Travelling or Traveling | Difference & Example Sentences
Travelling and traveling are two different spellings of the present participle of the verb “travel” (and the identical gerund) meaning “move from one place to another” (typically over a long distance). The spelling tends to vary based on whether you’re writing UK or US English:
- In UK English, “travelling” (double “l”) is standard.
- In US English, “traveling” (one “l”) is correct.
If you’re travelling/traveling through Central Europe, you should visit Berlin.
Karen likes travelling/traveling by train because she enjoys watching the landscape go by.
I’m saving up for a trip because I realized travelling/traveling can be expensive.
Travelling and traveling as adjectives
Travelling and traveling can also be used as adjectives to describe someone or something that moves from place to place.
A travelling/traveling circus will visit the town next week.
Travelled or traveled
Travelled and traveled are the past forms of the verb “travel.” The same spelling distinction applies to these past forms and to the nouns traveller and traveler:
- In UK English, “travelled” and “traveller” are standard.
- In US English, “traveled” and “traveler” are more common.
During my flight, I chatted with a fellow traveller/traveler.
Other interesting language articles
If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
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Ryan, E. (2023, August 22). Travelling or Traveling | Difference & Example Sentences. Scribbr. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/us-vs-uk/travelling-or-traveling/
