# Spelling: Traveling or Travelling? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 6, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900 "2021-11-06T17:59:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/21 "2021-11-06T20:05:32Z")
Which is correct depends on whether the Jump Drive is working. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/22 "2021-11-06T20:24:51Z")
Couple of others that cause confusion: kidnaper, kidnaping, correct with one P in US, two in UK. Skulduggery. Always one L. The word is not related to skulls. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/23 "2021-11-06T20:35:23Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > kidnaper, kidnaping, correct with one P in US, two in UK It might be accepted with one p in the US, but I don’t think many people spell it that way now. I always see it with two Ps. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/24 "2021-11-06T20:41:27Z")
“Judgment” always trips me up. Seems like there should be an ‘e’ between the ‘g’ and the ‘m’. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/25 "2021-11-06T20:51:33Z")
Not sure I’ve ever seen it with only one “p.” I mean, before this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/26 "2021-11-06T20:54:39Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > There are a surprisingly large number of differences between US and UK spelling - everyone knows the “or” versus “our” issue - color, colour, labor, labour, neighbor, neighbour, etc. - and the “ization” one (organization, organisation, etc.) but there are dozens more. The other thing about this is: in quite a few of the cases, _both_ variant spellings are acceptable in the UK (with one of them typically being more common), whereas the USA typically has one correct spelling. The ~ise/~ize words are examples of this - organise and organize are both valid UK spellings. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/27 "2021-11-06T21:08:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > “Judgment” always trips me up. Seems like there should be an ‘e’ between the ‘g’ and the ‘m’. And so there is, in British English, though per OED “judgment” is acceptable as well. But in American, “judgement” looks like a misspelling, not a Britishism. My bugbear is “cancelled.” It’s an acceptable variant in American, but I think “canceled” is more usual so I try to fit in. I’m with the OP on “travelling,” but I force myself to use the standard American form. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/28 "2021-11-07T00:40:15Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > One way to solve your problem would be to move to the UK. (Or at least Canada.) Moving to Canada would only partially solve his problem. It’s true that we spell “-our” words like “colour”, “flavour”, “neighbour”, etc correctly, but come on, words like “organization”, “realize”, “apologize” and so forth are spelled with a “z”, not an “s”. And don’t even get me started on “tyre” instead of “tire”. There are no tyres in Canada, and our cars don’t wear either bonnets or boots. OTOH, we properly recognize that the letter “z” is pronounced “zed”, not “zee”. The only justification for the “zee” pronunciation is so that the children’s alphabet song will rhyme. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/29 "2021-11-07T00:42:47Z")
> [@lum\_s\_husband](#): > > Which is correct depends on whether the Jump Drive is working. I had sort of the same thought. 😃 For those not in the know, “Traveller” is the name of a science-fiction role-playing game, which has been around, in various forms, and under various publishers, since 1977. And, due solely to that game, I tend to use two "L"s in “traveller.” ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/30 "2021-11-07T01:20:05Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > OTOH, we properly recognize that the letter “z” is pronounced “zed”, not “zee”. The only justification for the “zee” pronunciation is so that the children’s alphabet song will rhyme. 😉 Maybe you could start pronouncing “g” as “ged,” “p” as “ped,” and “v” as “ved.” Then it would still rhyme. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/31 "2021-11-07T01:22:14Z")
Conversely, _Travelers_ (one L) was also the name of a Showcase+Netflix sci-fi series. Ironically, it was largely a Canadian production, though officially regarded as a Canadian-American co-production. So I’m imagining lengthy arguments breaking out in the production offices over how to spell the title. However, since there were so many Canadians involved, and the series was filmed in Canada, I imagine the arguments were extremely polite, with the Canadians making their case for “Travellers” with quiet understated wit and eventually relenting when the American producers started fidgeting with their handguns. 😉 > **[Travelers (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelers_(TV_series))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > Travelers is a science fiction television series created by Brad Wright, starring Eric McCormack, Mackenzie Porter, Jared Abrahamson, Nesta Cooper, Reilly Dolman, and Patrick Gilmore. The first two seasons were co-produced by Netflix and Canadian specialty channel Showcase. After the second season, Netflix became the sole commissioning broadcaster and worldwide distributor. The show premiered in Canada on October 17, 2016, and worldwide on Decem... ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/32 "2021-11-07T03:53:03Z")
I go with UK spelling. It’s their language, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/33 "2021-11-07T08:12:26Z")
The important takeaway though: English is spoken is only two places, the US and the UK. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/34 "2021-11-07T08:27:06Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I go with UK spelling. It’s their language, isn’t it? Sometimes there is a rationale behind spelling variations so you can judge for yourself what to use, but I do not know what that might be in this case. Otherwise you can just go with the dictionary/style guide, which (for international publications) is usually British spelling (whatever that be; note that UK English is hardly free of solecisms) but not always. I suppose you cannot go too far wrong if you use one of the acceptable variants listed in the OED and are consistent. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/35 "2021-11-07T09:35:44Z")
“Remember that craze a few years back in the BookWorld for sending chain letters? Receive a letter and send one on to ten friends? Well, someone has been overenthusiastic with the letter U—I’ve got a report here from the Text Sea Environmental Protection Agency saying that reserves of the letter U have reached dangerously low levels—we need to decrease consumption until stocks are brought back up. ~ ~“Any word with the our ending could be spelt or, don’tchaknow.” “Like neighbor instead of neighbour?” “It’s a good idea,” put in Snell. “Labor, valor, flavor, harbor—there must be hundreds. If we confine it to one geographical area, we can claim it as a local spelling idiosyncrasy.” ― Jasper Fforde, [The Well of Lost Plots](https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1116054) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/36 "2021-11-07T11:59:00Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The only justification for the “zee” pronunciation is so that the children’s alphabet song will rhyme. 😉 In the UK as a kid we were taught a different alphabet rhyme that doesn’t require “zee” to scan properly. Buggered if I can find it online but I’ll have a go at laying it out. it is something like > ABC, > DEFG, > HIJKLM > (pause) > NOPQ, > RSTU, > VWXYZ Interesting on the USA v UK double “L” issue. Never noticed that even though half my work life is spent with USA colleagues and materials. I have though completely lost any grasp of the USA V UK Schedule pronunciation. I can’t remember which is which so I just say whatever comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/37 "2021-11-07T12:10:53Z")
I get confused when describing buildings at a World’s Fair - is it “pavillion” or “pavilion”? I have always used the 2 L’s version, and it always gets highlighted (highlit?) as an error. The word comes from the French “pavillon” which has two L’s. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/38 "2021-11-07T18:47:41Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > “Judgment” always trips me up. Seems like there should be an ‘e’ between the ‘g’ and the ‘m’. “Development” is the same for me. I vividly remember getting a paper back in embryology with my ‘developement’ marked in red ink over three dozen times. And a note from the grader that s/he had taken off a full letter grade for the mistake because it was sooo damned annoying to look at! ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/39 "2021-11-07T22:04:53Z")
no’one? ITYM “hyphen” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900/40 "2021-11-07T22:23:55Z")
The one that threw me as a kid was “buses,” as in “the children ride buses to their schools.” Spelling it with one _s_ made it look like it’d be pronounced to rhyme with “muses.” Spelling it with a double _s_ made it into a synonym for _kisses_. I finally got it straight by telling myself, “There are no busses on buses.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900.md?page=3)