How to Use Cheque vs Check Correctly

Have you ever found yourself taking a long break from writing just because you cannot figure out if you should write cheque or check?

If you have, now is a good time to tell you that you are not alone.  

The check or cheque dilemma is one of those spelling situations that confuses people most of the time, especially if you are working on a project or content for an international audience or if you have recently moved from the US to the UK or vice versa. 

Figuring out which spelling to use is very straightforward; you just have to understand the rules and context of each spelling. 

Let’s dive in.

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Key Takeaways

• Cheque is the British/Commonwealth spelling 

• Check is the American spelling

• Americans use check as a noun and as a verb 

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What Is the Difference Between Cheque vs Check?

The check vs cheque conversation really depends on what you are talking about. From the point of view of being a piece of paper used to pay someone from your bank account, the only valid difference is geography.

You know how Americans say color and the Brits say colour right? That is it, same thing, different spelling conventions. 

The check vs. cheque meaning is the same: a written order, dated and signed, that mandates your bank to pay a specific sum to the holder.

So even if you are in London writing a ‘cheque’ for your rent or in LA writing a ‘check’ for rent too, you are performing the same action. 

Now, the check vs. cheque discussion gets interesting. You might be wondering why? So, in American English, ‘check’ has a double meaning.

It can mean a bank payment document. It can also mean ‘to verify’ something. For example, “I need to check my diary.” To avoid confusion, check can be used as a noun and a verb. 

Check is also a word in the English vocabulary. However, there is only one meaning, which is ‘to verify.’ Unlike in America, it does not refer to a payment document. Check in the United Kingdom is a verb. 

Definitions and Origins

Cheque comes from the French word ‘échec’, which means to verify. The French derived theirs from Persian ‘shah, ’ a common chess term known as ‘checkmate’ (shah mat, meaning “the king is dead”).

The idea of a Cheque was to provide a way to make transactions on your account. The British adopted this spelling, and it became a part of their commonwealth during their empire days. 

Check is the Americanized spelling that came about because the United States developed its own spelling in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Noah Webster, who was focused on making American English simpler, decided to make a dictionary that excluded certain words from spellings, which is why Americans have dropped the ‘que’ ending in this case. 

So, as you can see from the cheque vs check USA usage, Americans have accepted ‘check’ for everything. From the bank document, the verification process to the restaurant bill.

You can say it has become a versatile word, unlike cheque vs check Canada, which is specific.

Canadians have followed the footsteps of the UK and adopted an exclusive meaning for cheque, which is a banking document. This is not to say that they do not check sometimes. They only say it when they mean to verify or examine something.

A Canadian might say, “Let me check if that cheque has been cleared.” 

Using Cheque Correctly

When you are writing for a British, Canadian, Australian, or generally Commonwealth audience, Cheque is the standard spelling.

Here is how you can use the word correctly: 

You can use cheque when you are: 

• Talking about a physical payment document from a bank account
• Writing about banking or financial transactions in British English
• Working on something that would be read by people in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or India
• Following AP style guides that require British English conventions

Don’t forget, cheque is only used for bank payment slips and nothing more. You cannot say “I need to cheque my email” or “Can you cheque the weather?” The correct word would be ‘check’ even in British English. 

The plural of cheque is cheques, and when you are talking about a type of account in Canada, it is a ‘chequing account’ even though the British say ‘current account.’ 

Using Check Correctly

When you are in America or writing to an American audience, you should use the right spelling which is the word check.

In comparison to cheque, a word that has been used as a noun only, check can be used as a verb and a noun. 

Check may also be used as a noun when one is referring to the following

• an inspection or examination 
• Something that limits or controls 
• A mark ( ✓) to show that something has been taken note of
• A written order directing payment
• A ticket indicating ownership, e.g., a baggage check
• Patterns of squares in alternate colours, like on a chessboard
• The bill from a restaurant 
• The act of hitting another player in hockey 

The following ways are how you can use check correctly as a verb: 

• To make an inspection 
• To put a limit or restraint 
• To make a mark ✓
• To hit another player in hockey

While the United Kingdom writes ‘chequing account,’ the US writes ‘checking account,’ and you also write ‘checks’, not ‘cheques.’ Now, you can see how versatile the American spelling is.

So, whether you are checking your checking account for a check you wrote, or checking out at the grocery store, or playing checkers on a checkered board, it is still “check.”

