Travelling or Traveling | Correct Spelling & Examples
Travelling and traveling are both correct spellings of the present participle and gerund of the verb “travel,” which means “go from one place to another.”
The spelling depends on whether you use British English or American English.
- In British English, “travelling” with a double “l” is the most common.
- In American English, “traveling” with one “l” is standard.
It’s important to choose one spelling and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
Travelling/traveling solo allows for personal growth and self-discovery.
Paige documented her adventures in a travel blog wile she was travelling/traveling.
The difference in spelling is also true for similar verbs, such as labelling or labeling and modelling or modeling.
Travelling and traveling (adjectives)
Travelling or traveling can also function as an adjective to refer to something or someone that moves from one place to another.
Adrian and his boyfriend visited a travelling/traveling exhibit featuring rare artifacts.
The travelling/traveling photographer captured breathtaking landscapes.
Travelled or traveled
The spelling distinction also applies to the past tense form of the verb “travel.”
- In British English, “travelled” with a double “l” is the most common.
- In American English, “traveled” with one “l” is standard.
The explorers travelled/traveled through jugnles in search of new insect species.
After graduating from college, Sven travelled/traveled to Sweden to visit relatives.
Traveler or traveller
The same spelling difference applies to the related noun traveler or traveller, which refers to someone who is traveling or to someone who’s part of an itinerant community (e.g., Irish Travellers).
- In British English, “traveller” with a double “l” is the most common.
- In American English, “traveler” with one “l” is standard.
The plural noun is travelers or travellers.
he traveller/traveler filled her backpack with all the essentials for her journey.
As a seasoned traveller/traveler, Bianca has visited forty countries.
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
Research
Frequently asked questions about travelling or traveling
- Is it traveling or travelling in basketball?
-
Travelling and traveling are two spellings of the same verb.
In this context, it refers to a violation that takes place when a basketball player takes too many steps without dribbling the ball.
The spelling depends on the type of English you use:
- Travelling is standard in British English.
- Traveling is correct in American English.
It’s important to choose one and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
- Is it I will be traveling or travelling?
-
Travelling and traveling are two spellings of the same verb. The spelling depends on the type of English you use:
- I will be travelling is more common in British English.
- I will be traveling is more common in American English.
It’s important to choose one and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
- Is it traveling or travelling in AP style?
-
Travelling and traveling are two spellings of the same verb. The spelling depends on the type of English you use:
- I will be travelling is more common in British English.
- I will be traveling is more common in American English.
It’s important to choose one and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
