Acknowledgment vs. Acknowledgement: Spelling and Usage Guide

Spelling errors in professional and academic writing can undermine your credibility. One word that frequently trips up writers is acknowledg(e)ment. Should there be an 'e' after the 'g'? Is one spelling wrong?

In this spelling guide, we clear up the confusion between acknowledgment and acknowledgement, explaining the rules for American vs. British English, and providing easy tricks to remember them.

The Core Rule: US vs. UK English

Both spellings are correct, but they are used in different regions:

• Acknowledgment (no 'e' after 'g'): This is the preferred spelling in American English.

• Acknowledgement (with an 'e' after 'g'): This is the preferred spelling in British English (and other dialects like Australian and Canadian English).

Both spellings share the exact same definition: the act of admitting the truth, confirming receipt of something, or expressing gratitude.

Comparison Table

Region	Preferred Spelling	Example
United States	Acknowledgment	The company sent an acknowledgment email.
United Kingdom	Acknowledgement	We await their acknowledgement of our letter.
Canada & Australia	Acknowledgement	She received an acknowledgement for her work.

Memory Trick to Remember the Spelling

An easy way to remember which spelling belongs to which dialect is to look at the letter 'E':

• England starts with E and prefers the spelling with the extra E (Acknowledgement).

• The United States has no 'E' in its abbreviation (US) and prefers the spelling without the extra E (Acknowledgment).

Master English Spelling and Context

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