Confusing filed vs filled can create a surprisingly noticeable error in a sentence. The words differ by only one letter in their written forms, and their pronunciation can sound close in quick speech. Yet they describe very different actions. One usually relates to documents, records, official submissions, or arranging information. The other relates to making something full, occupying a space, completing information, or supplying something that is needed.
The easiest way to understand the difference is to look at the base verbs. Filed is the past tense and past participle of file. Filled is the past tense and past participle of fill. A person filed a complaint because the complaint was formally submitted. Someone filled a bottle because the bottle was made full.
The confusion becomes especially common with forms and applications. You can fill out an application and later file the application. Those actions are not the same. One means completing the information. The other means submitting or officially recording it.
This guide explains the meaning, grammar, pronunciation, spelling, history, regional usage, common mistakes, and practical differences between filed and filled. By the end, you should be able to choose the correct word quickly in everyday writing, professional communication, academic work, and formal documents.
Quick Answer
Filed means submitted, recorded, stored, or arranged, especially in connection with documents or official records. Filled means made full, occupied, completed, or supplied. You file a complaint but fill a bottle. You can also fill out a form and then file it with an organization.
Filed vs Filled At a Glance
| Question | Filed | Filled |
|---|---|---|
| What is the base verb | file | fill |
| What does it usually mean | submitted stored or organized | made full occupied or completed |
| Is it a verb form | Yes | Yes |
| Is it the past tense | Yes | Yes |
| Is it the past participle | Yes | Yes |
| Main pronunciation | /faɪld/ | /fɪld/ |
| Main spelling clue | file keeps one l | fill keeps two l letters |
| Common document phrase | filed a complaint | filled out a form |
| Common physical phrase | rarely relevant | filled the bottle |
| Common legal phrase | filed a lawsuit | filled a vacancy |
| Common workplace phrase | filed the report | filled the position |
| British spelling | filed | filled |
| American spelling | filed | filled |
| Canadian spelling | filed | filled |
| Australian spelling | filed | filled |
| Main concept | records and submission | fullness and completion |
Filed vs Filled Comparison
| Feature | Filed | Filled |
|---|---|---|
| Correct spelling | filed | filled |
| Base verb | file | fill |
| Main meaning | submitted or stored | made full or completed |
| Common grammar | past tense and past participle | past tense and past participle |
| Pronunciation | /faɪld/ | /fɪld/ |
| Main contexts | documents and records | containers spaces forms roles and emotions |
| Legal usage | very common | possible in specific contexts |
| Workplace usage | common | very common |
| Formality | often formal | neutral and very common |
| Regional spelling | Same in major English varieties | Same in major English varieties |
| Example | She filed the report. | She filled the bottle. |
The most useful distinction is simple.
Filed connects to file.
What Filed Means
Filed is the past tense and past participle of file.
The verb file has several meanings. In the context most relevant to this comparison it means to place information into an organized record or to submit a document to an authority or organization. Cambridge gives examples involving storing information and making an official record or beginning a legal process.
For example:
- She filed the report yesterday.
- The lawyer filed a lawsuit.
- He filed a complaint with the department.
- We filed the documents under the correct name.
- The company filed its annual report.
- She filed an insurance claim.
- The records were filed alphabetically.
In each case the central idea is recording submitting or organizing information.
Filed as a formal submission
One of the most common uses appears in legal government business and administrative contexts.
You can:
- file a complaint
- file a lawsuit
- file a claim
- file an application
- file taxes
- file a report
- file a petition
- file documents
- file a request
- file charges
The exact legal meaning can vary by context. The general idea remains that a document or formal request has been submitted or entered into an official process.
Filed as organized information
The word can also describe physical or digital organization.
For example:
- The invoices were filed by date.
- The assistant filed the records alphabetically.
- The old reports were filed in the archive.
- The documents have been filed under the client name.
Here filed does not necessarily mean submitted to a government office. It can simply mean placed into an organized filing system.
Filed with a person or organization
The construction filed with often appears in formal writing.
Examples include:
- The complaint was filed with the court.
- The application was filed with the agency.
- The report was filed with the board.
- The claim was filed with the insurance company.
The phrase tells the reader where the formal document was submitted or recorded.
What Filled Means
Filled is the past tense and past participle of fill.
The central meaning of fill is to make something full or use empty space. Cambridge lists physical and figurative uses that include putting something into a space providing something needed and occupying a job or position.
