Plow vs. Plough
Cambridge labels “plow” as the US spelling and “plough” as the UK spelling for the farming tool and the related verb.
Use “plow” in US English and “plough” in UK English for the farming tool and verb.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| US-oriented spelling of the farming tool or related verb | plow | Use the US spelling. |
| UK-oriented spelling of the same farming tool or related verb | plough | Use the UK spelling. |
| document governed by a house style | the required regional spelling | Follow the specified style and keep the spelling consistent. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you choosing the spelling for the farming-tool or related verb sense?
If yes: Use “plow” for US English or “plough” for UK English.
If no: If the word has another specialized use, confirm that sense separately instead of assuming the regional pair covers it.
Caveat: This is a regional spelling choice, not a difference in the ordinary farming meaning.
Examples
The farmer will plow the field tomorrow.
“Plow” is the US spelling of the verb.
The farmer will plough the field tomorrow.
“Plough” is the UK spelling of the same verb.
The old plough is displayed in the barn.
The UK spelling also applies to the farming-tool noun.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “plow” in US English and “plough” in UK English for the documented farming-tool and verb senses.
Fast Test
Match the form to the intended meaning, regional convention, or required house style, then keep that choice consistent.
Variant Boundary
The regional spelling distinction does not create a different farming meaning.
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.
- Plow — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · US spelling of plough for the farming tool and verb
- Plough — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · UK spelling of plow for the farming tool and verb