, amateur also means inexperienced or lacking professional skill. This meaning can be critical or insulting.
Compare:
- Neutral: He’s an amateur photographer who takes pictures on weekends.
- Critical: The repairs looked like amateur work.
The first sentence describes someone’s nonprofessional status. The second suggests that the work was poorly done.
When describing someone, consider whether you mean nonprofessional or inexperienced. Those ideas are not always the same.
Why Is Amateur Spelled With -eur?
The word amateur comes from French and ultimately traces back to the Latin word amator, meaning a person who loves something. The connection reflects the idea of participating in an activity because of personal interest or enjoyment.
The important spelling detail is the final three letters.
- ✅ Amat + eur = amateur
- ❌ Amat + uer = amatuer
The E comes before the U.
A Simple Memory Trick
Think of the correct ending as E-U-R, not U-E-R.
You can also remember this sentence:
“An amateur enjoys what they do.”
The word enjoys begins with E, which can remind you that E comes before U in amateur.
This is only a memory aid. It is not a general rule for spelling other English words.
Amateur, Amateurs, and Amateurish
Once you know the correct spelling, you can use it in several related forms.
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Amateur | One nonprofessional participant | She’s an amateur painter. |
| Amateurs | More than one amateur | The workshop welcomes amateurs. |
| Amateurish | Lacking skill or professional quality | The presentation looked amateurish. |
| Amateurism | The practice or status of being an amateur | The organization discussed amateurism in sports. |
The plural is straightforward:
Amateur + s = amateurs
There is no need to change the final letters.
However, amateurish deserves special attention. It generally suggests a lack of skill or polish, whereas amateur can simply describe someone who participates for enjoyment.
Compare:
- The exhibition features amateur artists. — The artists are not professionals.
- The exhibition had an amateurish layout. — The arrangement appeared poorly executed.
These sentences make different judgments. Choosing the wrong term could unintentionally insult someone.
Common Mistakes With Amateur
Mistake 1: Reversing E and U
❌ Incorrect: My cousin is an amatuer photographer.
✅ Correct: My cousin is an amateur photographer.
Explanation: The standard spelling ends in -eur.
Mistake 2: Misspelling the Plural
❌ Incorrect: Several amatuers joined the painting workshop.
✅ Correct: Several amateurs joined the painting workshop.
Explanation: Add S to the correctly spelled singular noun amateur.
Mistake 3: Using Amateur When You Mean Unskilled
Potentially misleading: The amateur photographer made several mistakes.
More precise: The inexperienced photographer made several mistakes.
Explanation: Amateur describes nonprofessional status, not necessarily a lack of ability. If experience is the point, inexperienced may be clearer.
Quick Practice: Amateur or Amatuer?
Choose the correctly spelled word.
1. The local theater group welcomes _____ actors.
A. Amateur B. Amatuer
2. The competition attracted dozens of _____.
A. Amatuers B. Amateurs
3. She enjoys astronomy as an _____.
A. Amateur B. Amatuer
Answers
- A. Amateur — The adjective uses the -eur ending.
- B. Amateurs — The plural adds S to amateur.
- A. Amateur — The noun has the same spelling as the adjective.
Not in standard contemporary English when referring to a nonprofessional participant or someone lacking experience. Amatuer is a misspelling of amateur.
No. American and British English both use amateur. Pronunciation may vary, but the spelling remains the same.
Not necessarily. A beginner is someone who has recently started learning an activity. An amateur participates outside a professional role and may have years of experience.For example, someone who has played chess recreationally for twenty years may still be an amateur without being a beginner.
Use an amateur.The word begins with a vowel sound, so the appropriate indefinite article is an.✅ She’s an amateur musician.❌ She’s a amateur musician.
Sources
- Cambridge Dictionary — Amateur — Noun and adjective definitions, usage labels, and pronunciation.
- American Heritage Dictionary — Amateur — Definitions and word origin.
Emily Carter is the writer behind ChuckleStation.com, a site that untangles grammar mistakes, tricky word choices, and common spelling slipups. She focuses on the errors people actually make in emails, essays, captions, and texts, then explains why they happen in plain English.
Every article pairs a clear rule with real sentences, so readers can spot the mistake and fix it fast. Emily double checks each explanation against trusted dictionaries and style guides, because getting a grammar answer wrong defeats the whole point.
She believes good writing shouldn’t feel intimidating. A little humor, a few memorable examples, and a straight answer usually do more than a page of rules.
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