Labeled vs. Labelled
“Labeled” and “labelled” are regional spellings of the same past-tense/past-participle and adjective forms of “label”; Cambridge explicitly marks the US/UK distinction.
Use “labeled” in ordinary US English and “labelled” in ordinary UK English.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Form | Typical convention | Use |
|---|---|---|
| labeled | US English | Use in ordinary US-oriented prose. |
| labelled | UK English | Use in ordinary UK-oriented prose. |
Quick tests
House-style test
Does the document follow US spelling?
If yes: Prefer “labeled.”
If no: For UK spelling, prefer “labelled.”
Caveat: Keep official names and quoted text in their original spelling.
Examples
US: Each box was labeled clearly.
The single-l form follows US convention.
UK: Each box was labelled clearly.
The double-l form follows UK convention.
Further guidance
Core difference
The forms have the same grammatical functions; the spelling differs by regional convention.
Inflection Boundary
Use the regional spelling consistently in running prose, while preserving official names and quoted text.
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.
- Label — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Label verb inflection with -ll- and US usually -l-; labelled/labeled forms