Cancelled or Canceled: Which Spelling Is Correct?

The words ‘cancelled’ and ‘canceled’ are both correct. The difference is what country you are writing in. Each version of English is supposed to be written with either one or the other.

Using the form in a formal document or report is a silly mistake that Trinka Grammar Checker will spot immediately so you do not look foolish.

What is the difference between ‘cancelled’ and ‘canceled’?

The answer is simple: spelling differences. The difference is not what is grammatically correct.

Whether the word matches the standard English form you are using.

Both ‘cancelled’ and ‘canceled’ are tense and past participles of ‘to cancel’. Neither is wrong.

• Canceled is used in American English with one ‘l’ before the ‘-ed’ ending.
• Cancelled is used in English and also Australian, Canadian and most other variants with two ‘ls before the ‘-ed’ ending.

Why does American English use one ‘l’ while British English uses two?

This split started in the 1800s with Noah Webster, an American lexicographer who wanted to simplify the language.

Webster was tired of the complexity in spelling so he recommended using single consonants when they were not needed for a double consonant before the ‘-ed’ or ‘-ing’ ending.

Since the stress in the root word ‘cancel’ is on the syllable Webster felt that there was no need to add a second ‘l’ before the ‘-ed’ ending.

This principle is true for words as well:

• Traveled (American) vs Travelled (British)
• Labeled (American) vs Labelled (British)
• Fueled (American) vs Fuelled (British)
• Modeled (American) vs Modelled (British)

Which spelling should you use?

There is no right answer it depends on your audience and style guide.

• If you are writing for an audience use ‘canceled’.
• If you are writing for a Australian or other variety of English speaker use ‘cancelled’.
• If you are writing for an organization check which guide they follow.
• If you are writing for an institution follow the preferred standard of English of the institution.

How do ‘canceling’ –  Cancelling’ work?

• American English: ‘The airline is canceling flights.
• British English: ‘The airline is cancelling flights.

Are there words with similar spelling variations?

Yes, there are others. Generally, this phenomenon is based on whether the last syllable’s stressed in the root word.

• Cancel: canceled (American) / cancelled (British)
• Travel: traveled (American) / travelled (British)
• Label: labeled (American) / labelled (British)
• Fuel: fueled (American) / British)

How do style guides handle the differences?

Different style guides specify which spelling to use:

• AP Stylebook: uses ‘canceled’ (American)
• Chicago Manual of Style: uses ‘canceled’ (American)
• Oxford English Dictionary: uses ‘cancelled’ (British)

Does it make a difference in writing?

No in texting, instant messages, personal emails and social media comments there is difference in what spelling is used.

However in documents the usage is more important. A mistake like this at work or in an essay could signify either carelessness or a lack of knowledge.

Are there any real-world examples of each spelling?

English examples:

• ‘The concert was canceled due to bad weather’.
• ‘She canceled her subscription to the online service’.
• ‘The project was canceled before it began’.

British English examples:

• ‘The match was cancelled because the pitch was waterlogged’.
• ‘He cancelled his appointment this morning’.
• ‘The flights were cancelled due to the strike’.

How Do You Remember Which Spelling to Use?

American English usually likes to use shorter words. So, if the writer is writing for people in America, think about using one ‘l’ and a shorter word because that’s what Americans like.

If writing for people in Britain or other countries, think about using two l’s and a fuller word because that is what the British do.

Beyond using tricks to remember, the best way to get it right is to set the language on computer before starting to write.

If you are writing something important like a school paper or a technical report, use Trinka Grammar Checker. It helps to use the spelling all the way through document not just one word at a time.