“Canceled” vs. “Cancelled”: Understand the Differences

Few spelling questions confuse writers as much as canceled vs. cancelled.
You might’ve seen both and wondered which one’s right.
Good news — they both are! The difference comes down to American vs. British English.

Let’s explore how to use each form correctly and make your writing look natural and consistent.

Canceled: American English

Meaning

“Canceled” (with one “l”) is the standard spelling in American English.
Writers in the U.S. prefer simpler spellings — dropping extra letters when possible.

Examples of “Canceled” (10 total)

1. The concert was canceled due to bad weather.
2. My flight got canceled last night.
3. He canceled his gym membership.
4. The meeting has been canceled for today.
5. I canceled my subscription yesterday.
6. The class was canceled because of the snowstorm.
7. She canceled her trip to New York.
8. The event was canceled at the last minute.
9. We canceled the order before it shipped.
10. The teacher canceled the test unexpectedly.

🧠 Tip:
If you’re writing for a U.S. audience or using American English in general, use canceled.

Cancelled: British English

Meaning

“Cancelled” (with two “l”s) is the preferred spelling in British, Canadian, and Australian English.
It follows traditional British spelling rules, which double the “l” before adding “-ed” or “-ing.”

Examples of “Cancelled” (10 total)

1. The football match was cancelled due to rain.
2. My train got cancelled this morning.
3. The teacher cancelled the exam at the last moment.
4. The conference was cancelled for safety reasons.
5. We cancelled our dinner reservations.
6. The airline cancelled all flights to London.
7. She cancelled her holiday plans.
8. The festival was cancelled after the storm.
9. They cancelled the show without warning.
10. The school cancelled sports day activities.

🧠 Tip:
If your readers are from the U.K., Canada, or Australia, stick with cancelled.

Why the Spelling Split Exists

The spelling difference dates back to the 1800s when Noah Webster simplified many British spellings for American English.
He believed English should be easier to write and read — that’s why Americans use color instead of colour, and canceled instead of cancelled.

British English, meanwhile, kept the traditional “double L” forms.
Both are correct — it’s just about who you’re writing for.

Canceled vs. Cancelled in Modern Writing

Other Forms of the Word

Notice that both use cancellation with two “l”s — that’s the same everywhere!

How to Remember the Difference

👉 If you’re writing for the U.S., remember:

One country, one “L” — canceled.

👉 If you’re writing for the U.K., remember:

Two “L”s for London — cancelled.

In Human Writing vs. AI Writing

AI-generated content often mixes spellings from different regions — like color and colour in the same text.
Tools like Humanizey help standardize spelling, tone, and grammar so your writing sounds natural and consistent for your target audience.

FAQ

1. Are both “canceled” and “cancelled” correct?
Yes! “Canceled” is American, while “cancelled” is British. Both mean the same thing.

2. Which one should I use in emails or essays?
Use the version that matches your audience — “canceled” for the U.S., “cancelled” for the U.K.

3. What about “cancelling” and “canceling”?
Same rule applies: “canceling” (U.S.) vs. “cancelling” (U.K.).

4. Is “cancellation” ever written with one L?
No, both English versions use cancellation with two Ls.

Practice: Choose the Correct Form (“Canceled” or “Cancelled”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. The flight was ___ due to bad weather.
2. She ___ her trip to Australia.
3. The class got ___ because the teacher was sick.
4. We ___ our dinner reservation last night.
5. The match was ___ after heavy rain.
6. They ___ their plans for the weekend.
7. The concert was ___ just before it started.
8. The company ___ the project after reviewing costs.
9. He ___ his gym membership this month.
10. Our train was ___ this morning.

Answers

For American English: canceled
For British English: cancelled

Example:

1. canceled / cancelled
2. canceled / cancelled
3. canceled / cancelled
4. canceled / cancelled
5. canceled / cancelled
6. canceled / cancelled
7. canceled / cancelled
8. canceled / cancelled
9. canceled / cancelled
10. canceled / cancelled