Labeled vs. Labelled: Which Is Correct?

Both labeled and labelled are correct spellings of the past tense of label, but the preferred form depends on where you’re writing.

Here’s the simple rule:

• Labeled → American English
• Labelled → British, Australian, and Canadian English

1. Labeled: The American Spelling

Meaning

“Labeled” is the standard spelling in American English.
It’s the past tense and past participle of label — meaning to attach a tag or name to something.

Examples (10 total)

1. The boxes were labeled with shipping addresses.
2. She labeled each jar by hand.
3. The teacher labeled the folders for each student.
4. He labeled the wires to avoid confusion.
5. The company labeled the product as eco-friendly.
6. We labeled the samples before sending them to the lab.
7. The document was labeled confidential.
8. The artist labeled each painting with a title.
9. The shelves were clearly labeled by category.
10. She labeled the data points on the graph.

🧠 Tip:
In the U.S., most verbs that end in a single vowel + l (like travel or cancel) don’t double the “l” in the past tense.
→ label → labeled, travel → traveled, cancel → canceled.

2. Labelled: The British Spelling

Meaning

“Labelled” is the preferred spelling in British, Australian, and Canadian English.
It carries the same meaning as labeled — to name, tag, or identify something.

Examples (10 total)

1. Each file was labelled alphabetically.
2. The jars were labelled with colorful stickers.
3. He labelled the cables to make setup easier.
4. The museum labelled every artifact.
5. The containers were labelled for recycling.
6. She labelled the folders by date.
7. The teacher labelled each student's project.
8. All items were labelled with barcodes.
9. The packages were incorrectly labelled.
10. The scientist labelled each sample carefully.

🧠 Tip:
In British English, verbs ending in a vowel + l usually double the “l” before adding -ed or -ing.
→ label → labelled, travel → travelled, cancel → cancelled.

3. Quick Comparison Table

4. How to Remember

👉 If you write “color,” use “labeled.”
👉 If you write “colour,” use “labelled.”

💡 Memory Trick:

American words are shorter — so labeled is shorter too.

5. Common Mistakes

❌ The product was labled correctly.
✅ The product was labeled (US) / labelled (UK) correctly.

❌ I have labeld all my files.
✅ I have labeled / labelled all my files.

6. Why It’s Confusing

Because both versions appear frequently online, it’s easy to think one must be wrong.
But they’re both right — just tied to regional spelling rules.
Grammar tools like Humanizey can automatically adjust your spelling to match American or British English so your writing stays consistent.

FAQs

1. Are “labeled” and “labelled” pronounced differently?

No — they’re pronounced exactly the same.

2. Which should I use in formal writing?

Use labeled if you’re writing for an American audience and labelled for a British one.

3. Is “labelling” spelled with one “l” or two?

Same rule:

• American → labeling
• British → labelling

4. What part of speech is “labeled/labelled”?

It can be both a verb (She labeled the jar) or an adjective (The labeled jar is on the shelf).

Practice: Choose the Correct Form

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. The folders were neatly ___ and organized.
2. I ___ the bottles before mailing them.
3. Each package was incorrectly ___.
4. The scientist carefully ___ the samples.
5. The files were all properly ___ for storage.
6. The artist ___ his paintings before the show.
7. Our team ___ the products last week.
8. The teacher ___ every student’s paper.
9. The shelves were ___ by category.
10. She ___ the boxes before moving day.

Answers

For American English: labeled
For British English: labelled