|
Catalog or Catalogue: Which Is Correct?
|
|
Have you seen the word catalog spelled two ways—with and without a u—and wondered which is correct? Here we'll aim to clarify the distinction by explaining the spelling differences and discussing how to use the word in both of its forms.
How Do You Spell It?
In the U.S., we typically spell catalog without a u. The alternative spelling (catalogue) isn't necessarily incorrect; it's just not as common.
To understand why, it's important to note that the English language arrived to America from England (you might enjoy our series comparing British and American English, American vs. British English: Spelling). Through the years, certain British words and their spellings have been altered as they were assimilated into American English.
In particular, the British use the letter u more than Americans do. This can be seen in words such as flavour, colour, and catalogue, which are preferred in Commonwealth countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
There is nothing technically wrong with spelling catalog as catalogue; rather, it's simply not as common or preferred in the U.S. as it is in Britain.
The Two Forms of the Word
While we are exploring this term, it's worth pointing out that it has two uses. Many people know catalog mainly as a noun that means "a list of items or products." This may be the usage most familiar to you.
Examples
I received the store's catalog in the mail but haven't decided what to order yet.
The shop moved their entire catalog online so you can use your mobile device to buy anything they sell.
Gina's early music is my favorite, but you could choose anything from her song catalog and enjoy it. |
Another valid but perhaps less common application for catalog is its use as a verb that means "to compile a list of items."
Examples
I wanted to head home early but needed to catalog everything that came in from the warehouse.
The insurance representative asked me to catalog the items in our art collection for a new policy.
I had never taken the time to catalog my work until I needed to submit it for a review. |
As you can see, catalog can be a versatile word whether you prefer to spell it with or without extra letters.
|
View and comment on this
article on our website.
|
|
|
|
 |
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
by Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus |
The Authority on English Grammar! Twelfth Edition Now Available
An indispensable tool for busy professionals, teachers, students, homeschool families, editors, writers, and proofreaders.
Available in print AND as an e-Book! Over 2,000 copies are purchased every month!
To order the book, simply click the link to order the book from the GrammarBook.com website.
|
Free BONUS Quiz for You!
[[firstname]], because you are a subscriber to the newsletter, you get access to one of the Subscribers-Only Quizzes. Click here to take a Spelling Quiz and get your scores and explanations instantly!
We will be adding many more quizzes this year to our already substantial list of them. If you have suggestions for topics we have not yet covered, please send us a message at help@grammarbook.com.
|
Hundreds of Additional Quizzes
at Your Fingertips
Subscribe now to receive hundreds of additional English usage quizzes not found anywhere else!
Teachers and Employers
Save hours of valuable time! You may assign quizzes to your students and employees and have their scores tallied, organized, and reported to you! Let GrammarBook.com take the hassle out of teaching English!
"Fun to test my skills."
"The explanations really help ... thanks!"
"I can select the quizzes to assign to my students, and then the results are reported to me automatically!"
If you think you have found an error in a quiz, please email us at help@grammarbook.com
|
Wordplay
|
 |
English in a Snap:
68 One-Minute English Usage Videos FREE |
Learn all about who and whom, affect and effect, subjects and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and much more by just sitting back and enjoying these easy-to-follow lessons. Share them with your colleagues (and boss), children, teachers, and friends as well! Click here to watch.
|
|
