“Canceling” and “cancelling” are often confused by English learners and native speakers alike. They are pronounced exactly the same, making them a perfect example of homophones.

But which one is correct? Is it just a spelling difference, or do they have different meanings? In this post, we’ll explain when to use each form, depending on where you're writing from, and give you a quiz to test your knowledge!

What Does “Canceling” Mean?

“Canceling” is the preferred spelling in American English. It is the present participle of “cancel,” used in progressive tenses and as a gerund.

Examples:

• “I’m canceling my trip to New York.”
• “They were canceling the event due to weather concerns.”

What Does “Cancelling” Mean?

“Cancelling” is the standard spelling in British English. It is used in the same contexts as “canceling,” just with an extra “l.”

Examples:

• “She’s cancelling her dentist appointment.”
• “We are cancelling classes on Monday.”

Key Differences: Canceling vs Cancelling

Word	Spelling	Region	Example
Canceling	Single “l”	American English 🇺🇸	“I’m canceling my gym membership.”
Cancelling	Double “l”	British English 🇬🇧	“She’s cancelling her flight.”

Common Mistakes

• ❌ Mixing both spellings in the same text — choose one based on your audience.
• ❌ Thinking one is incorrect — both are correct in their respective regions.
• ✅ Use “canceling” in the U.S. and “cancelling” in the U.K., Canada, and Australia.

Easy Tricks to Remember

• 🇺🇸 Canceling = USA = One “l”
• 🇬🇧 Cancelling = UK/Commonwealth = Two “l”s
• 🧠 Tip: American English simplifies; British English preserves double letters!

Quick Practice Exercise

Choose the correct spelling in each sentence:

1. She’s --Choose-- canceling cancelling her online course next week.
2. I’m thinking of --Choose-- canceling cancelling the subscription.
3. In the UK, we spell it --Choose-- canceling cancelling .
4. Are you --Choose-- canceling cancelling your doctor’s appointment?

Check Answers

Bonus Resources

• Explore more homophones on AulaPlanet → Full category
• Cambridge Dictionary: Definition of “cancel”

Conclusion

“Canceling” and “cancelling” are both correct spellings of the same word. Which one you use depends on whether you follow American or British spelling rules. Once you pick a style, be consistent and confident in your usage!

📲 Now that you know the difference — take the quiz, share this lesson, or explore more English homophones!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)