You type “I got your messege” and send it. Nothing is underlined. A friend replies: “Did you mean message?” The two spellings look almost the same, and the ending sounds the same too, so it is easy to see why the mistake is common.
Messege or Message? “Message” is the only correct spelling. “Messege” is a common mistake, because the ending sounds like “ij” and many learners guess “-ege.” Remember the “-age” ending, as in village and package, and the Latin idea of something “sent,” and you will spell it correctly every time.
This guide explains why “-age” is right, where the word comes from, and how to avoid the other mistakes people make with it.
Why the Ending Is “-age” and Not “-ege”
In “message,” the last syllable sounds like “ij” (rhyming with the end of “village”). English has many words that end this way, and almost all of them are spelled -age:
| Word | Ending sound | Spelling |
| message | -ij | -age |
| village | -ij | -age |
| package | -ij | -age |
| language | -ij | -age |
| damage | -ij | -age |
| manage | -ij | -age |
If you can hear “ij” at the end of a word, “-age” is by far the most common spelling. Keep this pattern in mind and “messege” starts to look wrong.
Where “Message” Comes From
The word traces back through Old French to Latin. Its root is the idea of something sent: the Latin verb mittere means “to send,” and its past participle missus gives us a family of related words:
- message: a piece of information sent
- mission: a task someone is sent to do
- missile: something sent through the air
- missive: a formal letter sent
- dismiss: to send away
- transmit: to send across
This family is a reliable memory aid. If you can spell “mission,” which has two s’s, you can spell “message,” which has two s’s as well. It is something sent.
A Memory Trick That Works
Try one of these:
- Say it in two parts: “mess” + “age.” You already know both words. Put them together: mess-age.
- Count the letters: m-e-s-s-a-g-e is seven letters, with a double s in the middle and “age” at the end.
- Link it to a family: message, mission, missive. All carry the idea of sending.
Common Misspellings and What Goes Wrong
| Wrong spelling | What went wrong | Correct |
| messege | Guessed “-ege” from the sound | message |
| mesage | Only one s in the middle | message |
| messgae | Letters swapped near the end | message |
| messeage | Extra letter added | message |
| messge | Missing letter before the g | message |
| msg | Informal abbreviation | message (in formal writing) |
Most of these come from typing too fast or from guessing at a sound. A quick read-through before you send catches them.
More “-age” Words to Practice
Once you notice the pattern, you can see it everywhere. Here are more words that end in the “ij” sound and are spelled -age: passage, luggage, cabbage, courage, storage, image, voyage, and baggage.
A few words with “-age” are pronounced differently, with a softer French-style ending like “-ahzh” in many accents: massage, garage, mirage, and collage. That is why the sound alone cannot always tell you the spelling, and why it helps to learn the word as a whole.
Here is one more pattern: message, passage, and massage all have a double s followed by “age.” If you remember that trio, the middle of the word is easy.
Why Spellcheck May Not Help
Some spellcheckers underline “messege” at once. Others do not, especially in older apps, offline forms, or chat boxes with spellcheck turned off. When a tool does not mark the mistake, it does not mean the spelling is correct. Build the habit of checking the ending yourself, especially in emails to a boss, a teacher, or a client.
Message vs Massage: Two Different Words
People sometimes mix up “message” and “massage,” because they look alike.
- Message is information sent from one person to another.
- Massage is rubbing muscles to relax them.
The pronunciation also differs. “Message” ends in “ij,” while “massage” ends in a softer sound borrowed from French, like “-ahzh” in many accents. That is why one is spelled with “e” in the middle and the other with “a.”
4 Real Chats (and the Best Reply for Each)
Chat 1: The friendly typo
Sana: I got your messege, will call you later You: ?
Best reply: “Thanks! (Tiny tip: it’s ‘message,’ ending in -age.) Call me whenever.” Why: you give the fix kindly, without turning it into a lesson.
Chat 2: The school email
Student: Dear Sir, I am writing about your messege on the portal. Teacher: ?
Best reply: “Thank you for writing. Just a note: the word is ‘message.’ I’ll reply on the portal.” Why: in a school setting, gentle correction helps without embarrassing the student.
Chat 3: The Hinglish question
Zara: yaar message ke spelling kya hoti hai? You: ?
Best reply: “M-E-S-S-A-G-E. Do ‘s’ beech mein, aur end mein ‘age’.” Why: it answers in the same language and spells it out letter by letter.
Chat 4: The joke
Ali: did you get my massage? You: ?
Best reply: “Ha, I think you mean message. A massage sounds better, though.” Why: it clears up the mix-up with humor.
Grammar Corner: Noun, Verb, Plural, and Forms
Noun and verb
“Message” is mainly a noun: “She sent a message.” It is also a verb in everyday English: “Please message me later.” Both uses are common today.
Forms of the verb
| Form | Spelling | Example |
| Base | message | “I will message you.” |
| Past | messaged | “He messaged me yesterday.” |
| -ing form | messaging | “She is messaging her friend.” |
| Third person | messages | “He messages me daily.” |
Notice the -ing form drops the silent e: message becomes “messaging,” not “messageing.” That is the same rule that turns “make” into “making.” For more on the -ing ending, see our guide on -ing in text.
Plural
Add -s: messages. “I received twenty messages today.” There is no apostrophe in a plural.
Spelling varies by country? No
“Message” is spelled the same in British and American English. Unlike “color” and “colour,” there is no alternative form.
Capitalization
Write “message” in lowercase in the middle of a sentence. Capitalize it only at the start of a sentence, in a title, or when it is part of a name, such as “Messages” (an app).
When Spelling Matters Most
- Formal emails and job applications: a small slip can distract from your point.
- School and exams: a spelling mark may be lost.
- Public posts and captions: many readers will notice, and some will correct you.
In a quick chat with a friend, it matters less. A friendly correction is usually enough.
How to Stop Making This Mistake
- Slow down on the ending. Type “mess” first, then “age.”
- Use the family: mission, missive, message.
- Read before sending important messages.
- Turn on grammar checking in your email or word processor. A spelling checker may catch it, and many do. If one does not, proofreading will.
Quick Recap
- The correct spelling is message, ending in -age.
- The “ij” sound is usually spelled -age, as in village and package.
- The word means something sent, like mission and missive.
- The -ing form is messaging, and the plural is messages.
- Do not confuse it with massage.
Related Reads
- Another spelling pair that looks alike? Read preform vs perform.
- Learning how -ing changes a word? See ING meaning in text.
Messege or Message:FAQs
Is “messege” a real word?
No. “Messege” is a common misspelling of “message.” Only “message” is correct in English, in both British and American spelling.
Why do people write “messege”?
The ending sounds like “ij,” and some people guess “-ege.” Fast typing and the fact that English spelling does not always match sound also play a part.
What is the difference between message and massage?
“Message” is information sent from one person to another. “Massage” is rubbing muscles to relax them. They look alike but have different spellings and pronunciations.
How do you spell the -ing form of message?
It is “messaging.” The silent e is dropped before -ing, the same rule that turns “make” into “making.”
How can I remember the spelling?
Split it as “mess” plus “age,” and link it to its family: mission, missive, message. All carry the idea of something sent.
