Cancelled vs. Canceled | Which Spelling Is Correct?

Cancelled vs. canceled is one of the most confusing spelling rules in English grammar.

 I often see writers stop mid-sentence because they’re unsure which spelling to choose.
Is cancelled incorrect, or is canceled the wrong one?

 In this article, I’ll explain the exact rule in a simple way so I can help you use the correct spelling with confidence.

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What Do “Cancelled” and “Canceled” Mean?

Before learning the rule, let’s understand the meaning.

Both cancelled and canceled come from the verb cancel.

Cancel means:

• To decide that something will not happen
  
• To stop an event, plan, or action
  

There is no difference in meaning between the two spellings.

Example:

• The meeting was canceled.
  
• The meeting was cancelled.
  

Both sentences mean the same thing.

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The Core Grammar Rule 

The difference between cancelled and canceled depends on regional English rules, not grammar mistakes.

The main rule is:

American English uses one “L”
British English uses two “L’s”

That’s the foundation of this entire topic.

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Canceled – American English Rule

In American English, the spelling is:

👉 canceled (with one L)

Why?

American English usually does not double the final “L” when adding:

• -ed
  
• -ing
  

Examples:

• The flight was canceled.
  
• My order got canceled yesterday.
  
• She is canceling her appointment.
  

If your content follows US English, this spelling is correct.

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Cancelled – British English Rule

In British English, the spelling is:

👉 cancelled (with two L’s)

Why?

British English doubles the final “L” before adding:

• -ed
  
• -ing
  

Examples:

• The flight was cancelled.
  
• The event has been cancelled.
  
• He is cancelling the booking.
  

If your website follows UK English, this is the correct spelling.

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Why English Has Two Different Spellings

English evolved differently in various regions.

• British English kept traditional spelling rules
  
• American English simplified many spellings
  

That’s why we have differences like:

• colour vs color
  
• travelled vs traveled
  
• cancelled vs canceled
  

Neither is wrong. They just follow different standards.

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Verb Stress Rule (Extra Understanding)

The verb cancel has stress on the first syllable:

CAN-cel

British English:

• Doubles the L even if stress is on the first syllable
  ✔ cancelled
  ✔ cancelling
  

American English:

• Does not double the L when stress is not on the last syllable
  ✔ canceled
  ✔ canceling
  

This rule applies to many similar words.

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All Forms Compared (Side-by-Side)

Form	American English	British English
Base verb	cancel	cancel
Past tense	canceled	cancelled
Past participle	canceled	cancelled
Present participle	canceling	cancelling
Noun	cancellation	cancellation

✔ Notice: “Cancellation” is the same everywhere

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Common Mistakes Learners Make

❌ Writing cancellled (three L’s)
❌ Mixing canceled and cancelled in the same article
❌ Thinking one spelling is wrong
❌ Correcting someone unnecessarily

The real mistake is inconsistency, not spelling choice.

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Which Spelling Should You Use?

Choose one English style and stick to it.

Use canceled if:

• Your audience is American
  
• Your site follows US English
  
• You target US search traffic
  

Use cancelled if:

• Your audience is British or international
  
• Your site is grammar-focused
  
• You follow UK English standards
  

👉 Consistency matters more than the spelling itself.

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Similar Words with the Same Rule

This rule also applies to many other verbs ending in L.

American English	British English
traveled	travelled
traveling	travelling
labeled	labelled
labeling	labelling
modeled	modelled

Learning this pattern helps you avoid future confusion.

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Conclusion

Both cancelled and canceled are grammatically correct spellings of the same word.
The only difference is regional usage American English prefers canceled, while British English uses cancelled.
I recommend choosing one spelling style and using it consistently across your content.
Once you understand this rule, you’ll never hesitate again while writing.