7 Words With Multiple Correct Spellings

Imagine you’re standing onstage in the finals of a regional spelling bee, and the pronouncer asks you to spell the plural form of those pesky flying insects that leave itchy, red bites on our arms and legs. Your first thought might be to spell “mosquitos,” but then you start to wonder if it’s actually “mosquitoes” with an “e.” Well, you’d probably win the spelling bee no matter what, as both spellings are considered acceptable. In fact, many English words have multiple correct spellings. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

The plural form of “mosquito” can be correctly spelled ending in either “-os” or “-oes.” The same goes for the plural forms of “buffalo,” “volcano,” and some other words whose singular form ends in an “o.” However, this doesn’t apply to every such word. The only correct way to spell the plural of tomato is “tomatoes,” and the same goes for “potatoes.” Why? Well, there are inconsistencies in the English language, and it seems like there’s an exception (or a few) to every rule. “Mosquito,” “buffalo,” and “volcano” simply all have more flexible plural forms, while “tomato” and “potato” have a clearly established plural form.

There’s no consensus over whether “judgment” or “judgement” is the preferred spelling, as both are acceptable (but we follow AP Style, which favors “judgment”). That said, “judgement” came first, though in 1828, lexicographer Noah Webster removed the first “e” and published a shorter variant that he believed was the proper spelling. Later, the Oxford English Dictionary declared both of the spellings to be correct. Today, “judgment” is a bit more prominent in the U.S., while both options appear equally often among British English speakers.

When it comes to the study of material remains, the reason that both “archeology” and “archaeology” are acceptable spellings has to do with the languages from which the word was derived. It originally came into English from the French archéologie, which has no second “a.” But that French term is derived from the Latin archaeologia, which very clearly has an “a” tucked in the middle. Based on these origins, either spelling is considered OK.

Whether you spell it “whisky” or “whiskey,” you’re talking about a boozy libation that’s enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as part of an old-fashioned. But the “e” (or lack thereof) makes a difference in suggesting where the liquor came from. While there are exceptions to the rule, “whisky” usually comes from Canada, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Scotland, or mainland Europe. If it’s spelled “whiskey,” it probably comes from the U.S., Ireland, or Mexico.

There’s no difference in the meaning of this term — “someone who gives advice” — whether it includes an “e” or an “o.” Both spellings originated in the 1500s, with “adviser” coined first by just a few years. “Adviser” is considered to be the Germanic-inspired spelling, while “advisor” is Latin-inspired. (Again, in following AP Style, we use “adviser.”) In everyday parlance, people tend to think “adviser” is more casual while “advisor” is more formal.

If you’re talking about the body spray brand, it’s Axe. But if you’re referring to the sharp tool, you can spell it either “ax” or “axe.” In 1755, writer Samuel Johnson spelled it “axe” in A Dictionary of the English Language. But in 1828, Noah Webster argued that it had been previously “improperly written as axe.” Today, both are considered correct, though “axe” is a bit more common in the U.S. and around the world (and AP Style is “ax”).

The spelling “gray” is more common in American English, while “grey” is more common among Brits, Australians, and Canadians. But here in the U.S., there are many brands or pop culture phenomena that muddy the waters — for instance, Grey Goose vodka, Grey Poupon mustard, the book Fifty Shades of Grey, and the TV show Grey’s Anatomy. All things considered, both spellings are OK, but we follow AP Style with “gray.”