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“Don’t Canadians just use British spelling?”
I may have cringed when I recently read this question posted in a writers’ group.
Why should writers, businesses, and organizations follow Canadian spelling conventions? If your message is clear, does it really matter whether you write colour or color? The short answer is yes — especially if you’re publishing content for a Canadian audience.
What Makes Canadian Spelling Unique?
Canadian English — both the words we use and how we choose to spell them — has a fascinating blend of influences. This post isn’t long enough to cover Canada’s rich linguistic history, but some key players include the following:
- Indigenous Peoples in Canada, with over 70 distinct First Nations, Métis, and Inuit languages,
- French settlers, who introduced words like toque and toboggan into the English language,
- Loyalist refugees from the American Revolution,
- waves of British immigrants, who maintained strong colonial ties,
- and the ongoing influence of the USA, our neighbour to the south.
What Are the Key Differences with Canadian Spelling?
Canadian spelling exists in a tug-of-war; some rules follow British spelling while others align with American conventions. It’s confusing at best.
The Canadian Style breaks it down into these helpful tips:
1. Canadian English generally follows the American -ize over the British -ise endings.
| Canadian | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| realize, realization | realise, realisation | realize, realization |
| specialize, specialization | specialise, specialisation | specialize, specialization |
2. Canadian English keeps the British u in words like honour and savour.
| Canadian | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| behaviour | behaviour | behavior |
| flavour | flavour | flavor |
3. Canadian spelling follows the British rule for nouns with -re endings.
| Canadian | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| theatre | theatre | theater |
| fibre | fibre | fiber |
4. Canadian English often switches the -ce and -se endings depending on whether a word is used as a noun or a verb.
| Canadian | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| licence (n), license (v) | licence (n), license (v) | license (n, v) |
| practice (n), practise (v) | practice (n), practise (v) | practice (n, v) |
5. Canadian spelling doubles the letter l when adding -ed or -ing endings.
| Canadian | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| travel, travelled, travelling | travel, travelled, travelling | travel, traveled, traveling |
| signal, signalled, signalling | signal, signalled, signalling | signal, signaled, signaling |
6. In Canadian spelling, the noun forms of some verbs double the l.
| Canadian | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| fulfill, fulfillment | fulfil, fulfilment | fulfill, fulfillment |
| counsel, counsellor | counsel, counsellor | counsel, counselor |
7. Like American spelling, Canadian spelling simplifies the digraphs ae and oe to e.
| Canadian | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| encyclopedia | encyclopaedia | encyclopedia |
| diarrhea | diarrhoea | diarrhea |
8. Canadian spelling likes to keep you guessing.
| Canadian | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| grey | grey | gray |
| cheque | cheque | check |
| toward | towards | toward |
So, Why Does Spelling Matter?
Readers notice inconsistencies. If you’re writing for a Canadian audience, maintaining consistent Canadian spelling helps reinforce your credibility.
For businesses, using the right spelling also builds trust. Canadian customers expect to see neighbourhood rather than neighborhood and labour rather than labor. It’s a small detail that signals attention to quality and audience awareness.
What Are Some Helpful Resources?
If you’re unsure whether your writing follows Canadian style conventions, an editor can help. You can also refer to The Canadian Press Stylebook or the Canadian Oxford Dictionary for guidance. In addition, The Language Portal of Canada has tools on grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Remember, consistency is key. A trained editor will ensure that your content meets the expectations of your Canadian readers.
Want your writing to connect with your intended audience? Fill out my contact page, and let’s discuss how I can help.
Written by Carla Myers
