Judgment or Judgement l Difference & Examples
Judgment and judgement are two different spellings of the noun for the act of forming an opinion, the ability to form an opinion, and the opinion itself. It’s also used to refer to a formal legal decision made by a court.
The spelling varies based on whether you’re writing UK or US English.
- In US English, “judgment” (no “e”) is the only correct spelling.
- In UK English, “judgement” (with an “e”) is standard, but “judgment” is used in legal contexts.
Carol made a hasty judgment/judgement of Meera’s character.
Andrew sometimes wishes he had better judgment/judgement.
Exception (UK): “Judgment” in a legal context
While judgement is the standard spelling in most contexts in UK English, judgment is used instead in legal contexts. This usage is recommended by various style guides, including Oxford style.
“Against my better judgement/judgment”
Against my better judgement/judgment is a phrase used to express awareness that something you have done was unwise or contrary to your principles. It means the same whether written with or without an “e.”
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.
Confused words
Definitions
US vs. UK spellings
Sources in this article
We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.
This Scribbr articleRyan, E. (October 10, 2022). Judgment or Judgement l Difference & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved October 17, 2022, from https://www.scribbr.com/us-vs-uk/judgment-or-judgement/
