How To Spell Judgement

At proofed we re often asked whether to use judgement or judgment in writing but there isn t a simple answer.

How to spell judgement. Henry fowler asserted the oed oxford english dictionary prefers the older and more reasonable spelling. So to help you avoid errors in your writing we ve prepared a short explainer of the spellings judgement and judgment. Judgment is a noun that has several meanings including the act or instance of judging and the ability to judge make a decision or form an opinion objectively authoritatively and wisely especially in matters affecting action. Judgment without the e is a frequent spelling on british websites too. The form judgement gained in frequency in british contexts and is now the usual spelling in general british use but judgment has remained the standard spelling in british legal contexts when used to refer to a judicial decision see sense 8 as well as in u s.

In fact you will rarely find the word spelled any other way in the united states. However if you re writing for an audience outside north america remember. The word judgment is also one that has a different spelling in america than it has in england. In american english judgment is the standard spelling in all contexts. It depends on preference context and dialect.

Interestingly enough despite the fact that judgment is seen as a primarily american spelling it is still the preferred form for legal works in british english. Judgement is a british spelling of the word usually spelled in north america as judgment without the e if you re going to sit in judgement of proper spelling make sure you re sitting on the eastern side of the atlantic. During the 19th cent. If you visit the official gears of war website you will find that the official title actually spells the word judgment not judgement. The ap stylebook the american heritage dictionary and merriam webster s dictionary all prefer judgment.

Therefore the traditionally accepted correct american spelling is judgment while the british still accept and use the spelling judgement. Most american dictionaries and usage guides prefer the shorter judgment. The spellings judgement and judgment have both been available since the sixteenth century. Judgement is therefore here recommended. Judgment can also be spelled judgement and usage experts have long disagreed over which spelling is the preferred one.