Inklingo

How to Say "to correct" in Spanish

English → Spanish

corregir

/koh-rreh-HEER//koreˈxiɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'corregir' when referring to fixing errors in written work, like homework, exams, or documents, or when talking about fixing a mistake in general conversation or behavior.
A hand using a bright red pencil to draw a neat line through a messy scribble and drawing a perfect star next to it.

Examples

El profesor está corrigiendo los exámenes ahora mismo.

The teacher is grading the exams right now.

Por favor, corrige los errores en este documento.

Please correct the errors in this document.

Es importante corregir la postura para evitar dolores de espalda.

It is important to fix your posture to avoid back pain.

The 'G' to 'J' Swap

In Spanish, the letter 'g' sounds like an 'h' when followed by 'e' or 'i'. To keep that 'h' sound before an 'o' or 'a', we must change the 'g' to a 'j'. That's why we say 'yo corrijo' instead of 'corrigo'.

Stem-Change Alert

This verb is a 'flipping' verb. The 'e' in the middle changes to an 'i' in most present tense forms (corriges, corrige) and even in the 'he/she' and 'they' forms of the past (corrigió, corrigieron).

Don't say 'Corrigo'

Mistake: “Yo corrigo los errores.”

Correction: Yo corrijo los errores. (Remember the spelling change from G to J to keep the sound correct!)

The 'E' to 'I' slip-up

Mistake: “Él correge la tarea.”

Correction: Él corrige la tarea. (The 'e' must change to 'i' in the present tense).

rectificar

/rrek-tee-fee-kar//rekti.fiˈkaɾ/

verbB1formal
Use 'rectificar' when a statement, piece of information, or a previous action needs to be officially or publicly corrected, often implying a retraction or amendment.
A hand using a pink eraser to remove a pencil mark from a piece of paper, leaving a clean white space.

Examples

El periódico tuvo que rectificar la noticia al día siguiente.

The newspaper had to correct the news story the following day.

Es de sabios rectificar cuando uno se equivoca.

It is wise to correct oneself when one is wrong.

El conductor rectificó la dirección del coche para evitar el bache.

The driver adjusted the car's direction to avoid the pothole.

Spelling Change in the Past

In the 'yo' form of the past tense (preterite), the 'c' changes to 'qu' (rectifiqué). This is just to keep the hard 'k' sound consistent.

Using it with Actions

Unlike 'corregir' which is often used for grading papers, 'rectificar' is more about fixing a specific error in logic, statement, or direction.

Spelling with 'c'

Mistake: “Yo rectificé.”

Correction: Yo rectifiqué. (In Spanish, 'ce' sounds like 'se', so we use 'que' to keep the 'ke' sound from the original word).

Corregir vs. Rectificar

Learners often confuse 'corregir' and 'rectificar'. 'Corregir' is much more common for everyday errors like mistakes in homework or speech. 'Rectificar' is typically used for correcting published information or formal statements where an official change is being made.

Related Translations

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