Judgment vs. Judgement — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 26, 2024
Judgment, used mainly in American English, refers to the ability to make considered decisions, while judgement is the British spelling of the same word.
Difference Between Judgment and Judgement
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Judgment in American English is primarily used in legal and formal contexts, emphasizing the act of making decisions or forming opinions. Whereas, judgement, the British English spelling, is also used in these contexts but with a more general application in the UK and other Commonwealth countries.
The spelling of judgment typically excludes the middle 'e' in American publications, adhering to a more streamlined version. On the other hand, judgement is commonly used with the middle 'e' in British publications, reflecting a traditional approach to English spelling norms.
In legal documents in the United States, 'judgment' is the preferred form, used consistently in court decisions and legal texts. Whereas in the UK, legal documents may use 'judgement', although 'judgment' can also appear, especially in certain legal texts and judgments.
Technological tools and software focusing on American English, like spell-checkers and grammar guides, often flag 'judgement' as incorrect. Conversely, British English tools are programmed to accept both variations, although 'judgement' remains the more customary choice.
In academic writing, American institutions and publications usually require the use of 'judgment'. In contrast, British academic norms do not strictly enforce one over the other, giving writers the flexibility to choose based on personal or institutional preference.
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Comparison Chart
Common Usage
Legal, academic, and formal writing
General, including legal and informal texts
Spelling
Excludes the middle 'e'
Includes the middle 'e'
Legal Documents
Preferred spelling in US legal contexts
Commonly used, but both forms are acceptable
Technological Tools
Flagged as correct in American English tools
Both spellings accepted in British tools
Academic Norms
Required in American publications
Flexible in usage based on preference
Compare with Definitions
Judgment
The legal decision of a court regarding the rights and liabilities of parties in a legal action.
The court's judgment was in favor of the plaintiff.
Judgement
An adverse criticism or opinion formed unfairly or without knowledge of the facts.
He dismissed the criticisms as baseless judgements.
Judgment
A misfortune or calamity viewed as a divine punishment.
He considered the flood a judgment for their sins.
Judgement
The opinion or estimate so formed.
The book’s quality was beyond judgement.
Judgment
The capacity to assess situations or circumstances shrewdly and to draw sound conclusions.
Her judgment in handling crises is well respected.
Judgement
A legal decision made by a court regarding a matter it has considered.
The high court is set to deliver its judgement tomorrow.
Judgment
The process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing.
His judgment of the situation was based on incomplete facts.
Judgement
The act or process of judging; the formation of an opinion after consideration.
His judgement is often influenced by his personal feelings.
Judgment
The ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.
An effective leader must have good judgment.
Judgement
The ability to judge wisely and objectively.
A historian must exercise sound judgement in interpreting events.
Judgment
The act or process of judging; the formation of an opinion after consideration or deliberation.
Judgement
Judgement (or US spelling judgment) is also known as adjudication which means the evaluation of evidence to make a decision. Judgement is also the ability to make considered decisions.
Judgment
An opinion or estimate formed after consideration or deliberation, especially a formal or authoritative decision
Awaited the judgment of the umpire.
Judgement
Variant of judgment.
Judgment
The mental ability to perceive and distinguish relationships; discernment
Fatigue may affect a pilot's judgment of distances.
Judgement
Alternative spelling of judgment.
Judgment
The capacity to form an opinion by distinguishing and evaluating
His judgment of fine music is impeccable.
Judgement
The legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision;
Opinions are usually written by a single judge
Judgment
The capacity to assess situations or circumstances and draw sound conclusions; good sense
She showed good judgment in saving her money.
Judgement
An opinion formed by judging something;
He was reluctant to make his judgment known
She changed her mind
Judgment
A determination of a court of law; a judicial decision.
Judgement
The cognitive process of reaching a decision or drawing conclusions
Judgment
A court decision establishing that an obligation is owed, such as a debt.
Judgement
Ability to make good judgments
Judgment
A misfortune believed to be sent by God as punishment for sin.
Judgement
The capacity to assess situations or circumstances shrewdly and to draw sound conclusions
Judgment
Judgment The Last Judgment.
Judgement
(law) the determination by a court of competent jurisdiction on matters submitted to it
Judgment
The act of judging.
Judgement
The act of judging or assessing a person or situation or event;
They criticized my judgment of the contestants
Judgment
The power or faculty of performing such operations; especially, when unqualified, the faculty of judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely
A man of judgment / a man of good judgment
A politician without judgment
Judgment
The conclusion or result of judging; an opinion; a decision.
