Hey friends! Have you ever sat staring at the word “tomorrow” thinking, is that really how it’s spelled? I feel you. With two Ms and two Rs packed together, “tomorrow” looks and sounds kind of funky. Which makes its spelling easy to second-guess.

This post will take you through a quick history of this strangely spelled word so you can confidently use “tomorrow” without reservations going forward. We’ll look at where “tomorrow” came from, its evolution into modern English, and why “tommorrow” is shunned as improper. Time to settle this spelling showdown once and for all!

To understand where “tomorrow” originated

We have to go way back to Old English between 500-1100 AD. During this era, the word took form as “tomorgen,” likely derived from the root “morgen” meaning morning. Makes sense, right? Over time as Middle English emerged around 1100-1500 AD, it evolved into “tomorwe” and then “tomorow.” You can see the groundwork being laid for our modern day “tomorrow!”

The key development came when the word transformed from an adjective “tomorow day” to a noun meaning literally the next day. This cetrified “tomorrow” as a distinct concept and term. Throughout the 1400-1600s, variant spellings cropped up like “to-morow,” “to morow,” and “to-morrow.” But by the 1700s, “tomorrow” with its double letter structure had become the conventional standard we use today.

When to Use “Tomorrow”?

In modern English, “tomorrow” is the accepted standard spelling across dictionaries, style guides, and proper usage.

For example:

• “Let’s meet tomorrow to discuss our plans.”
• “I can’t wait for tomorrow!” “Tomorrow is another day.”

Reputable references that confirm “tomorrow” as the only proper spelling include:

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary
• Oxford English Dictionary –
• The Associated Press Stylebook
• Chicago Manual of Style

So if you are writing for school, work, publishing, or any formal purpose, “tomorrow” is the only spelling you should use. It has centuries of precedent behind it.

Why “Tommorrow” Looks Wrong?

Given how we pronounce “tomorrow” as -ro“tuh-MAHw,” you’d think spelling it “tommorrow” makes more sense. So why does standard English insist on that funky double M and double R combo? First, English spelling doesn’t always match up perfectly with pronunciation. Just look at words like “knight” and “bomb” that trip us up. Over centuries of absorbing other languages like French and Germanic roots, English developed into a messy spelling system.

Another factor is prefixes and suffixes that modify meaning. The “to” prefix means toward, so “to-morrow” signals moving toward the next day. And the suffix “-ow” specifies something ongoing. So “tomorrow” literally means an event continuing toward the next day. Tweaking the spelling changes its essence. Finally, tradition matters to minimize confusion. Having one agreed upon spelling for each term, even if not totally logical, brings consistency across English writing and reading. And after 300+ years dominating usage, “tomorrow” has cemented its status.

When You Could Use “Tommorrow”?

Given its prestige, you should exclusively use the traditional spelling “tomorrow” in formal writing. But could “tommorrow” ever slip by in certain contexts? In fictional works, an author may intentionally use non-standard spelling like “tommorrow” to reflect regional dialect and accent.

For example, Huckleberry Finn contains misspellings to convey pronunciation. Informal writing like texts, emails, and social media give you more flexibility to spell creatively. If your friends know what you mean, “tommorrow” likely wouldn’t raise eyebrows in a casual context. Historically, spelling was less fixed. You can find “tommorrow” type spellings in older texts from centuries past. Children learning to write often improvise spelling in imaginative ways. From a kid’s perspective, “tommorrow” makes logical sense. So while well outside the norm, you could make a case for “tommorrow” in select literary, informal, or purposefully inventive instances. But for clarity and convention, “tomorrow” still reigns supreme.

Examples Sentences

• I have an important meeting tomorrow morning at 9am sharp. (correct)
• I have an important meeting tommorrow morning at 9am sharp. (incorrect)
• The weather forecast says sunny skies are expected tomorrow afternoon. (correct)
• The weather forecast says sunny skies are expected tommorrow afternoon. (incorrect)
• “Hey what r u up to tommorrow night? Wanna catch a movie?”
• “My dearest love, I cannot wait for tommorrow when I will get to see your face again.”

“Tomorrow” is always the proper spelling in formal contexts, while playful variant spellings like “tommorrow” can sometimes slip by in informal mediums.

Conclusion

In the world of English spelling, “tomorrow” has stood the test of time as the singular accepted variant after evolving over centuries. All formal writing treats “tomorrow” as the only correct choice, with “tommorrow” considered improper. Knowing the origins and reasoning behind why “tomorrow” emerged victoriously helps us master English usage.

So the next time you’re typing or writing, you can rest assured that “tomorrow” is indeed the standard spelling. No more second guessing required! Our quirky but reliable “tomorrow” will be waiting for us each new day.