For example:
- She filled the glass with water.
- He filled the tank with fuel.
- The children filled the room with laughter.
- The seats were filled before the show began.
- She filled the form with the required information.
- The company filled the vacant position.
- His heart filled with pride.
The idea is not official submission. The idea is fullness completion occupation or supply.
Filled as physical fullness
This is one of the most basic uses.
You can fill:
- a glass
- a bottle
- a bucket
- a tank
- a box
- a bag
- a room
- a pool
- a container
For example:
Maria filled the glass with water.
The glass was not necessarily submitted anywhere. It simply received water.
Filled as occupied space
Filled can also describe something that becomes occupied.
Examples include:
- The room filled with guests.
- Every seat was filled.
- The parking lot filled quickly.
- The stadium was filled with fans.
- The streets filled with people.
Here the word describes space becoming occupied.
Filled as a completed role
English also uses filled for positions jobs vacancies and roles.
For example:
- The company filled the position yesterday.
- The vacancy has been filled.
- They finally filled the teaching post.
- A qualified candidate filled the role.
Cambridge specifically lists this use of fill for giving someone a job or position.
This is important because it shows that filled does not only refer to physical containers.
Filled as an emotional expression
The word also works with feelings.
Examples include:
- She was filled with joy.
- He was filled with relief.
- They were filled with excitement.
- Her eyes filled with tears.
- The audience was filled with hope.
The meaning is figurative. An emotion is described as occupying someone or becoming strongly present.

Filed vs Filled Which One Is Correct
Both filed and filled are correct English words. The correct choice depends on the action you want to describe.
Use filed when something is submitted recorded or organized.
Use filled when something becomes full occupied completed or supplied.
Compare these sentences:
She filed the complaint.
The complaint was formally submitted.
She filled the bottle.
The bottle was made full.
Both sentences are grammatically correct. They simply describe different actions.
The most important point is that filed is not a spelling variation of filled. They are forms of different verbs.
Filed vs Filled With Forms and Applications
Forms create one of the biggest areas of confusion because both words can appear naturally in the same situation.
Consider this sequence:
She filled out the application.
This means she entered the required information.
She filed the application.
This means she submitted the completed application through an official process.
Both actions can happen one after another.
This distinction is especially useful in professional writing.
A person might:
- Fill out an application.
- Review the application.
- Sign the application.
- File the application with the relevant office.
The first action concerns completion. The final action concerns submission.
Fill out
In American English fill out is very common for completing a form by providing the requested information. The American Heritage Dictionary gives this meaning for fill out.
Examples:
- Please fill out this form.
- I filled out the application online.
- She filled out the registration form.
- We need everyone to fill out the survey.
Fill in
Fill in is also used for entering information into a form or blank space. It is especially common in British English.
Examples:
- Please fill in the form.
- Fill in your name and address.
- She filled in the missing information.
Cambridge lists both fill in and fill out as phrasal verbs associated with completing information.
The important distinction is that neither expression means the same thing as file.
Filed vs Filled in Common Sentences
The surrounding noun often gives you a strong clue.
File a complaint
Correct:
She filed a complaint with the manager.
A complaint is formally submitted.
Incorrect:
She filled a complaint with the manager.
The verb does not express the intended action.
Fill a bottle
Correct:
He filled the bottle with water.
The bottle receives water and becomes full.
Incorrect:
He filed the bottle with water.
There is no ordinary meaning of file that fits this sentence.
File a report
Correct:
The company filed the report on Friday.
The report was formally submitted or recorded.
Fill out a report
This can also be correct if the meaning is completing the required information.
For example:
The employee filled out the report before filing it.
This sentence clearly demonstrates the difference.
Fill a position
Correct:
The company filled the position quickly.
Someone was appointed to the role.
File documents
Correct:
The assistant filed the documents in the cabinet.
The documents were organized and stored.
Filed vs Filled Grammar
Both words come from regular verbs.
| Base verb | Past tense | Past participle | Present participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| file | filed | filed | filing |
| fill | filled | filled | filling |
This table explains one reason the words are easy to confuse. Both past forms end in ed. The spelling difference begins with the base verbs.
file → filed
fill → filled
Simple past
Use filed or filled when describing a completed action in the past.
Examples:
- She filed the claim yesterday.
- He filed the documents this morning.
- We filled the tank before leaving.
- They filled the room with chairs.
