The American spelling is "license" with an S

In the United States, the word is spelled license — with an S in the middle. This is true whether you are talking about a driver's license, a business license, a software license, or permission to do something. The S comes after the first vowel pair and before the final syllable.

The British and Canadian spelling is licence — with a C instead. Both are correct in their respective regions. If you are writing for an American audience or using American English spell-check, use the S. If you are writing for a British or Canadian audience, use the C.

Key Takeaways

  • American English spells it "license" with an S in both noun and verb forms.
  • British English spells it "licence" as a noun and "license" as a verb, following a pattern where nouns use C and verbs use S.
  • Canadian English typically follows American spelling and uses "license" for both noun and verb.
  • Your spell-checker will flag whichever version does not match your language settings, so check your software region before assuming a word is wrong.

Why British English uses C for the noun

British English follows a pattern where related words use different letters depending on their part of speech. The noun is spelled with a C: licence. The verb — meaning to give permission or authorize — is spelled with an S: license. This mirrors the pattern in words like "practice" (noun) and "practise" (verb), or "information" (noun) and "advise" (verb).

American English simplified this rule centuries ago and uses the S spelling for both the noun and the verb. So an American writes "I have a driver's license" and "The state will license you to drive," using the same spelling both times. A British person writes "I have a driving licence" and "The state will license you to drive," switching the spelling based on how the word is used in the sentence.

Common mistakes when spelling license

The most frequent error is reversing the vowels and writing "lisence" or "liscence." The correct order is always L-I-C/S-E-N-S-E. The I comes first, then the C or S, then E-N-S-E at the end. Saying the word aloud slowly — "LY-sens" — can help you remember the vowel order.

Another common mistake is adding an extra letter. Some people write "lisence" with only one S at the end, or "licence" with two S's. The word ends with a single S followed by E. If you are using a word processor with spell-check, it will catch these errors when ready, but knowing the correct spelling means you can spot mistakes in handwritten text or when typing quickly.

How to remember which spelling to use

If you are unsure which version to use, check the language setting on your computer or writing software. Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and most other programs let you choose between American English, British English, and Canadian English. Once you set your region, the spell-checker will accept the correct spelling for that region and flag the other one as wrong.

If you are writing for a specific publication or organization, check their style guide. Most American newspapers, websites, and businesses use the American spelling. Most British publications use the British spelling. When in doubt, match the spelling used in the document you are editing or the website you are writing for.

License versus licence in different contexts

The spelling rule applies across all uses of the word. A driver's license (American) or driving licence (British) is the card you carry. A business license (American) or business licence (British) is the permit a company needs to operate. A software license (American) or software licence (British) is the agreement that governs how you can use a program. The context does not change the spelling — only your region does.

When you see the word in official documents, match the spelling to the country of origin. A document from the UK Home Office will use "licence." A document from the US Department of Motor Vehicles will use "license." This is not a mistake on either side — it is the standard spelling for that English-speaking region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is one spelling more correct than the other?

No. Both are correct in their respective regions. American English uses "license" for both noun and verb. British English uses "licence" for the noun and "license" for the verb. Neither is wrong — they are straightforward different standards. Use whichever matches your audience and region.

What if I am writing for an international audience?

Pick one spelling and stick with it throughout your document. American spelling is more common on the internet and in global business, so "license" is often the safer choice for international writing. If your organization has a style guide, follow that instead.

Will spell-check catch the wrong spelling?

Yes, if your spell-checker is set to the correct region. If you are using American English settings and write "licence," it will flag it as an error. If you are using British English settings and write "license" as a noun, it will flag that. Check your software settings to make sure they match your intended audience.

Does the pronunciation change between American and British English?

No. Both regions pronounce the word the same way: "LY-sens." The spelling is different, but the sound is identical. This is why the spelling difference can be confusing — you cannot hear which version is correct when someone says the word aloud.