Have you ever typed attendance or attendence into Google and stopped, unsure which spelling is correct? You’re not alone. This is one of the most common spelling confusions in English.
Students, teachers, office workers, HR professionals, and writers often face this problem. Both spellings look similar, sound almost the same, and seem correct at first glance.
This article clearly explains attendance vs attendence which one is correct, why the mistake happens, and how to avoid it.
By the end, you’ll understand the correct spelling, its origin, and how to use it confidently in real-life writing.
Attendance or Attendence – Quick Answer
Attendance is the only correct spelling.
Attendence is incorrect and considered a spelling error in all forms of English.
Examples:
- ✅ Student attendance was recorded daily.
- ❌ Student attendence was recorded daily.
- ✅ Your attendance at the meeting is required.
- ❌ Your attendence at the meeting is required.
There is no situation where attendence is accepted in standard English.
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The Origin of Attendence or Attendance
The word attendance comes from the Latin word attendere, meaning ‘to give attention to’ or ‘to be present’. This Latin root passed into Old French as attendance and later entered Middle English with the same spelling.
The key reason people misspell it as attendence is because many English nouns end in -ence, such as:
- difference
- confidence
- silence
However, attendance does not follow that pattern.
It follows the -ance noun formation rule, which applies to verbs ending in -end:
- attend → attendance
- depend → dependence (note: different rule here)
English spelling is inconsistent, and this mix of -ance and -ence endings is a major source of confusion. But historically and linguistically, attendance has always been spelled with ‘ance.’
British English vs American English Spelling
One common question is whether attendance and attendence differ between British and American English. The answer is simple.
✅ Both British and American English use:
Attendance
There is no regional variation for this word.
Comparison Table
| Aspect | British English | American English |
| Correct spelling | Attendance | Attendance |
| Incorrect spelling | Attendence | Attendence |
| Used in schools | Yes | Yes |
| Used in offices | Yes | Yes |
| Used in legal documents | Yes | Yes |
So, no matter where your audience is UK, US, Australia, Canada, or anywhere else attendance is always correct.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Here is simple, audience-based advice:
- For US audiences: Use attendance
- For UK audiences: Use attendance
- For Commonwealth countries: Use attendance
- For global or SEO content: Always use attendance
There is never a reason to use attendence. Using the wrong spelling can hurt:
- Academic grades
- Professional image
- SEO rankings
- Trust and clarity
If you remember just one thing, remember this:
👉 Attendance = correct.
Attendence = wrong.
Common Mistakes with Attendance or Attendence
Here are the most frequent mistakes people make:
1. Writing ‘attendence’ by habit
Many writers assume all similar words end in -ence.
❌ Attendance policy requires full attendence.
✅ Attendance policy requires full attendance.
2. Copying spoken pronunciation
Both spellings sound the same when spoken, which leads to spelling errors.
3. Using incorrect spellings in forms
Mistakes often appear in:
- Attendance sheets
- School notices
- HR documents
4. Auto-correct confusion
Some users ignore spellcheck warnings and assume the word is fine.
Tip: If your spellchecker underlines attendence, it’s wrong.
Attendance or Attendence in Everyday Examples
Emails
- ✅ Please ensure your attendance at tomorrow’s meeting.
- ❌ Please ensure your attendence at tomorrow’s meeting.
School & Education
- ✅ Low attendance affects academic performance.
- ❌ Low attendence affects academic performance.
News & Media
- ✅ Event attendance increased by 20% this year.
- ❌ Event attendence increased by 20% this year.
Social Media
- ✅ Thanks everyone for your amazing attendance!
- ❌ Thanks everyone for your amazing attendence!
Formal & Legal Writing
- ✅ Attendance is mandatory under company policy.
- ❌ Attendence is mandatory under company policy.
Attendance or Attendence: Google Trends & Usage Data
Search behavior clearly shows that attendance is the dominant and correct term worldwide. Millions of searches per month include:
- attendance meaning
- attendance sheet
- attendance policy
- attendance register
The misspelling attendence appears mainly because:
- Users are unsure of spelling
- Students type it phonetically
- Non-native speakers guess the ending
In English-speaking countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and India, attendance is used in education, healthcare, law, business, and government. The incorrect form does not appear in dictionaries, style guides, or official publications.
Attendance vs Attendence – Comparison Table
| Feature | Attendance | Attendence |
| Correct spelling | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Dictionary listed | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Used in British English | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Used in American English | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Acceptable in exams | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Professional usage | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
FAQs:
1. Is attendence ever correct?
No. Attendence is always incorrect in standard English.
2. Why do people confuse attendance and attendence?
Because many English words end in -ence, and both spellings sound the same when spoken.
3. Is attendance spelled differently in British English?
No. British and American English both use attendance.
4. Can I use attendence in informal writing?
No. Even informal writing should use attendance.
5. What is the easiest way to remember the correct spelling?
Remember the verb attend → attendance (same root).
6. Does Google accept attendence?
Google may show results for it, but it is still wrong.
7. Is attendance a noun or verb?
Attendance is a noun.
The verb form is attend.
Conclusion:
The confusion between attendance or attendence is common, but the rule is easy.
Attendance is the only correct spelling. Attendence is always wrong.
People make this mistake because many English words end in -ence, but this word follows a different pattern. Dictionaries and real usage confirm that attendance has always been correct.
Using the right spelling matters. It improves grades, builds professional trust, and strengthens website credibility.
Remember this simple rule:
👉 Attend → Attendance
Learn More About:
Blackout or Backout: Understand The Difference
I’m a U.S. based content writer and language researcher with a strong focus on English grammar, spelling differences, and frequently confused terms. My writing is aimed at helping readers write more clearly and correctly in daily use, workplace communication, and digital content.
