Center or Centre: A Middle Ground Adventure

Center vs. Centre

Both “center” and “centre” mean the same thing in English. They talk about the middle point of something. But they look a little different because of where they are used.

History

The word first came from the old Latin word “centrum.” Over time, as English grew in different places, the spelling changed too. In the United States, people use “center.” In the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, people use “centre.”

How to Use Them

Center: This is how people spell it in American English.

• The center of the circle is here.
• She stood in the center of the room.
• He is the center of attention.
• In math, we find the center of a shape.
• The city center has many stores.

Centre: This is how people spell it in British English.

• The centre of the stage is marked with an X.
• They walked to the town centre.
• She likes swimming at the leisure centre.
• The word “honour” is spelled differently at the centre of this debate.
• He plays centre in the hockey team.

Trick to Remember the Difference

A good trick is to remember that “center” and “color” both have no “u” in American English. But in British English, “centre” and “colour” do have a “u.”

Summary

In short, if you are in the US, use “center.” If you are in the UK or another place that uses British English, use “centre.” They both mean the middle, but which one you use depends on where you are or whom you are writing to.