At Proofed, we’re often asked whether to use ‘judgement’ or ‘judgment’ in writing. But there isn’t a simple answer! It depends on preference, context, and dialect. So to help you avoid errors in your writing, we’ve prepared a short explainer of the spellings ‘judgement’ and ‘judgment’.
What Does Judgement Mean?
The noun ‘judgement’ usually means ‘decision’:
After some thought, he came to a judgement about what he should study.
It can also refer to the capacity to make decisions:
She always demonstrated good judgement over her career choices.
We could also use ‘judgment’ in the sentences above, but ‘judgement’ is the standard spelling for most contexts in British English. As such, we suggest including the extra ‘e’ as a default. This is a matter of preference, though, and both spellings are accepted in British English. Some style guides even prefer ‘judgment’, so remember to check yours if you have one!
When to Use Judgment in British English
There is one exception to the rule above in British English: legal writing.
If you’re referring to an official legal decision (e.g. the ruling of a judge), then, the standard spelling is ‘judgment’. For example:
The court passed down the judgment shortly after midday.
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Some people even use both spellings in a single document to distinguish between a legal decision (i.e. a judgment) and a non-legal decision or the capacity to make a decision (i.e. judgement). However, be very careful if you are going to do this, as it could easily become confusing for your reader!
Judgment in American English
In American English, the standard spelling of this word is always ‘judgment’:
After some thought, he came to a judgment about what he should study.
She always demonstrated good judgment over her career choices.
The court passed down the judgment shortly after midday.
This applies in both legal and non-legal writing. Consequently, ‘judgement’ would usually be deemed an error in the US and you should avoid this spelling if writing for a North American audience.
Summary: Judgement or Judgment?
This is a matter of preference most of the time in British English. You can use either ‘judgement’ or ‘judgment’ as long as you’re consistent! But remember:
- Judgement is the standard spelling in British English.
- In legal writing or when discussing the law, judgment is more common.
- In American English, the standard spelling is always judgment.
And if you’d like any more help with spelling, or any element of your writing, why not submit a document for proofreading today?