Is It “Defence” or “Defense”?
Now, the question that people wonder is which is the correct spelling when it comes to defense or defence? In their defense, proper spelling actually depends on which English dialect you’re writing in.
- When writing in American English, defense is the correct spelling. The reason for this discrepancy is in American English, defense (and all other words derived from it) is always spelt with an “s.”
- In British English (and other dialects influenced by it like Australian, Canadian, etc.), defence is always spelt with a “c,” except when the suffix begins with an “i.” In that case, use an “s.”
Here's the breakdown of the above mentioned rule in British English : When to use "c": In British English, "defence" is spelled with a "c" when it stands alone or when the suffix added does not begin with the letter "i." For example: National Defence, Self-Defence, Defence Mechanism, Defenceless When to use "s": When a suffix that begins with the letter "i" is added to a word ending in "c," the "c" changes to "s" to maintain the correct pronunciation. This is done to ensure that the "c" doesn't combine with the following "i" to create a "sh" sound. For example: Defensive (not "defencive"), Defensiveness, Defensible
Difference Between Defence and Defense
While writing English sentences in our day-to-day life, many people still encounter this confusion – defence or defense, which one to use? These words even can be confusing for those whose first language is English. These two words are misused in English Sentences due to their similar meanings but the difference is due to the difference in regional spelling conventions.
In this article, we have provided explanations of various scenarios for the usage of “defence” and “defense“, supported by different examples. By the end, you will have gained a clear understanding of when to use which word, enabling you to communicate effectively in all circumstances.