In writing, there are times when you are unsure about certain grammar used. Hence, the existence of the Undetectable AI’s Grammar Checker.

Our Grammar Checker can help you ensure that all your definitions, sentences, and spellings are grammatically correct and readable.

Frequent Errors with Cheque/Check

The rules on spelling are quite simple; however, people still make mistakes. Here are the frequent errors with cheque/check: 

• Mixing Spellings: It is common for people to make the mistake of using cheque in American writing or check in British writing. You would find this mistake among people who have just moved countries or businesses that expand internationally and don’t update their content quickly.
  
• Style Guide Ignorance: Some people also make the mistake of not checking what the style guide of a publication requires. So, if you are working on any writing, you must check what spelling your client requires. It is unprofessional to be ignorant about style guides.
  
• Thinking One Spelling is Better: Some Americans see ‘cheque’ as a fancier or more sophisticated spelling. So they use it, thinking it makes them sound educated. You have to consider your audience first before trying to sound sophisticated.
  
• Spelling Both Words Wrongly: Some people know which spelling belongs to which country, but they make mistakes when spelling them. For instance, someone might spell check as ‘chek’ and cheque as ‘chequre’ or ‘checque,’ which are all wrong. The correct spelling remains cheque and check.
  
• Part of Speech Confusion: This is another common error. Some people say that check is the verb and Cheque is the noun, which should not be the case. Check is a word in American English that refers to both a noun and a verb. In British English, the verb check and the noun cheque are used.  

Cheque vs Check in Sentences

These are some examples of cheque vs check USA and UK in sentences: 

American English (Check)	British English (Cheque)
I need to deposit this check today	I need to deposit this cheque today
Please write me a check for the rent	Please write me a cheque for the rent
She got her paycheck today	She got her paycheque today
My check at the restaurant was $100	My cheque at the restaurant was £100
That check cleared my account	That cheque cleared my account
The bank bounced my check due to insufficient funds	The bank bounced my cheque due to insufficient funds
I wrote a check to the charity last night	I wrote a cheque to the charity last night
Do you accept payment by check?	Do you accept payment by cheque?
Do not leave blank checks	Do not leave blank cheques
I have a checkered shirt	I have a chequered shirt
I checked her bag	I checked her bag
She checked out of her hotel	She checked out of her hotel

From these examples, you will see that check works as a noun and a verb, and Cheque as a noun only. 

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Tips for Choosing Between Cheque and Check

Now that you know what check and cheque mean, how do you actually decide which one to use?

Here are a few tips to decide between cheque and check: 

• Know Your Audience: This is a non-negotiable rule. You should always remember that Americans use check while the British, Canadians, Australians, and Indians use Cheque.
  
• Follow Your Publication Style Guide: Anytime you are writing professionally, stick to the spelling guide of the person you are working for. Always follow their lead. Nobody would want to employ an unprofessional.
  
• When you are uncertain, Go American: In the case where you are writing to an audience all over the world, and you are not sure what to do, then use the American spelling. This is due to the fact that it has the highest occurrence of spelling on the internet. Also, there is more than one meaning of check.
  
• Be Consistent: There is no need to mix check and Cheque in one document, except you are doing a comparison of both spellings. Pick one spelling and stick to it.
  
• Think about Legal and Financial Standards: In case you are writing a contract, legal documents, or financial paperwork, then use the spelling that is compatible with the legal system of the country. For instance, a banking contract in Canada should say cheque while an American bank form should be check.
  
• Always remember that check has a Double Meaning: A check is a bank document in the United States of America, and it is also a word that means ‘to make sure.’ It is important to know when to use check as a noun and as a verb.
  
• Always Ask Google: If you are feeling confused, just ask Google. A quick “how to spell cheque/check in [country] ” will clear any confusion. It is better to ask questions than to act in ignorance. 

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Final Thoughts

The only way to win the whole check vs cheque debate is by understanding your audience. There is actually no right or wrong spelling, as both spellings have their context. America uses check and the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries use cheques. 

The English Language evolves differently in several places, but in this case, whether you are writing a check in Toronto or a check in Texas, you are a part of the same financial transaction that has been happening for years. So there is no need to stress about it. 

All you need to remember is America = check, Commonwealth = cheque for banking. Now, the next time someone asks you for the check vs cheque meaning, you can easily tell them it is the same thing, but it is spelt differently in various geographies.

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