It’s common knowledge that the English from the U.K. differs to some extent from the English used in the United States. In reality, most English‑speaking countries, like Australia and New Zealand, have their own varieties of English. Canada is no exception. The differences between these varieties go well beyond spelling and vocabulary. They can extend to measurement systems, style, cultural references and more.

It’s important that content created for Canadian audiences reflect the local language and culture. In this article, we’ll highlight some of the distinguishing features of Canadian English. We’ll also explain why Canadian language professionals are best qualified to help you make your content, messages and brand relatable to people in each of your unique target markets.

Spelling: A little of this, a little of that

Canadian English spelling uses a hybrid of British spellings (colour or centre, for starters) and U.S. English spellings (judgment or aluminum, among others). In between these well‑established examples, there are still many words for which there is no consensus and which can therefore be spelled two different ways, such as:

• fulfil/fulfill, a term often used in finance and retail, among other fields, and
• enrol/enroll, which is seen a lot in the fields of HR, insurance, marketing and education.

Choosing which spelling to use for the right impact requires a clear understanding of the target markets and knowledge of which variations are best suited for different situations. For example, if the material will be used across all of North America, it might be a good idea to choose the U.S. variant. However, a primarily Canadian audience will certainly respond much better if you use their variety of English.

Vocabulary: Differences within and beyond Canada’s borders

On the surface, Canadian English vocabulary is similar to that of its U.S. counterpart, while retaining some influence from British English. There are fundamental differences, however: words may have other meanings or may be meaningless in Canada. 

If you table a bill in Canada (that is, present it for discussion), you’d be doing roughly the opposite of tabling a bill in the U.S., where it means postponing or shelving for later discussion.

There are even many notable differences within Canada’s borders. If you’re writing for English speakers in Quebec, all‑dressed pizza will be widely understood as a pizza with very specific toppings on it, but a Canadian from another part of the country may be expecting a completely different pizza.

In real estate or tourism, knowing that a vacation home in a remote area on a lake or in the forest is called something different in just about every part of the country—cottage, chalet, camp, cabin and more—may be essential in ensuring the target clientele finds what they truly need.

Those differences and so many others are anything but trivial if you want to earn the business and trust of a given target market in Canada. You don’t want your content to create confusion or frustration, which may prompt customers to complain, ask for refunds or switch to a competitor that uses language they recognize.

Measurements: A challenging hybrid

Canada officially converted to the metric system in the 1970s, but widespread adoption never materialized and a certain blend of the imperial and metric systems has since been the norm in English Canada. Many older Canadians are only familiar with the imperial system, while some younger people may have learned a mix of the imperial and metric systems. Meanwhile, English-speaking Quebecers are exposed to the metric system used by French speakers and can often switch between the two systems. Reflecting these demographic differences in your communications may lend them greater credibility and make them easier to understand.

Given Canada’s proximity to the U.S. and reliance on its manufacturing sector, we import many of our tools, appliances and raw materials from our neighbours to the south, where imperial is still the standard system. As a result, some measurements are almost exclusively imperial in Canada:

• Oven and pool temperatures are in Fahrenheit, but we measure the weather in Celsius.
• Construction materials and tools are all based on imperial units.
• Our beer may be served in pints, but it’s bottled in litres just like water.

For many other areas, things aren’t so clear-cut.

• There are no definitive rules as to which system to use for cooking measurements.
• Time can also be a challenge. The Canadian government promotes the use of the 24‑hour clock for official material, but the 12‑hour clock is much more commonly used.
• Here again, English-speaking Quebecers may be familiar with both, since their Francophone counterparts largely use the 24‑hour system.

Professional language experts are key to navigating references

What makes things particularly challenging in Canadian English is that there is no single, central reference or linguistic authority to lean on. Professional language agencies have local translation experts who are thoroughly familiar with the available reference works and keep abreast of any new developments in Canadian English: new terms, expressions or standards, plus the most widely known expressions and local preferences for each market. Those local experts are your best allies when creating or adapting content for any market in Canada, where accuracy and cultural relevance help you build a strong brand and reputation in the minds and hearts of each audience.

Need professional assistance to reach your Canadian English markets?

Versacom has local specialists to translate or review any content you want to produce for any Canadian English market, whether it’s Canadianized from any other variety of English or translated from another language. Our experts can also help you make linguistic decisions, offer advice, and even create a clear and simple style guide outlining your organization’s preferences for its Canadian English content.