Enroll vs. Enrol
“Enroll” and “enrol” are regional spellings of the same verb. Cambridge labels “enroll” as the US spelling and “enrol” as the UK spelling, so the choice should follow regional or institutional style.
Use “enroll” in US English and “enrol” in UK English, unless an institution or house style requires a particular form.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Audience / style | Preferred spelling | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| US English | enroll | Cambridge identifies this as the US spelling. |
| UK English | enrol | Cambridge identifies this as the UK spelling. |
| Institution with its own spelling | follow the institution | A proper institutional form can override your general regional default. |
Quick tests
Audience test
Is the document following a US or UK spelling convention?
If yes: Use the spelling required by that convention consistently.
If no: If no regional style is fixed, choose one documented variant and keep it consistent.
Caveat: The two forms have the same core meaning; this is a spelling choice, not a meaning distinction.
Examples
US style: Students can enroll online until Friday.
“Enroll” matches the documented US spelling.
UK style: Students can enrol online until Friday.
“Enrol” matches the documented UK spelling.
The university writes enrol on its own forms, so the brochure should preserve that institutional spelling.
Institutional house style can control even inside a broader publication style.
Further guidance
Core difference
“Enroll” is the standard US spelling, while “enrol” is the standard UK spelling.
Usage Boundary
Use the spelling appropriate to the document’s regional or institutional style, and reproduce official names or wording as published.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Enroll — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Dictionary evidence that “enroll” is the US spelling of UK “enrol.”