Organization vs. Organisation: Which One Is Correct?

Let’s say you’re starting a group at your school or in your industry. You know you have a gathering of like-minded students or professionals. Would you refer to your group in writing as an organization or an organisation?

On that note, why do we have two separate but similar spellings floating around? Let’s answer that.

The Difference Between Organization and Organisation

Both organization and organisation mean the same thing. Each refers to formal collections, usually of people who share an interest or a goal. The words also are pronounced the same way. However, the difference in spelling arises from one use being prevalent in the U.S. and the other being established in the U.K.

For clarity, simply keep the following guidelines in mind:

Americans typically use the spelling organization.

The British and the Commonwealth countries most often use the spelling organisation.

In some cases, a writer of American English might include the “s” version, organisation. The alternate spelling is familiar enough that some editors or professors might accept it. You would mainly not use it in American English unless you have a specific reason to do so, such as in quoting a British writer without making any changes based on regional spelling.

Now let’s look at why these differences exist, given that the U.S. and U.K. share the same language.

Differences in American and English Spellings and Pronunciations

American and British English have diverged over the past couple of centuries for three principle reasons:

1) Away from their former colleagues and relatives, American colonists started to develop their own slang, dialects, and speech patterns. These translated into new spellings, grammar, and accents on the west side of the pond.

2) Early Americans came from many places. In addition to the primary English influence, many words further were borrowed from French, Spanish, and even Native American language. Just as English derived from its own roots, the American version continued fusing words and patterns from other cultural tongues and influences.

3) Around the time American dictionaries began printing, some early editors purposely “Americanized” certain words and spellings. This showed itself most prominently in a preference for using “z” instead of “s” in certain spellings. That’s why you’ll find words such as organize spelled one way in the U.S. and another in Britain.

These spelling differences shouldn’t mix you up unless perhaps you correspond often with colleagues in Commonwealth countries. If that’s the case, and spelling should ever be a concern, you might consult a style guide or an online spell check before submitting your writing outside of the U.S. You can also review our multi-part discussion on American and British English, such as variations in grammar.

Take Your Grammar Knowledge to the Next Level

Now that you know the difference between organization and organisation, you can have even more fun learning about American English and enhancing your skills as a writer and speaker. Our site offers you hundreds of grammar-related tips and posts, including new topics each week.

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