Present perfect
Both forms can follow has or have.
Examples:
- She has filed the complaint.
- They have filed the paperwork.
- He has filled the container.
- We have filled all the available seats.
Past perfect
Both can also follow had.
Examples:
- She had filed the report before the meeting.
- They had filled every position before the deadline.
- He had filled the tank before the journey began.
Passive voice
Both words commonly appear in passive constructions.
Examples:
- The complaint was filed yesterday.
- The documents were filed correctly.
- The position was filled last week.
- The room was filled with smoke.
- The form was filled out incorrectly.
The passive structure does not change the basic distinction.
Filed vs Filled Pronunciation
The pronunciation difference is important.
Filed is pronounced /faɪld/.
The vowel sound is the same one found in words such as five and time.
Filled is pronounced /fɪld/.
The vowel sound is the short sound heard in sit and milk.
The difference can therefore be heard as:
filed → /faɪld/
filled → /fɪld/
The final sound is similar because both forms end with /ld/. The first vowel creates the main distinction.
Common pronunciation mistake
Some speakers may reduce the vowel difference during fast speech. That can make the words sound unusually close.
Context usually resolves the meaning.
If someone says:
I filed the form.
the listener understands an act of submission or recording.
If someone says:
I filled the form.
the listener may understand that the speaker completed the information. In American English the more natural expression is usually filled out the form when the intended meaning is completing it.
Filed vs Filled Spelling Rules
The spelling becomes easier once you start with the base verb.
File plus ed
The verb file ends in a silent e.
When ed is added, the final e is dropped.
file → filed
The result has one l before ed.
Fill plus ed
The verb fill already ends in ll.
Adding ed produces:
fill → filled
The double l remains.
This gives you a reliable visual test.
filed
filled
The extra l belongs to fill.
Do not confuse the pattern with other spelling rules
English spelling has many rules involving final consonants and silent letters. However, you do not need a complicated rule to distinguish these two forms.
Simply identify the base verb.
If the base is file, write filed.
If the base is fill, write filled.
That approach is more reliable than trying to remember the finished forms in isolation.
Filed vs Filled in British and American English
There is no major spelling difference between British and American English for these two words.
British English uses:
filed
filled
American English uses:
filed
filled
Canadian and Australian English also use these same spellings.
The more interesting regional difference concerns expressions involving forms.
American English commonly uses:
fill out a form
British English commonly uses:
fill in a form
Both refer to completing the requested information.
The word filed keeps its normal meaning in both varieties. You can file a report file a claim file documents or file a legal document.

Filed vs Filled in Professional Writing
Professional writing is one area where this distinction matters most.
Imagine an email that says:
I filled the complaint yesterday.
The reader may understand what you mean from context. Still the sentence sounds incorrect to many readers because file a complaint is the established expression.
The stronger version is:
I filed the complaint yesterday.
Now consider:
I filed out the application.
That is incorrect for the intended meaning of completing the application.
A natural American English version is:
I filled out the application.
The distinction is especially important in legal administrative financial and workplace communication because these contexts rely on precise verbs.
Filed vs Filled in Legal English
Legal English strongly favors filed for formal submissions.
Common expressions include:
- filed a lawsuit
- filed a complaint
- filed a motion
- filed an appeal
- filed a petition
- filed charges
- filed a claim
- filed documents
- filed a response
- filed a case
Examples:
The plaintiff filed a complaint in federal court.
The attorney filed a motion before the hearing.
The company filed an appeal after the decision.
In these sentences filled would change the meaning and generally produce an error.
At the same time legal writing can contain filled in other contexts.
For example:
The vacancy was filled by a qualified candidate.
The two words can therefore appear in the same legal document while performing completely different grammatical jobs.
Filed vs Filled in Workplace English
Office communication regularly uses both words. However, each word describes a different action.
Consider these examples.
The HR department filed the employee records.
As a result, the records were organized and stored.
The employee filled out the benefits form.
In this case, the employee completed the required information.
The manager filed the expense report.
Here, the report was submitted or recorded.
The company filled the vacant position.
In other words, someone was appointed to the role.
Therefore, professional writers should pay attention to the verb rather than simply looking at the noun that follows it.
For example, a form can be filled out when someone completes it. However, the same form can be filed when someone submits or stores it.
Similarly, an application can be filled out first and later filed with the appropriate office.
Ultimately, the action determines which verb is correct.
