Differences and Usage of Acknowledgment vs. Acknowledgement: A Comprehensive Guide

Differences and Usage of Acknowledgment vs. Acknowledgement: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding Acknowledgment vs. Acknowledgement

The words acknowledgment and acknowledgement have the same meaning, but they are spelled differently because of where they are used. Both words mean to show that you notice or accept something. Let’s look at how these words came to be and how you can use them.

History of the Words

The word “acknowledge” comes from the Old English word “cnawan,” which means “to know.” Over time, people added “ac-” to make it “acknowledge.” The endings “-ment” or “-ement” came later to show it is a noun, meaning the act of acknowledging.

How to Use the Words

• Acknowledgment: This is the American way of spelling.
• Acknowledgement: This is the British way of spelling.

Trick to Remember the Difference

If you are in the United States, use acknowledgment without the extra “e.” If you are in other places like the United Kingdom or Australia, use acknowledgement with the “e.”

Examples of “Acknowledgment”

• The teacher gave an acknowledgment to the helper in class.
• The book has a page for acknowledgment by the author.
• An acknowledgment of his work came in the form of an award.
• She nodded in acknowledgment when he passed her the paper.
• A formal acknowledgment was sent to thank the donors.

Examples of “Acknowledgement”

• The artist’s work received much acknowledgement in the gallery.
• Her letter started with an acknowledgement of their kind words.
• They received an official acknowledgement from the council.
• Acknowledgement of her efforts was written in the report.
• The school sent an acknowledgement letter to the parents.

Summary

Both acknowledgment and acknowledgement are used to show that something is recognized or noticed. Remember, the key difference is the spelling: “acknowledgment” is for American English, while “acknowledgement” is for British English.