Judgment
(legal) The act of determining, as in courts of law, what is conformable to law and justice; also, the determination, decision, or sentence of a court, or of a judge.
Judgment
(theology) The final award; the last sentence.
Judgment
The act of judging; the operation of the mind, involving comparison and discrimination, by which a knowledge of the values and relations of things, whether of moral qualities, intellectual concepts, logical propositions, or material facts, is obtained; as, by careful judgment he avoided the peril; by a series of wrong judgments he forfeited confidence.
I oughte deme, of skilful jugement,That in the salte sea my wife is deed.
Judgment
The power or faculty of performing such operations (see 1); esp., when unqualified, the faculty of judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely; good sense; as, a man of judgment; a politician without judgment.
He shall judge thy people with righteousness and thy poor with judgment.
Hernia. I would my father look'd but with my eyes.Theseus. Rather your eyes must with his judgment look.
Judgment
The conclusion or result of judging; an opinion; a decision.
She in my judgment was as fair as you.
Who first his judgment asked, and then a place.
Judgment
The act of determining, as in courts of law, what is conformable to law and justice; also, the determination, decision, or sentence of a court, or of a judge; the mandate or sentence of God as the judge of all.
In judgments between rich and poor, consider not what the poor man needs, but what is his own.
Most heartily I do beseech the courtTo give the judgment.
Judgment
That act of the mind by which two notions or ideas which are apprehended as distinct are compared for the purpose of ascertaining their agreement or disagreement. See 1. The comparison may be threefold: (1) Of individual objects forming a concept. (2) Of concepts giving what is technically called a judgment. (3) Of two judgments giving an inference. Judgments have been further classed as analytic, synthetic, and identical.
A judgment is the mental act by which one thing is affirmed or denied of another.
The power by which we are enabled to perceive what is true or false, probable or improbable, is called by logicians the faculty of judgment.
Judgment
A calamity regarded as sent by God, by way of recompense for wrong committed; a providential punishment.
Judgment
The final award; the last sentence.
Judgment
An opinion formed by judging something;
He was reluctant to make his judgment known
She changed her mind
Judgment
The act of judging or assessing a person or situation or event;
They criticized my judgment of the contestants
Judgment
(law) the determination by a court of competent jurisdiction on matters submitted to it
Judgment
The cognitive process of reaching a decision or drawing conclusions
Judgment
The legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision;
Opinions are usually written by a single judge
Judgment
The capacity to assess situations or circumstances shrewdly and to draw sound conclusions
Judgment
Ability to make good judgments
Common Curiosities
Can judgment and judgement be used interchangeably in legal contexts?
Yes, though 'judgment' is preferred in US legal contexts, both spellings can appear in UK legal documents.
Is one spelling more correct than the other?
Neither spelling is inherently more correct; the choice depends on the regional language norm being followed.
What is the primary difference between judgment and judgement?
The primary difference is regional spelling preference; 'judgment' is American English, while 'judgement' is British English.
Do dictionaries list both spellings of judgment and judgement?
Yes, most English dictionaries list both spellings, indicating their regional usage.
Will using the wrong spelling affect my grades in school?
It could, particularly if a specific spelling is required by an educational institution’s guidelines.
Are there any historical reasons for the difference in spelling?
The variation originates from different historical preferences and standardizations in spelling in American versus British English.
Does the internet favor one spelling over the other?
Online American sources tend to favor 'judgment', while British sources often use 'judgement'.
How should I choose between judgment and judgement in academic writing?
Choose based on the preferred spelling of the publication or institution, which typically aligns with either American or British English standards.
Is judgement ever considered incorrect in American English?
In formal and academic settings, 'judgement' might be marked as incorrect in American English.
Does the spelling variation affect the pronunciation?
No, both spellings are pronounced the same way despite the spelling difference.
Do English language tests differentiate between American and British spelling?
Yes, English language proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS recognize both American and British spellings.
Are there other examples where American and British English differ in spelling?
Yes, such as 'color' vs. 'colour' and 'theater' vs. 'theatre'.
Is there a trend towards unifying the spelling?
There is no significant trend towards unifying the spelling; the distinction remains mostly regional.
Can using the British spelling in America be seen as pretentious?
It might be perceived that way, especially in formal documents, unless the writer is known to be following British English norms.
What advice would you give to someone unsure about which spelling to use?
Consider the audience and the prevalent spelling in the region or institution.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.