Filed vs Filled Real Life Examples
The following examples demonstrate how the distinction works across different settings.
Everyday Conversation
- I filled the glass with water.
- She filled the cooler with ice.
- He filed the paperwork this morning.
- We filled every seat at the table.
- Meanwhile, she filed the documents before lunch.
Workplace Communication
- The manager filed the report with accounting.
- I filled out the employee information form.
- Additionally, human resources filled the open position.
- The assistant filed the invoices by month.
- As a result, we filled the conference room quickly.
Legal and Government Contexts
- The attorney filed the lawsuit yesterday.
- Similarly, the company filed a formal complaint.
- She filed her tax return before the deadline.
- The petition was then filed with the court.
- Meanwhile, the agency filled the vacant position.
Academic Writing
- The researcher filed the records under the correct category.
- After the lecture, students filled out the survey.
- Likewise, the archive contained carefully filed research notes.
- Meanwhile, the room was filled with students.
- The researcher had already filed the application before the deadline.
Emails
- I have filed the requested documents.
- Please fill out the attached form before submitting it.
- After completing the application, I sent it to the office.
- Additionally, the report has been filed for future reference.
Journalism
- The company filed a lawsuit against its former partner.
- According to officials, the complaint had been filed earlier that week.
- Meanwhile, thousands of spectators filled the stadium.
Social Media and Informal Writing
- Finally, I filled the tank and headed home.
- Just filed the paperwork, so everything is ready.
- By noon, the venue was completely filled.
These examples show why context matters more than visual similarity.
Filed vs Filled Common Mistakes
Several mistakes appear repeatedly.
Mistake one
I filed out the form.
For the meaning of completing a form this is incorrect.
Better:
I filled out the form.
Mistake two
The bottle was filed with water.
This uses the document related verb where the meaning requires fullness.
Better:
The bottle was filled with water.
Mistake three
She filled a complaint.
The standard expression for formally submitting a complaint is:
She filed a complaint.
Mistake four
The lawyer filled the lawsuit.
A lawsuit is filed.
The lawyer filed the lawsuit.
Mistake five
The room was filed with people.
A room becomes occupied or full.
The room was filled with people.
Mistake six
Assuming every document uses the same verb.
This is a subtler error. A document can be filled out and filed because those verbs describe different stages.
Mistake seven
Thinking the extra letter is optional.
It is not.
filed and filled are separate words with separate meanings. One cannot simply replace the other because the sentence still looks understandable.
Filed vs Filled Memory Tricks
A good memory trick should connect spelling with meaning.
The simplest one is:
Filed has one l because it comes from file.
Filled has two l letters because it comes from fill.
Another useful association is:
Filed belongs with files.
Think of folders cabinets records claims and official paperwork.
Filled belongs with full.
Think of bottles rooms seats tanks forms and emotions.
You can also use the substitution test.
Replace the word mentally with submitted.
If the sentence still makes sense, filed may be correct.
Replace it with made full or completed.
If that meaning fits, filled may be correct.
For example:
She filed the complaint.
Try:
She submitted the complaint.
The meaning works.
Now try:
She filled the bottle.
Replace it with:
She made the bottle full.
The meaning works.
This is one of the fastest ways to solve the problem during editing.
Filed vs Filled Related Words
Understanding related forms makes the distinction easier to remember. To begin with, learning the words in each family can help you recognize their meanings and use them correctly.
Words Related to Filed
- file
- filed
- filing
- filer
- filing cabinet
- file system
- file record
- file a claim
- file a complaint
- file a lawsuit
- file a report
Words Related to Filled
- fill
- filled
- filling
- refill
- unfilled
- fillable
- fulfillment
- fulfilling
- fill in
- fill out
- fill up
- fill a vacancy
- fill a need
Although both words may look similar, they belong to separate word families and serve different purposes. Therefore, learning their base verbs and related forms can help writers distinguish between filed and filled and avoid confusing them in everyday writing.
Filed vs Filled and Related Confused Words
Several related words can cause confusion because they share similar spellings or meanings. However, understanding how each word functions in a sentence makes it easier to use them correctly.
Filed vs Field
Filed is the past tense of file and describes a completed action involving documents or records.
By contrast, field can be a noun meaning an area of land or a subject of study. It can also function as a verb meaning to receive or handle something.
Examples:
She filed the report.
He works in the medical field.
