Labelled or Labeled | Difference & Examples
Labelled and labeled are two different spellings of the past tense of the verb ‘label’, referring to the act of attaching a label or identifying marker to something. The verb is also used negatively to refer to the act of assigning someone or something to a specific category.
The spelling tends to vary based on whether you’re using UK or US English:
- In US English, ‘labeled’ (one ‘l’) is standard.
- In UK English, ‘labelled’ (double ‘l’) is correct.
Even though the two politicians labeled/labelled each other dangerous, they were quite alike in their beliefs.
All of Niamh’s files were meticulously labeled/labelled.
When you’ve labeled/labelled the new products, please put them on the shelves.
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Labelling or labeling
The same spelling distinction applies to the present participle (‘-ing’) forms of the verb.
- In US English, it’s ‘labeling’ (one ‘l’).
- In UK English, it’s ‘labelling’ (double ‘l’).
The media has been unfairly labeling/labelling Charlie as a callous thief.
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If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
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Ryan, E. (2023, March 14). Labelled or Labeled | Difference & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 9 December 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/uk-vs-us/labelled-vs-labeled/
