Counselor or Counsellor | Definition & Spelling
In American English, consonants at the end of words do not double up when a suffix is added. This is true of counselor (counsellor in British English). This is the usual pattern of difference between the two language variants. For example, in American English, “travel” becomes “traveled” or “traveler,” whereas in British English, the consonant doubles up (e.g., “cancelled,” “labelled,” and “traveller”).
The company was lauded for its policy of providing time with a counselor/counsellor to any employee who needed it.
Janine found her job as a counselor/counsellor was rewarding and demanding in equal measure.
Counselor or counsellor
Counselor/counsellor is a noun that means “someone who gives advice” or, in American English, “a legal representative.” The spellings are not interchangeable. In American English, the correct spelling is counselor, and in British English, it is counsellor.
A guidance counselor is more likely to be called a careers advisor or careers counsellor in an English school.
A debt counselor/counsellor can help people who are struggling with their finances get straight.
- The judge asked the counsellor to approach the bench.
- The judge asked the counselor to approach the bench.
There is a possible further source of confusion with the different word councilor/councillor, a homophone with the meaning “member of a council” (e.g., “After serving for two years as a local councilor/councillor, David was elected to parliament”).
Main differences between American and British English
American and British English are very similar, but there are a few main differences in spelling. Five important differences are:
| Difference | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -or vs -our | In American English, many Latin-derived words end in -or. | Behavior or behaviour |
| In British English, these same words end in -our. | ||
| -er vs -re | In American English, some French, Latin, or Greek words end in -er. | Theater or theatre
Meter or metre Liter or litre Saber or sabre Fiber or fibre |
| In British English, these same words end in -re. | ||
| -ize vs -ise | In American English, many Greek-derived words end in -yze or -ize. | Realize or realise
Organize or organise Minimize or minimise Finalize or finalise |
| In British English, these words end in -yse or -ise. | ||
| -ed vs -t | In American English, most verbs are regular and form their past tense with the suffix -ed. | Learned or learnt |
| In British English, some of these verbs are irregular and form their past tense with the suffix -t. | ||
| Single vs double consonant | In American English, many words are spelled with a single consonant. | Modeling or modelling |
| In British English, these same words are spelled with a double consonant. |
Frequently asked questions about counselor or counsellor
- Is it councilor or counselor?
-
In American English, a councilor is someone who is a member of a council. A counselor is someone who gives counsel or advice or a legal representative.
In British English, these words are spelled councillor and counsellor, but the latter is not used to describe a legal representative or lawyer.
The QuillBot Grammar Checker has language settings to allow you to choose the correct region and make sure you have the correct spelling of councilor or counselor.
- How do you spell counselor in British English?
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Counselor is spelled counsellor in British English. It has the same meaning of “someone who gives counsel or advice,” but it is not used in the UK to refer to a lawyer or legal representative.
In a British court, you will be represented by a “solicitor,” a “barrister,” or, in Scotland, an “advocate.”
You can set the language region of the QuillBot Grammar Checker to ensure you have the correct spelling of counselor or counsellor.