Filled vs Full
Although these words are closely related in meaning, they serve different grammatical purposes.
Filled usually describes an action or the resulting state after something has been filled. Meanwhile, full is an adjective that describes a state or condition.
Compare these examples:
She filled the glass.
The glass is full.
Filed vs Filing
The main difference between these words lies in the timing of the action.
Filed refers to a completed action. In contrast, filing refers to an ongoing action or the process of organizing and submitting documents.
Examples:
She filed the documents yesterday.
She is filing the documents now.
Filled vs Filling
Similarly, filled describes a completed action, while filling generally refers to an action that is still in progress. Depending on the context, filling can also function as a noun or adjective.
Examples:
He filled the tank.
He is filling the tank.
Filed vs Filled Word Origins
Understanding the historical background of these words also helps explain why their meanings differ so significantly.
The word file, in the document related sense, traces back through Old French to the Latin word filum, meaning thread or string. Historically, people could organize documents by placing them on a thread or wire. Over time, this physical method of organization developed into the modern concept of arranging and storing documents in a file.
On the other hand, the word fill has a different origin. It comes from the Old English word fyllan, meaning to fill or make full. Furthermore, it is related to Germanic words associated with fullness.
As a result, filed refers to organizing, recording, or submitting something, while filled refers to making something full or bringing it to capacity. Although the words look similar, their distinct origins and meanings make them easy to distinguish once you understand their usage.
So the two words did not develop as spelling variants.
Their similarity in modern English is largely accidental.
That is useful to remember because it explains why trying to derive one meaning from the other does not work.
Filed vs Filled in Modern Digital English
In modern digital English, the meaning of filed has naturally expanded with advances in technology. Today, people can file information electronically without using physical paperwork.
For example, the term is commonly used in phrases such as:
- filed records
- filed reports
- filed documents
- files stored electronically
- information filed in a database
As a result, a physical filing cabinet is no longer necessary for the verb file to describe the act of organizing, submitting, or storing information.ke sense.
A digital system can contain files and records that are organized for later retrieval.
The basic concept remains the same: information is stored or formally recorded in an organized system. Cambridge includes computer related senses of file as a noun and information storage uses of the verb.
By contrast filled has also expanded into digital and abstract contexts.
A form can be filled out online.
A field in a database can be filled.
A position can be filled.
A schedule can be filled.
A calendar can be filled with appointments.
The core concept remains completion or occupation.
Filed vs Filled in Formal and Informal Writing
Neither word is inherently formal.
Filled is an everyday word used constantly in ordinary conversation.
Filed appears frequently in everyday office communication but becomes especially common in formal legal administrative and government contexts.
In casual writing you might say:
I filled out the form.
In formal correspondence you might say:
The completed form was filed with the department.
The difference comes from meaning and context rather than from a simple formal versus informal rule.
Expert Editor’s Note
A professional editor would not treat filed and filled as spelling alternatives. The first step is always to identify the base verb.
If the intended verb is file, the correct past form is filed.
If the intended verb is fill, the correct past form is filled.
Dictionary evidence supports this distinction. Cambridge defines file in relation to storing information and submitting documents while fill covers making something full occupying space supplying a need and filling jobs or positions.
Editors also pay close attention to collocation. Some combinations are so established that changing the verb sounds immediately unnatural.
Absolutely — here are more natural, everyday examples with varied sentence openings:
After the incident, she decided to file a complaint.
The family plans to file a lawsuit against the company.
Following the accident, he filed a claim with his insurance company.
Before the hike, I filled a bottle with water.
By lunchtime, the smell of fresh bread had filled the room.
After months of searching, the company finally filled the position.
Before the interview, I had to fill out a form.
Learning these common combinations is often more useful than memorizing isolated dictionary definitions.
One particularly valuable editorial observation is that a single noun can work with both verbs when the action changes.
Consider application.
I filled out the application.
The information was completed.
I filed the application.
The application was submitted or formally recorded.
The noun stays the same. The verb changes because the action changes.
That is the kind of distinction strong editors look for when checking professional copy.

The Fastest Way to Choose Filed vs Filled
When editing a sentence ask what action is taking place.
If the action means submit, record, store, or organize, choose filed.
If the action means make full, occupy, complete, or supply, choose filled.
Then check the base verb.
file → filed
fill → filled
This two step test is usually enough to resolve the confusion.
