Canadian English Style Guide

Grammar and Colloquialism Guide

Canadian English is a blend of both British and American English language rules due to Canada’s close proximity to the United States and because it is a member of the British Commonwealth. Canadian English also consists of many unique terms called Canadian-isms (slang terms used only in Canada). Refer to this basic style guide when writing or editing a text for Canadian English.

Spelling

• Use “favourite,” “colour,” “honour,” and “labour” (the –our suffix opposed to the American –or).
• When adding suffixes to –our words, it is customary to drop the first “u” (“humorous” not “humourous” and “honorary” not “honourary”).
• Use “centre” and “theatre” (the –re suffix opposed to the American –er).
• Use “strategize”, “paralyze” and “recognize” (the –ize / -yze suffix opposed to the British –ise / -yse).  This rule also applies to American English.
• Double the last consonant when adding suffixes. Ex. Use “travelling” “worshipped” and “cancelled” (the –ell / -epp suffixes opposed to the American –el / -ep).  However, “profiting” does not apply to this rule for British or Canadian English.
• Use “practice / practise”, defence / defense” and “licence / license” (the –ice / -ence suffix applies to some nouns replacing the American –ise / –ense, while –ise / -ense applies to the matching verbs as in British English).  However, “advice” and “advise” are universal.
• Use “catalogue” (the –ogue suffix opposed to the American –og).
• Use “program” (the –gram suffix replacing the British –gramme).  This rule also applies to American English.
• Use “cheque” (the –que suffix opposed to the American –k or –ck).
• Use “judgement” (the –dge opposed to the American –dg).
• Use “tire” (the –ire suffix opposed to the British –yre).  This rules also applies to American English.
• Use “grey” (the –ey suffix opposed to the American –ay).
• Use “aluminum” (the –num suffix opposed to the British –nium).  This rule also applies to American English.

Units of Measurement

• Celsius – used when referring to weather temperature (unlike “Fahrenheit” in America).
• Fahrenheit – used when referring to cooking temperature (A mix of both Celsius and Fahrenheit temperatures are widely used and displayed throughout the country.)
• Feet / Inches – used when measuring height.  (However, centimetres and metres are used in most medical documentation.)
• Inches (ie. 8.5” x 11”) / Letter / Legal – used when referring to paper sizes (opposed to the American “millimeters” or “A4” size).
• Kilometres – used when referring to travel speed (not “miles” as in America).
• L/100 km – used when measuring fuel (opposed to the American “miles per gallon”).
• Pounds / Ounces – used when measuring weight.  (However, kilograms and grams are used in most medical documentation.)
• Square Feet – used when measuring property (opposed to the American “yards” or “acres”).

Education Terminology

• College – refers to community college where one earns a diploma or a certificate
• Frosh – refers to first-year college or university students.
• Frosh Week – refers to the week before post-secondary classes start when first-year students have parties, events and new-student orientation.
• Grade 1, Grade 2, etc. (not “first grade”, “second grade” as in America).
• Grade 9, Grade 10, etc. or first year, second year, etc. (not “freshman”, “sophomore”, “junior”, “senior” as in America).
• Grades / Marks – Both the American and British terms are used.
• Kindergarten – refers to the grade before Grade 1. (Or Junior Kindergarten / Senior Kindergarten when it consisted of two consecutive years.)
• Principal – refers to the head of the school.
• University – refers to a Canadian university where one earns a degree or PhD (“University” does not apply to both college and university as in America).
• Vice-Principal – refers to the Principal’s assistant (not “assistant principal” as in America).

Canadian-isms (Only in Canada):

• Aboriginal Peoples – First Nations, Inuit and Metis people combined
• As well – (opposed to “in addition” in America. However, in addition is also used)
• Beaver / Whale Tails – fried dough pastry with multiple toppings shaped in a beaver or whale tail
• Buck and Doe / Stag and Doe –a party where entry tickets, raffle tickets and alcohol are sold to raise money for the wedding of an engaged couple
• Cheesies –cheese puffs or cheese sticks (a snack)
• Chesterfield – (opposed to “sofa” in America)
• Converter – (opposed to “remote control” in America)
• Double Double – popular coffee with two cream and two sugar
• Eavestrough – (opposed to “rain gutter” in America)
• Eh? – used as in “Don’t you agree?” or “Huh?”
• First Nations – Aboriginal people (opposed to “Native Americans” or “American Indians” in America)
• Freezie – frozen sugar-water snack
• Camping – staying in a tent in the woods or at a campground
• Camp –  children’s summer camps
• Chinook – a warm wind that blows from east to west during late winter to early spring
• Homogenized Milk / Homo Milk – (opposed to “whole milk” in America)
• Housecoat – (opposed to “bathrobe” in America)
• Humidex –  the measurement of heat and humidity combined
• Hydro – Canadian electricity
• Knapsack / Bookbag – (opposed to “backpack” in America)
• Kraft Dinner / KD – a popular dry macaroni and cheese mix
• Loonie – the Canadian one-dollar coin
• May Two-four– the first long week-end of the summer (on or around May 24^th)
• Mickey – a flask of hard liquor
• Peameal / Back Bacon – (opposed to “Canadian Bacon” in America)
• Pencil Crayon – (opposed to “colored pencil” in America)
• Poutine – french fries topped with gravy and cheese curds
• Runners / Running Shoes – (opposed to “sneakers” in America)
• Serviette – a paper napkin
• Smarties – popular candy covered chocolate pieces (similar to “M&M’s” in America)
• Statutory Holidays / Stats – Public holidays legislated by both the national and provincial government
• Texas Mickey – a 3L bottle of hard liquor
• The States or The U.S. – the United States of America
• Tims – Tim Hortons, a popular Canadian coffee shop
• Toonie – the Canadian two-dollar coin
• Toque – a knitted winter hat, often with a pom-pom on top
• Twenty–sixer – a 750 ml bottle of hard liquor
• Two–four – a twenty-four bottle case of beer
• Washroom – (opposed to “restroom” in America)
• Zed (for the letter Z) – (opposed to “Zee” in America)

For even more Canadian-isms, visit the site of CMU.