You’ve written “acknowledgment” a dozen times, and now you’re staring at it wondering if you forgot a letter. Should there be an “e” after the “g”? Is “acknowledgement” the typo, or is “acknowledgment” missing something?
Neither is a mistake. This comes down to spelling convention, not correctness.
Quick Answer
Acknowledgment (no middle “e”) is the standard spelling in American English, and it’s the form preferred by every major US style guide: AP, Chicago, APA, and MLA. Acknowledgement (with the “e”) is standard in British, Canadian, and Australian English. Both mean exactly the same thing: recognition, admission, or an expression of thanks.
Why People Confuse Them
The confusion comes from a small, easy-to-miss silent “e.” English often drops a silent “e” before a suffix, and American English tends to do this more consistently than British English. That’s the same pattern behind “judgment” (US) versus “judgement” (UK).
Because both spellings show up constantly online, in books, and in official documents from different countries, it’s easy to assume one of them must be wrong.
Key Differences At A Glance
| Context | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| US business writing, following AP, Chicago, APA, or MLA style | Acknowledgment | Every major US style guide favors this spelling |
| UK, Canadian, or Australian writing | Acknowledgement | Standard spelling outside the US |
| Book or academic paper section heading (US publication) | Acknowledgments | Standard heading convention in American publishing |
| General US writing without a strict style guide | Acknowledgment is safer | More consistent with American dictionary and style-guide preference |
Are They the Same Word?
Yes, completely. Acknowledgment and acknowledgement have identical meanings and grammatical function — both are nouns referring to the act of recognizing, admitting, or expressing thanks for something. Neither spelling implies a different tone or level of formality; the difference is purely regional convention.
US vs UK Preference
American style guides are unusually unified on this one: AP, Chicago, APA, and MLA all treat “acknowledgment” as the standard US spelling. It’s also the conventional heading used for the “Acknowledgments” section in American-published books, dissertations, and academic papers, even when the writer might otherwise default to a different regional spelling elsewhere.
Outside North America, the pattern flips: “acknowledgement” is the standard British, Australian, and South African spelling, and “Acknowledgements” is the expected section heading in those regions’ publishing conventions.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
- Following AP, Chicago, APA, or MLA style, or writing for a US audience? Use acknowledgment.
- Writing for a UK, Canadian, or Australian audience? Use acknowledgement.
- Writing a book, thesis, or academic paper for a US publisher? Use “Acknowledgments” as the section heading.
- No specific style guide, writing generally for US readers? Acknowledgment is the safer default.
- Whatever you choose, apply it consistently, including in the plural form.
When One Spelling Looks Wrong
To an editor following AP, Chicago, APA, or MLA style, “acknowledgement” might get flagged as an inconsistency, even though it’s a valid spelling elsewhere. To a British reader, “acknowledgment” can look like a letter went missing. Neither is an error — it reflects which regional convention the reader expects.
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
- Switching spellings within the same document. Fix: pick one spelling and apply it consistently, including in the plural form.
- Assuming acknowledgement is always wrong in American writing. Fix: it’s less common and non-standard by US style-guide convention, but it isn’t grammatically incorrect.
- Using the wrong regional spelling in a section heading. Fix: match “Acknowledgments” or “Acknowledgements” to whichever regional publishing convention your book, paper, or institution follows.
- Ignoring your publication’s or employer’s style guide. Fix: defer to a specific style guide’s preference when one exists, since consistency matters more than personal preference.
Everyday Examples
- US: “The company sent a written acknowledgment of the complaint.”
- UK: “The company sent a written acknowledgement of the complaint.”
- US: “Her acknowledgment of the mistake helped resolve the issue quickly.”
- UK: “Her acknowledgement of the mistake helped resolve the issue quickly.”
- US (book heading): “The author thanked her editor in the Acknowledgments section.”
Dictionary-Style Word Details
Verb
Neither “acknowledgment” nor “acknowledgement” functions as a verb. Both are noun forms of the verb “acknowledge,” meaning to admit, recognize, or express thanks for something.
Noun
- Acknowledgment: the act of recognizing, admitting, or expressing thanks for something. Standard American spelling. Example: “He gave a brief acknowledgment of the team’s effort.”
- Acknowledgement: the same noun meaning, spelled with the “e.” Standard spelling outside North America. Example: “He gave a brief acknowledgement of the team’s effort.”
Synonyms
Closest plain alternatives include recognition, admission, confirmation, and appreciation — not exact matches, since “admission” leans toward confessing a fault, while “appreciation” leans toward gratitude. A fitting antonym is “denial,” the direct opposite of acknowledging something.
Example Sentences
- Acknowledgment: “The letter included a formal acknowledgment of receipt.”
- Acknowledgement: “The letter included a formal acknowledgement of receipt.”
- Acknowledgment: “She wrote an acknowledgment thanking everyone who helped with the project.”
- Acknowledgement: “She wrote an acknowledgement thanking everyone who helped with the project.”
Word History
Both spellings trace back to the Middle English “aknowlechen,” meaning to admit or recognize, combined with the suffix “-ment” to form a noun. Instances of both the shorter and longer spellings appear in English texts going back centuries, so neither is a modern invention. The regional split settled over time, with American English generally favoring the dropped “e” and British English retaining it. Beyond this general pattern, more specific details about exactly when each region’s preference solidified aren’t clearly documented, so it’s best described as a general historical trend.
Phrases Containing
- Acknowledgment of receipt / acknowledgement of receipt
- Written acknowledgment / written acknowledgement
- Acknowledgments section / acknowledgements section
- Public acknowledgment / public acknowledgement
- Formal acknowledgment / formal acknowledgement
Frequently Asked Questions
Which spelling do AP and Chicago style prefer?
Both AP Style and the Chicago Manual of Style favor “acknowledgment,” the no-“e” American spelling. APA and MLA follow the same preference.
Is acknowledgement wrong in American English?
No. It isn’t incorrect, but it’s less standard by US style-guide convention. Most American editors and publications default to “acknowledgment.”
What should I title the thank-you section of my book or thesis?
Match your publisher’s or institution’s regional convention: “Acknowledgments” for American publishing, “Acknowledgements” for British, Canadian, or Australian publishing.
Do acknowledgment and acknowledgement mean different things?
No. They’re pronounced the same and share the exact same meaning; the only difference is regional spelling.
What’s the plural form?
“Acknowledgments” for the American spelling, “acknowledgements” for the British spelling, following the same regional pattern as the singular.
Conclusion
Acknowledgment and acknowledgement are the same word, split by a single silent letter and regional convention. American style guides — AP, Chicago, APA, and MLA — all favor acknowledgment, while acknowledgement remains standard outside North America. Pick one, stay consistent, and let your audience or style guide make the final call.
