Acknowledgment vs. Acknowledgement — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 24, 2024
"Acknowledgment" and "Acknowledgement" are both correct spellings of a term that means recognition or admission, differing only in regional spelling preferences.
Difference Between Acknowledgment and Acknowledgement
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Acknowledgment" is the preferred spelling in American English, commonly used in American publications, documents, and communications. Whereas, "Acknowledgement" is favored in British English, often appearing in texts and contexts that adhere to UK spelling conventions.
Both spellings are used to refer to the act of recognizing someone's contribution or the truth of a fact. While "acknowledgment" is commonly seen in the United States, "acknowledgement" is more likely to be used in the UK, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries.
The choice between "acknowledgment" and "acknowledgement" does not affect the meaning of the word. Both spellings are correct and are understood globally, regardless of the regional preference.
These variations do not impact the usage of the word in a sentence; they are interchangeable. The decision to use one over the other typically depends on the target audience's location or the standard spelling practice of the publication.
In professional and academic writing, the consistency of spelling according to the chosen English variant (American or British) is crucial. For example, American journals prefer "acknowledgment," whereas British publications opt for "acknowledgement."
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Comparison Chart
Preferred Region
United States
United Kingdom, Commonwealth
Usage Context
American English publications
British English publications
Spelling Variant
Shorter American spelling
Longer British spelling
Global Understanding
Universally understood
Universally understood
Importance in Writing
Consistency with American English
Consistency with British English
Compare with Definitions
Acknowledgment
Used in legal contexts to indicate confirmation.
The document required his signature as a form of acknowledgment.
Acknowledgement
The action of expressing gratitude or appreciation.
Her acknowledgement of the team's hard work boosted morale.
Acknowledgment
Can appear in various formal documents.
The company's annual report contained an acknowledgment section for donations.
Acknowledgement
Used in books to thank those who contributed to a project.
The author's acknowledgement page was filled with names.
Acknowledgment
Recognition of someone's efforts or contributions.
She included an acknowledgment of all contributors in her book.
Acknowledgement
Recognition or acceptance of the reality of a situation.
His swift acknowledgement of the oversight prevented further complications.
Acknowledgment
The act of admitting the truth of something.
His acknowledgment of the mistake helped resolve the issue quickly.
Acknowledgement
Often appears in formal and academic texts.
The thesis began with an acknowledgement of the advisor's guidance.
Acknowledgment
A formal statement recognizing a fact or situation.
The acknowledgment in the preface thanked the research team.
Acknowledgement
Important in professional communication.
The email included an acknowledgement of the receipt of the application.
Acknowledgment
The act of admitting the existence or truth of something
Acknowledgment that the service was poor.
Acknowledgement
The act of admitting the existence or truth of something
Acknowledgment that the service was poor.
Acknowledgment
Recognition or notice
Peace based on acknowledgment of a nation's sovereignty.
Acknowledgement
Recognition or notice
Peace based on acknowledgment of a nation's sovereignty.
Acknowledgment
An expression of thanks or appreciation
Included acknowledgments of people who helped in making the book.
Acknowledgement
An expression of thanks or appreciation
Included acknowledgments of people who helped in making the book.
Acknowledgment
An answer or response in return for something
Sent an acknowledgment of receipt of the letter.
Acknowledgement
An answer or response in return for something
Sent an acknowledgment of receipt of the letter.
Acknowledgment
(Law) The formal avowal of an act before a legally empowered officer, such as a judge or notary public, to ensure that the act will be legally recognized.
Acknowledgement
(Law) The formal avowal of an act before a legally empowered officer, such as a judge or notary public, to ensure that the act will be legally recognized.
Acknowledgment
The act of acknowledging
Acknowledgement
Alternative spelling of acknowledgment
Acknowledgment
The act of recognizing in a particular character or relationship; recognition of existence, authority, truth, or genuineness.
Acknowledgement
The state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged;
The partners were delighted with the recognition of their work
She seems to avoid much in the way of recognition or acknowledgement of feminist work prior to her own
Acknowledgment
A reward or other expression or token of gratitude.
Acknowledgement
A statement acknowledging something or someone;
She must have seen him but she gave no sign of acknowledgment
The preface contained an acknowledgment of those who had helped her
Acknowledgment
An expression of gratitude for a benefit or an obligation.
The acknowledgment of a favor
Acknowledgment
A message from the addressee informing the originator that the originator's communication has been received and understood.
The acknowledgment of a wedding invitation
Acknowledgment
A response (ACK) sent by a receiver to indicate successful receipt of a transmission (See Wikipedia article on transmission).
Acknowledgment
A recognition as genuine or valid; an avowing or admission in legal form.
Acknowledgment of a deed
Acknowledgment
(legal) The act of a person admitting a child as their own.
Acknowledgment
(legal) A formal statement or document recognizing the fulfillment or execution of a legal requirement or procedure.
Acknowledgment
The act of acknowledging; admission; avowal; owning; confession.
Acknowledgment
The act of owning or recognizing in a particular character or relationship; recognition as regards the existence, authority, truth, or genuineness; a statement acknowledging something or someone.
Immediately upon the acknowledgment of the Christian faith, the eunuch was baptized by Philip.
Acknowledgment
The owning of a benefit received; courteous recognition; the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged; an expression of thanks.
Acknowledgment
Something given or done in return for a favor, message, etc.
Acknowledgment
A declaration or avowal of one's own act, to give it legal validity; as, the acknowledgment of a deed before a proper officer. Also, the certificate of the officer attesting such declaration.
Acknowledgment
The state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged;
The partners were delighted with the recognition of their work
She seems to avoid much in the way of recognition or acknowledgement of feminist work prior to her own
Acknowledgment
A short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage;
The student's essay failed to list several important citations
The acknowledgments are usually printed at the front of a book
The article includes mention of similar clinical cases
Acknowledgment
A statement acknowledging something or someone;
She must have seen him but she gave no sign of acknowledgment
The preface contained an acknowledgment of those who had helped her
Common Curiosities
Why are there two different spellings for the same word?
The different spellings reflect regional spelling conventions between American and British English.
Can I use "acknowledgement" in American publications?
While not typical, "acknowledgement" can be used in American publications, especially if consistency with British English is intended.
Is "acknowledgment" only correct in American English?
Yes, "acknowledgment" is preferred in American English, while "acknowledgement" is used in British English.
Does the spelling variation affect the pronunciation?
No, both "acknowledgment" and "acknowledgement" are pronounced the same way.
How do dictionaries list these variants?
Dictionaries often list both variants, noting the regional usage preference.
Which spelling should I use in international communications?
In international communications, either spelling is acceptable, but it may be wise to choose based on the predominant form used by the audience.
What is the significance of using the correct regional spelling?
Using the correct regional spelling ensures that the writing is professionally tailored to the audience's expectations and aligns with local standards.
Is one spelling more modern than the other?
No, both spellings are modern and acceptable; the difference is purely regional.
Should I switch between spellings in the same document?
It is best to maintain consistency with one spelling variant throughout a document.
Are there other examples of similar regional spelling differences?
Yes, other examples include "color" vs. "colour" and "theater" vs. "theatre."
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
