Cancellation vs Cancelation: Which Spelling is Correct?

In the world of professional communication, spelling matters. Whether you’re drafting an email to a client or preparing an academic paper, correct spelling is crucial for maintaining clarity and professionalism.

Among the many spelling differences in English, cancellation vs. cancelation often causes confusion. While these two spellings might seem interchangeable at first glance, the reality is that cancellation is the preferred form in most contexts.

This post will dive deep into the distinction between the two, examining the origins, regional norms, and rules governing these spellings. Whether you’re a writer, a student, or a professional in customer service, this guide will clarify everything you need to know.

The Key Difference: Cancellation vs Cancelation

At its core, the difference between cancellation and cancelation lies in a simple spelling variation: the number of Ls used. While cancellation is the most widely accepted form, cancelation still pops up in certain contexts, particularly in American English.

Understanding which spelling to use requires a bit of knowledge about regional spelling norms and how the words are applied in contextual usage.

The common assumption is that both words are essentially synonyms, meaning they refer to the act of calling off or invalidating something like an event, appointment, flight, or subscription. However, the real question is: Which one should you use in your writing?

Why Does This Confusion Exist?

The confusion around cancellation vs. cancelation largely arises from the evolution of English spelling. Like many other words, these two forms developed through a mixture of historical influences and phonetic spelling rules.

• Etymology of Cancellation: Both terms trace their roots to the Latin word cancellare, which means “to cross out” or “to make void.” Over time, as the English language developed, different spelling conventions emerged.
• Regional Spelling Differences: English language variations between British English and American English have also played a role in shaping the two forms.

The Influence of Noah Webster’s Spelling Reforms

One major factor that contributed to the divergence of cancelation and cancellation in American English was the influence of Noah Webster, a prominent American lexicographer.

Webster’s efforts in reforming English spelling were aimed at simplifying and standardizing American English, making it more consistent with its phonetic spelling.

In his dictionary, Webster preferred spelling variants that deviated from British norms. As a result, American English adopted the form cancelation, while cancellation remained dominant in British English.

The Correct Spelling: Cancellation

When it comes to modern usage, cancellation is almost always the preferred spelling in both formal communication and everyday writing. It’s used in all major dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster and Oxford, which recognize it as the correct and most widely accepted spelling.

Why Use Cancellation?

• Professional writing: In business correspondence, especially in customer service contexts, using cancellation reflects attention to detail and proper adherence to grammatical rules.
• Academic papers: When writing essays or research, it’s crucial to stick with cancellation to maintain consistency in writing.
• Legal and formal documents: If you’re dealing with documents related to annulment, revocation, or termination, cancellation is the appropriate choice.

Example:
“Due to a family emergency, I must request the cancellation of my flight.”
This is a typical usage of cancellation in a professional and formal context.

Scenario 1: Using Cancellation in Practice

Let’s consider a scenario in a professional email. When writing to a customer service team regarding an appointment cancellation, here’s how you might use cancellation:

Email example:
“Dear Appointment Scheduling Team,
I regret to inform you that due to unforeseen weather conditions, I need to request the cancellation of my appointment scheduled for tomorrow. Please let me know how I can reschedule it.”

This is a contextual usage of cancellation, showing clear communication about a change to a prior arrangement, reflecting both clarity and professionalism.

The Alternative: Cancelation

Though cancellation is the correct and preferred spelling, cancelation still appears from time to time. It’s especially common in American English, but even then, it’s often considered an incorrect spelling by many editors and style guides.

So, why does cancelation exist at all?

• Historical usage: As noted earlier, the suffix -ation generally involves the doubling of the final consonant when preceded by a short vowel. However, cancel doesn’t follow this rule due to its evolution.
• Infrequent use: Cancelation occasionally appears in older texts or specific industries but is largely seen as an archaic form.

Scenario 2: Using Cancelation in Practice

Email example:
“Dear Customer Service,
I would like to inform you of the cancelation of my subscription due to a change in my personal circumstances.”

This usage of cancelation may still be understood, but it’s less formal and more prone to errors in professional writing. Most modern guides would flag cancelation as incorrect.

Origins of Cancellation and Cancelation

Both cancellation and cancelation trace their origins back to the Latin verb cancellare, meaning “to make void.” This verb, which referred to crossing out something on a grid or lattice (a “cancel”), became the foundation for words related to the act of nullifying something.

From cancellare, English borrowed the suffix -ation, a common ending for nouns of action. Over time, different spelling conventions took hold in different parts of the English-speaking world, leading to the modern distinctions between British and American English.

The Influence of Noah Webster’s Spelling Reforms

As mentioned earlier, Noah Webster’s efforts to standardize American English introduced many changes. His reforms were aimed at simplifying and standardizing spelling conventions. Cancelation became a lexicographical choice in American English, but in British English, cancellation remained the standard.

Webster’s influence still permeates American spelling conventions, where you can see other words like color (vs. colour), honor (vs. honour), and traveling (vs. travelling) following similar patterns.

British English vs. American English: Spelling Differences

In the context of American vs British spelling, the word cancelation falls under the American variant. Here’s a quick breakdown of the main spelling differences between British and American English:

British English	American English
cancellation	cancelation
travelled	traveled
cancelled	canceled
colour	color
honour	honor

While cancelation might be used in American English, cancellation is the superior choice when writing for a global audience, particularly in professional writing.

The Consonant Doubling Rule

A critical aspect of spelling both cancellation and cancelation is the consonant doubling rule. Typically, when adding -ation to a word, the consonant before the suffix is doubled. However, this rule doesn’t apply to cancel—leading to the unique spelling of cancellation with a double L.

Words that follow the doubling rule:

• committed → commitment
• referred → referral

But cancel does not follow this rule, and therefore, the form cancelation doesn’t fit the standard pattern. This is one reason cancellation is the more widely accepted spelling.

When Is Cancelation Acceptable?

Though cancelation is not preferred, there are instances where it’s seen. For example:

• In older documents or literature.
• Specific regional spelling norms may still allow for cancelation, particularly in less formal writing.
• In contexts where American English is the standard, such as in some business communication or customer service correspondence within the United States.

However, in formal emails, business correspondence, and academic papers, sticking with cancellation is always the better choice.

Conclusion

The choice between cancellation and cancelation boils down to regional spelling differences and context. In modern, professional writing, cancellation is always the best choice. It’s universally accepted, aligns with British English norms, and fits the expectations of formal communication in most English-speaking regions.

While cancelation may still show up in American English writing, especially in older documents, using cancellation ensures consistency in writing and avoids any grammatical errors.

Whether you’re canceling a flight, appointment, or subscription, always remember that cancellation is the way to go—unless you’re specifically following American English conventions where cancelation might occasionally appear. Stick to cancellation for clarity, professionalism, and semantic accuracy.