Have you ever needed to write that someone is taking legal action and paused, wondering: is it sueing or suing? 🤔
Both might look right at first glance — after all, we add -ing to most verbs by simply tacking it on. But in this case, only one spelling is correct, and the other is just a common (and understandable) mistake.
Although “sueing” seems logical, English spelling rules have their quirks. Understanding why we drop the “e” in some words (like suing) but not in others helps you write with confidence — especially in legal or professional contexts.
In this article, you’ll learn exactly which spelling is right, why the other one’s wrong, and how to remember the difference forever.
What Does “Suing” Mean?
✅ “Suing” is the present participle (-ing form) of the verb “sue”.
It means to bring a legal case against someone, usually in a court of law, to demand justice, compensation, or enforcement of rights.
1. Simple Definition
Suing = Taking someone to court for a legal claim.
Examples:
- “She’s suing her landlord for breach of contract.”
- “The company is suing its former partner for damages.”
- “He threatened to start suing anyone who copied his design.”
🎯 Meaning: It’s used when a lawsuit or legal complaint is being filed or considered.
2. Where “Suing” Is Used
| Context | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Law | “The celebrity is suing a tabloid for defamation.” |
| Business | “The firm is suing over patent violations.” |
| Everyday Use | “If they don’t fix the issue, I’m suing!” |
💡 Tip:
“Suing” always involves a legal process — never use it in other contexts.
3. Grammar Rule Behind “Suing”
When adding -ing to a verb ending in -e, you usually drop the ‘e’ — unless the “e” changes pronunciation or meaning.
So:
- Make → making
- Write → writing
- Sue → suing ✅
You drop the “e” because keeping it would make the word awkward and redundant.
🧠 Rule:
Verbs ending in “-e” drop the “e” before “-ing” → sue → suing
What About “Sueing”?
❌ “Sueing” is an incorrect spelling of “suing.”
It might look right, but it doesn’t follow English spelling conventions.
1. Why People Use “Sueing” Mistakenly
- Because the base word ends in “-e,” writers often assume you just add “-ing.”
- The word “suing” looks short and odd, so “sueing” feels more complete.
- Autocorrect sometimes doesn’t catch it.
Examples (Incorrect):
- ❌ “She is sueing the company.”
- ❌ “They plan on sueing for negligence.”
✅ Corrected:
- ✅ “She is suing the company.”
- ✅ “They plan on suing for negligence.”
🎯 Lesson:
“Sueing” is never grammatically correct — the right form is always “suing.”
Key Differences Between “Suing” and “Sueing”
| Feature | Suing (✅ Correct) | Sueing (❌ Incorrect) |
|---|---|---|
| Part of Speech | Present participle (verb form) | Misspelling |
| Meaning | Taking someone to court | No valid meaning |
| Spelling Rule | Drops the “e” before adding “-ing” | Keeps “e” incorrectly |
| Example | “She is suing her employer.” | “She is sueing her employer.” ❌ |
| Accepted in Dictionaries | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Professional Use | Standard in legal and formal writing | Considered an error |
🎯 Quick Rule:
Always use suing — never sueing — if you want to look polished and professional.
Real-Life Conversation Examples
Dialogue 1: In the Office
Mark: “Did you hear Jane’s sueing her old boss?”
Nina: “You mean she’s suing — without the ‘e’.”
🎯 Lesson: Drop the “e” before adding “-ing.”
Dialogue 2: In a Law Class
Professor: “Can anyone tell me the correct form of the verb ‘sue’ in present continuous tense?”
Student: “Sueing?”
Professor: “Close — it’s suing. We remove the ‘e’.”
🎯 Lesson: Always “suing,” never “sueing.”
Dialogue 3: Online Comment
User 1: “The artist is sueing the record label.”
User 2: “Tiny typo — it’s suing, not sueing.”
🎯 Lesson: Even online, the correct spelling matters!
When to Use “Suing”
| Tense / Form | Correct Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Continuous | Am / is / are + suing | “They are suing the hospital.” |
| Past Continuous | Was / were + suing | “She was suing the company last year.” |
| Gerund (noun form) | Suing as a noun | “Suing can be stressful.” |
💡 Remember:
If you’re talking about taking legal action now, in the past, or in general, suing is always correct.
Fun Fact or History Section
📜 Did You Know?
- The word “sue” comes from the Old French suir and Latin sequi, meaning “to follow” or “to pursue.”
- In medieval English, “to sue” literally meant “to follow up on a claim” — which is why today it still refers to pursuing legal action.
- The modern spelling rule (dropping the “e” before “-ing”) dates back to the 1700s, when English spelling began to standardize.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| “She’s sueing the doctor.” | “She’s suing the doctor.” | Drop the “e.” |
| “They were sueing over property.” | “They were suing over property.” | Only “suing” is correct. |
| “Sueing someone can be risky.” | “Suing someone can be risky.” | “Sueing” is not a word. |
How to Remember the Correct Spelling
🧠 1. Drop the E Rule
Whenever a verb ends in a silent “e,” remove it before adding “-ing.”
sue → suing, make → making, write → writing.
🧠 2. Think “Suing = Pursuing”
Both end with -uing, and both involve following up on something — like a legal claim!
🧠 3. Visual Memory Trick
Picture a lawyer’s sign:
“Suing for Justice — Not Sueing Around!” ⚖️😄
Mini Practice Quiz
Choose the correct form 👇
- “He is ___ the newspaper for libel.” → Suing ✅
- “They were ___ their former employer.” → Suing ✅
- “The company started ___ last month.” → Suing ✅
- “She’s thinking of ___ the hospital.” → Suing ✅
🎯 All answers: “Suing” — because “sueing” doesn’t exist in correct English.
Conclusion
To sum it up, “suing” is the only correct spelling — while “sueing” is just a common error.
Remember: you drop the “e” before adding -ing to verbs like sue, make, and write.
Use suing whenever referring to legal action, whether it’s happening now or being discussed generally.
Next time you’re writing about a court case or reading a legal headline, you’ll know for sure:
It’s always suing, never sueing! ⚖️
