Labeling vs. Labelling
“Labeling” and “labelling” are regional spellings of the same -ing form. Cambridge marks “labelling” as UK usage and “labeling” as the US form.
Use “labeling” in US English and “labelling” in UK English, unless your house style specifies otherwise.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| US English | labeling | Use one l in the inflected ending. |
| UK English | labelling | Use two l’s in the inflected ending. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is the document following US English?
If yes: Use “labeling.”
If no: For UK English, “labelling” is the normal choice unless house style says otherwise.
Caveat: This is a regional spelling preference; the meaning is the same.
Examples
The US manual uses “food labeling.”
US English normally uses “labeling.”
The UK guidance discusses “food labelling.”
UK English normally uses “labelling.”
Choose one regional spelling and apply it consistently.
House-style consistency matters more than mixing variants.
Further guidance
Core difference
“Labeling” is the ordinary US spelling, while “labelling” is the ordinary UK spelling of the -ing form of “label.”
Usage Boundary
The forms do not differ in meaning. Match the regional spelling system or house style used elsewhere in the document.
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.
- Labelling — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Dictionary evidence that “labelling” is the UK form and “labeling” the US form.