Crier or Cryer: Which Is Correct?

Updated 2026-10-12 · Which One Is Correct editorial team

Quick answer: To answer the question of whether crier or cryer is correct, the verdict is clear: crier is the correct spelling, and cryer is a misspelling. A crier is a person who shouts announcements publicly, such as a town crier. Although the words sound identical, only crier is accepted in standard English. Confusion often arises because the root verb cry ends in y, leading people to mistakenly add an y when forming the agent noun. Understanding this distinction ensures your writing remains professional and accurate in all contexts.

The Short Answer

The correct spelling is crier, while cryer is a misspelling. This term refers to a person who makes public announcements by shouting or proclaiming them.

Many people confuse these words because the root verb cry ends in a y, which tempts them to add the same letter when creating the agent noun form. However, standard English rules require the y to change to i before adding the suffix er, resulting in the correct spelling crier for anyone who performs the action of crying out.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Form	Status	Use it when
crier	correct	Use when referring to a public announcer or town crier
cryer	incorrect	Never use this spelling in formal or informal writing
person	noun	Use when referring to an individual making noise or announcements
region	N/A	Not used as a regional variant; the spelling is the same everywhere

Correct Example Sentences

The town crier announced the start of the festival with a loud shout.
A royal crier declared the winner of the contest in front of the crowd.
The ancient crier walked through the market square to deliver urgent news.
The crier raised his voice to ensure everyone heard the important announcement.
The village crier has served the community for over forty years.
The crier blew his horn to signal the arrival of the important guests.
Every crier must be trained to project their voice clearly across the crowd.
The crier shouted the news of the royal wedding from the high tower.
A skilled crier can make even quiet news sound exciting to the audience.
The crier paused to let the crowd settle before delivering the final verdict.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

The cryer stood on the steps to announce the news.: The crier stood on the steps to announce the news.
I hired a cryer to make the public declaration.: I hired a crier to make the public declaration.
Don't listen to the cryer shouting from the balcony.: Don't listen to the crier shouting from the balcony.
The cryer was appointed to announce the legal verdict.: The crier was appointed to announce the legal verdict.
Many people think cryer is the proper term for an announcer.: Many people think crier is the proper term for an announcer.
Please stop being a cryer and use the correct spelling instead.: Please stop being a crier and use the correct spelling instead.

A Quick Test You Can Use

To determine if you are using the correct word, look at the job of the person rather than the sound they make. A person who announces news or proclamations aloud is a crier because the y in the root word changes to an i before adding the suffix. If you are describing someone who simply makes noise without a specific announcement role, the word cryer is not a valid spelling in standard English, so you should always choose crier for any public announcer.

Related Word Pairs

Hear vs Here: Use hear to listen and here to point to a place
Effect vs Affect: Effect is usually a noun and affect is usually a verb
Then vs Than: Then shows time and than is used for comparisons
Your vs You're: Your owns something and you're is short for you are
Its vs It's: Its shows possession and it's is short for it is
Accept vs Except: Accept means to take and except means to leave out
Stationary vs Stationery: Stationary means not moving and stationery is writing paper
Complacent vs Content: Complacent means too satisfied and content means satisfied

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is cryer considered a misspelling when it sounds the same as crier?

Cryer is a misspelling because it follows a common error where people keep the y from the root word cry when adding the suffix er. Standard English spelling rules require the y to change to an i before adding er, so the correct form is crier, which applies to anyone who shouts out messages.

Can cryer ever be accepted in formal writing or published books?

No, cryer is never accepted in formal writing or published books because it is not recognized by standard dictionaries. Writers and editors will always mark it as an error, and using it may make your text look unprofessional or careless to readers who are familiar with proper spelling conventions.

Is the word crier only used for town criers or does it have other meanings?

The word crier applies to anyone who makes public announcements by shouting, not just town criers. It can also refer to legal officers who announce verdicts in court, so the term covers various roles where a person proclaims information aloud to a crowd in a public setting.

What is the most common reason people make this specific spelling mistake?

The most common reason is the phonetic similarity between the words, which leads people to assume the spelling should match the sound exactly. However, English spelling often changes sounds, and the transformation of y to i before er is a standard rule that many writers overlook when they hear the word spoken aloud.