Quick answer: You can spell it résumé (two accents) or resume (no accents). Both are correct in American English. Résumé is the traditional spelling that helps avoid confusion with the verb "resume" (to continue), while resume is simpler, more common in job postings, and recommended by the AP Stylebook. Resumé (one accent on the last e) is listed by some dictionaries as a less common variant, but many people see it as a mistake. Résume (accent only on the first e) is incorrect. Pick one spelling and use it consistently throughout your application.
It's one of the strangest moments in a job search. You've written your resume, polished every bullet, and then you type "Attached is my resumé" and stop. Is that right? Is it résumé? Did you just make a typo on the very word you're trying to impress someone with?
Relax. This guide explains the three spellings, what dictionaries and style guides say, which one to use, how to type the accents on any device, and how to pronounce it.
Résumé vs. Resume vs. Resumé: What's the Difference?
Résumé (two acute accents) is the original French spelling. In French, résumé means "summary." English borrowed it to mean a summary of your work history and qualifications.
Resume (no accents) is the simplified English spelling. It's the most common in the US, especially online and in job postings.
Resumé (one accent on the final e) is a less common variant. Some dictionaries include it, but many readers and spell checkers flag it as an error.
Résume (accent only on the first e) is wrong. Avoid it.
Why Does Résumé Have Accents?
The accents come from French, where they show how the vowels are pronounced. The é is pronounced like "ay," which is why we say "REZ-oo-may," not "re-ZOOM."
When English borrows French words, the accents often disappear over time (think "cafe" and "cliche," which are also commonly written as "café" and "cliché"). "Resume" is in the middle of that process, which is why you see both spellings.
The accents also do something useful: they distinguish the noun résumé (a job document) from the verb resume (to start again). "Please resume your résumé" is a lot easier to read with the accents.
What Dictionaries and Style Guides Say
- Merriam-Webster lists résumé and resume as standard spellings, with resumé as a less common variant
- Oxford dictionaries generally list résumé first, with resume also accepted in American English
- The AP Stylebook (used by many news outlets and businesses) uses resume without accents
- The Chicago Manual of Style generally follows Merriam-Webster, so either standard spelling is acceptable
Bottom line: both résumé and resume are correct. Neither will cost you a job.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Use "resume" (no accents) if:
- You're applying in the US and want the simplest, most common option
- The job posting uses "resume"
- You're naming files, writing emails, or filling out online forms (accents can sometimes display oddly in older systems)
Use "résumé" (two accents) if:
- You prefer the traditional, more formal spelling
- You're writing for an academic, publishing, or formal audience
- You want to avoid confusion with the verb "resume" in a sentence
Avoid "resumé" if:
- You want to avoid looking like you made a typo. It's technically listed as a variant, but many readers won't know that
Always:
- Be consistent. Don't write "résumé" in your cover letter and "resume" in your email
- Mirror the employer if you're unsure. If the job posting says "résumé," use that
Résumé in a Sentence: Examples
Here's how each spelling looks in typical job-search writing:
- Cover letter: "I've attached my résumé for your review." / "I've attached my resume for your review."
- Email subject line: "Resume – Jane Smith – Marketing Coordinator"
- LinkedIn: "Open to opportunities. Résumé available on request."
- Avoiding confusion: "We'll resume interviews on Monday. Please send your résumé before then." (Here the accents make the sentence much easier to read)
Pick one spelling and stick with it across your resume, cover letter, email, and LinkedIn.
How Résumé Is Spelled Around the World
- United States: "resume" (most common) or "résumé." In academia, "CV" for long academic records
- Canada: "résumé" or "resume" in English; "CV" is also common. In French, curriculum vitae or CV
- United Kingdom and Ireland: "CV" is the standard term
- Australia and New Zealand: "resume" (often without accents) or "CV"
- India and the Philippines: "resume," "CV," and sometimes "biodata." See what is biodata
- France: CV (a French résumé is just a summary)
- Spanish-speaking countries: currículum or hoja de vida
- Germany: Lebenslauf
If you're applying in English, use the term the job posting uses.
How to Stop Autocorrect From Changing It
Some tools "correct" one spelling into another. To keep your preferred spelling:
- Microsoft Word: File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options, then remove or add the entry for "resume" / "résumé"
- Google Docs: Tools > Preferences > Substitutions, then add or remove a substitution
- iPhone: Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement, and add "resume" → "résumé" if you want the accents automatically
- Android (Gboard): Settings > Dictionary > Personal dictionary, and add your preferred spelling
What About "CV"?
In the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Europe, people often say CV (curriculum vitae) instead of resume. In the US, a CV usually means a longer academic document. If you're applying internationally, use whichever term the job posting uses. See CV vs cover letter and Europass CV.
How to Type Résumé With Accents
Windows: hold Alt and type 0233 on the number pad to get é. (Laptops without a number pad: use the Character Map or Insert > Symbol in Word.)
Mac: press Option + E, then E.
Microsoft Word (Windows): press Ctrl + ' (apostrophe), then E. Word's AutoCorrect may also add the accents when you type "resume" in certain contexts.
Google Docs: go to Insert > Special characters and search for "e acute," or use your computer's keyboard shortcut.
iPhone and Android: press and hold the E key, then slide to é.
Copy and paste: résumé
How to Pronounce Résumé
The job document is pronounced REZ-oo-may (or REZ-uh-may), with the stress on the first syllable.
The verb "resume" (to continue) is pronounced rih-ZOOM.
So: "Let's rih-ZOOM looking at your REZ-oo-may."
Resume Spelling Mistakes That Actually Matter
How you spell "résumé" won't make or break your application. These spelling issues can:
- Typos in your contact information (one wrong digit in your phone number and no one can call you)
- Misspelled company names in your cover letter
- Misspelled job titles or tools, like "Exel" or "Salesforse"
- Inconsistent spelling of the same word across your resume and cover letter
- Commonly confused words: "manger" vs. "manager," "lead" vs. "led," "affect" vs. "effect," "their" vs. "there"
Spell-check won't catch all of these. Read your resume out loud, and see common resume mistakes for a full checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct spelling of resume?
Both "résumé" and "resume" are correct in American English. "Résumé" is the traditional spelling, and "resume" is the simpler, more common form.
Is "resumé" correct?
It's listed in some dictionaries as a less common variant, but many people consider it an error. "Résumé" or "resume" are safer choices.
Do recruiters care how you spell resume?
Almost never. What matters is that you spell it consistently and that the rest of your application is error-free.
Is it résumé or resume on LinkedIn and job boards?
Most US job boards and LinkedIn use "resume" without accents. Using the same spelling as the platform is perfectly fine.
Can accents in "résumé" cause ATS problems?
Modern ATS handle accented characters well. To be safe, use "resume" without accents in file names (for example, Jane-Smith-Resume.pdf). See how to name your resume file.
Why is résumé spelled with accents?
The word comes from French, where résumé means "summary." The accents show the French pronunciation and help distinguish it from the English verb "resume."
Now Make the Résumé Itself Great
Spelling the word right is the easy part. Our Resume Builder helps you create the actual document, with ATS-friendly templates and strong, error-free bullet points, however you choose to spell it.