Cheque vs check is a common confusion in the banking world. Especially for individuals banking in multiple countries.
In short, the difference between the two terms is the difference between American English and British English.
In the following article, we’ll discuss the countries that use cheque and those that use check. Plus, we’ll also answer a few common questions that we receive from members related to this topic.
This article is part of our free series on how to send and receive money, including bank checks, bank transfers, and more, which you can access by clicking here.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
Cheque vs Check
The main difference between cheque and check is that cheque uses the spelling from British English while check uses the spelling from American English. Not surprisingly, countries that are current members of the British Commonwealth, as well as those that maintained Commonwealth status up until recently, use the British English spelling for the term.
Not surprisingly, there are also a wide range of countries around the world that use American English spelling for the term as well. So, as a result, there is a wide discrepancy in how this term is spelled around the world.
To help understand the foundations of cheque vs check, let’s take a closer look at the specific difference between British and American English.
American English vs British English
The main difference between American English and British English is that British English maintains a number of root words from other cultures such as French while American English takes a phonetic approach to spelling words regardless of their cultural origin. As a result, British English has spelling influences from different branches of the written word, including other European countries like France (as mentioned) and Germany.
In consideration of cheque vs check, we can see an example of this with the British English term cheque originating in France. On the other hand, American English has taken a phonetic approach, spelling check exactly as it sounds.
Regions Using American English vs British English
Not surprisingly, the vast majority of former British colonies use British English while countries that have been more recently influenced by the United States use American English.
In other words, the debate between cheque vs check is happening all over the world. In short, most of the world uses the British English spelling of cheque. However, regions of Latin America, Asia, and parts of the middle east do use American English spelling of check.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are two of the most common questions that we receive from people looking into the difference between a cheque vs check. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
Why Do Americans Say Check Instead of Cheque?
Americans say check instead of cheque because American English generally adopts spelling that is based on the sound of the word instead of the origin of the word. In other words, while British English maintains a cultural connection to the country where the term cheque (France) originated, Americans do not.
Is It Check or Cheque in Canada?
Whether it is best to use check or cheque in Canada may depend on who you are speaking to. However, the official spelling of the term in Canada is cheque, though certain people use it interchangeably. That said, because Canada use British English, any official correspondence and bank communication will use the British spelling of cheque.
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