Is It Fulfil or Fulfill? | Spelling, Difference & Examples
Fulfil and fulfill are two ways of spelling the same verb, which means “achieve something” or “carry out a duty as required.”
The spelling depends on whether you use British English or American English.
- In British English, “fulfil” (with one “l”) is correct.
- In American English, “fulfill” (with a double “l”) is most common.
It’s important to choose one spelling and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
Lee’s dream was to fulfil/fulfill his lifelong ambition of becoming a principal.
A teacher’s aide must fulfil/fulfill a number of classroom-related duties.
Fulfilment or fulfillment
The related noun fulfilment or fulfillment has the same spelling distinction. It refers to the achievement of something.
- In British English, “fulfilment” (with one “l”) is correct.
- In American English, “fulfillment” (with a double “l”) is most common.
The company’s mission is to help employees find fulfilment/fulfillment in their careers.
For some, traveling provides a unique sense of fulfilment/fulfillment.
Other forms of fulfil or fulfill
The spelling difference does not apply to the simple past tense, past participle, and present participle forms of the verb. You use fulfilled and fulfilling (with a double “l”) in both British and American English.
Many people find volunteering their time a fulfilling way to give back to the community.
Main differences between American and British English
American and British English are very similar, but there are a few main differences in spelling. Some differences are:
| Difference | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -or vs -our | In American English, many Latin-derived words end in -or. | Behavior or behaviour Color or colour Favor or favour Flavor or flavour Favorite or favourite Honor or honour Humor or humour Labor or labour Neighbor or neighbour |
| In British English, these same words end in -our. | ||
| -er vs -re | In American English, some French, Latin, or Greek words end in -er. | Center or centre Fiber or fibre Theater or theatre |
| In British English, these same words end in -re. | ||
| -ize vs -ise | In American English, many Greek-derived words end in -yze or -ize. | Analyze or analyse Organization or organisation Realize or realise Recognize or recognise |
| In British English, these words end in -yse or -ise. | ||
| -ed vs -t | In American English, most verbs are regular and form their past tense with the suffix -ed. | Burned or burnt Dreamed or dreamt Kneeled or knelt Learned or learnt Smelled or smelt Spelled or spelt Spilled or spilt |
| In British English, some of these verbs are irregular and form their past tense with the suffix -t. | ||
| Single vs double consonant | In American English, many words are spelled with a single consonant. | Buses or busses Canceled or cancelled Counselor or counsellor Focused or focussed Labeled or labelled Modeling or modelling Traveling or travelling |
| In British English, these same words are often spelled with a double consonant. | ||
| Dropping vs retaining the “e” | In American English, “e” is often dropped when forming a noun from a verb | Acknowledgment or acknowledgement Aging or ageing Judgment or judgement |
| In British English, the “e” is often retained. | ||
| Different verb and noun spellings | In American English, most words have identical verb and noun spellings. | License or licence Practice or practise |
| In British English, some words have different spellings for the verb and noun forms. | ||
| Other spelling differences | There are many other spelling differences between the two English variants. | Airplane or aeroplane Aluminum or aluminium Check or cheque Cozy or cosy Defense or defence Dependent or dependant Enrollment or enrolment Fulfil or fulfill Gray or grey Jewelry or jewellery Karat or carat Mold or mould Offense or offence Pajamas or pyjamas Program or programme Skeptical or sceptical Tire or tyre |
Other interesting articles
If you want to know more about job applications, research, or idioms, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Job applications
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Frequently asked questions about fulfil or fulfill
- Is it fulfil or fulfill in Australia?
-
Fulfil and fulfill are two spellings of the same verb. The spelling depends on the type of English.
- In American English, you use “fulfill” (with a double “l”).
- In British English, you use “fulfil” (with one “l”).
Australian English mostly follows British English guidelines, so “fulfil” with one “l” is most common.
It’s important to choose one and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
- Is it fulfil or fulfill in Canada?
-
Fulfil and fulfill are two spellings of the same verb. The spelling depends on the type of English.
- In American English, you use “fulfill” (with a double “l”).
- In British English, you use “fulfil” (with one “l”).
While Canadian English mostly follows British English guidelines, both forms of the word are commonly used.
It’s important to choose one and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
