Spelling
General Rules
The Canadian Oxford Dictionary is the authority for spelling. Where optional forms are given (for example, moustache, mustache) the first listed can be used.
When the spelling of the common-noun element of a proper name differs from the Canadian Press Style Guide (for example, Canadian Paediatric Society), use the spelling favoured by the subject.
Ignore symbols and unnecessary punctuation in corporate or other names or translates them into accepted punctuation if necessary (for example Yahoo Inc, NOT Yahoo! Inc.)
Canadian style is -our not -or for words of more than one syllable in which the ‘u’ is not pronounced. Examples
- armour
- behaviour
- colour
- discolour
- dishonour
- endeavour
- favour
- flavour
- glamour
- harbour
- honour
- humour
- labour
- neighbour
- odour
- rumour
- saviour
- savour
- valour
- vapour
In some forms of these words; however, the ‘u’ is dropped, especially when an -ous ending is added:
Our style also reflects Canadian versus American spellings. Examples (American in brackets):
- laborious
- rancorous
- odorous
- honourary
- axe (ax)
- catalogue (catalog)
- centre (center)
- cheque (check)
- defence (defense)
- enrol (enroll)
- gray (grey)
- ketchup (catsup)
- licence (noun) (license)
- litre (liter)
- manoeuvre (maneuver)
- meagre (meager)
- metre (meter)
- mould (mold)
- moustache (mustache)
- offence (offense)
- skilful (skillful)
- syrup (sirup)
- theatre (theater)
- pyjamas (pajamas)
As well, double the ‘l’ when adding endings to words such as label and signal as American spelling tends to leave it as a single ‘l’.
For words in common use, style is simple ‘e’ instead of diphthongs ‘ae’ and ‘oe.’ For example:
- archaeologist
- ecumenical
- encyclopedia
- esthetic
- fetus
- gynecologist
- hemorrhage
- medieval
- paleontologist
- pedagogy
- pediatrician
Proper names retain the dipthong:
- Caesar
- Oedipus
- Phoebe
- hors d’oeuvre
- manoeuvre
- subpoena
The ‘ae’ in aerial, aerate and such is considered normal spelling.
The umlaut (a, o and u) in German names is indicated by the letter ‘e’ after the letter affected (for example: Goering for Goring).
The ‘ov’ and ‘ev’ endings for Russian names are used instead of ‘off’ and ‘eff.’ Exceptions include names such as Rachmaninoff, Smirnoff and Ignatieff where the spelling is established.
First Nations names is to follow the reference of the band. Please refer to Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development Canada’s First Nations Profiles page.
For Arabic names, use an English spelling that approximates the way a name sounds in Arabic. If an individual has a preferred spelling in English, use it.
Use the Ukranian, not the Russian transliteration for Ukranian place names (for example, Chornobyl NOT Chernobyl and Kyiv, NOT Kiev).