A Useful Pair to Memorize
She filled out the application and filed it with the office.
This sentence is especially useful for English learners because both words appear naturally together.
The first verb describes completion.
The second verb describes submission or official recording.
Learning this pair helps prevent one of the most common errors involving these words.
Editorial Rule
Never choose between filed and filled based only on how the word looks.
Choose based on meaning and then confirm the base verb.
That habit is more dependable than memorizing a long list of isolated examples.
Practice Set
Choose filed or filled in each sentence.
- The attorney ___ the complaint yesterday.
- Maria ___ the glass with water.
- Please ___ out the application.
- The company ___ the annual report with the agency.
- The room was ___ with guests.
- The manager ___ the documents alphabetically.
- The vacant position was ___ last week.
- She ___ a claim with her insurance company.
- He ___ the tank before leaving.
- The employee ___ out the tax form.
Answers
- filed
- filled
- filled
- filed
- filled
- filed
- filled
- filed
- filled
- filled
The quickest check is to identify the action.
The attorney submitted the complaint so the answer is filed.
Maria made the glass full so the answer is filled.
The employee completed the information so the answer is filled.
The company submitted the report officially so the answer is filed.
Final Memory Test
Complete these pairs mentally.
file → filed
fill → filled
file a complaint
fill a bottle
file a claim
fill out a form
file a report
fill a position
file documents
fill a room
If you can connect the word to the action rather than simply to its spelling, you will rarely confuse these forms again.
FAQs About Filed vs Filled
Is it filed or filled a complaint?
The correct expression is filed a complaint when you mean formally submitting a complaint to an organization authority or court. For example you can say She filed a complaint with the manager. Filled a complaint does not normally express this meaning. The verb fill concerns fullness or completion while file concerns submission or record keeping.
Is it filed or filled out a form?
The correct expression is filled out a form in common American English. British English commonly uses filled in a form. You can later file the form if you submit or store it officially. Therefore a person may first fill out a form and then file it. The two verbs describe separate actions.
What is the difference between filed and filled?
Filed is the past tense and past participle of file. It usually means submitted recorded or organized. Filled is the past tense and past participle of fill. It usually means made full occupied completed or supplied. The words are not interchangeable even though their spelling and pronunciation are similar.
Is filled a correct word?
Yes. Filled is a standard English word and the past tense and past participle of fill. It can describe physical fullness as in filled the bottle, it can also describe occupied space as in filled the room or completed information as in filled out the form, it can even describe emotions and roles.
Is filed a correct word?
Yes. Filed is the standard past tense and past participle of file. It can mean that someone submitted an official document or organized records. Examples include filed a claim and filed the documents. The verb also has other meanings such as using a file to smooth an object or moving in a line.
Why do filed and filled sound similar?
The words share the same initial consonant and final consonant sequence. Their main pronunciation difference is the vowel. Filed is /faɪld/ while filled is /fɪld/. Fast speech can make that contrast harder to notice. Context usually makes the intended meaning clear.
Can a form be both filled and filed?
Yes. A form can be filled out when someone completes the requested information. It can then be filed when it is submitted or stored as part of an official record. For example I filled out the application and filed it with the office uses both words correctly because they describe two different actions.
Which is correct for official documents filed or filled?
Use filed when you mean submitted or officially recorded. Use filled when you mean completed with information or made full. For example The lawyer filed the document with the court is correct. The employee filled out the document is also correct when the employee entered the required information.
Final Verdict
The difference between filed vs filled becomes simple once you stop treating them as spelling variations.
Filed comes from file and usually means submitted recorded stored or organized.
Filled comes from fill and usually means made full occupied completed or supplied.
Use filed for expressions such as filed a complaint, filed a claim, filed a lawsuit, and filed the records.
Use filled for expressions such as filled the bottle, filled the room, filled the position, and filled out the form.
The most useful memory rule is this:
Filed goes with files and official records. Filled goes with full and completion.
When you are unsure, identify the base verb first. If you mean file, write filed. If you mean fill, write filled.
A single letter can change the meaning of a sentence. Once you connect each word to its base verb, the distinction becomes easy to see and even easier to remember.a

Founding Editor
Maya spent six years as a copyeditor at a regional newspaper before starting Grammist, which is where the “answer first” format came from: newsroom style guides don’t have room for a preamble.
She writes and reviews most of the word-pair and spelling entries, and has final say on anything that goes out under the Grammist name.