Check vs. Cheque
| Word | Sentences |
|---|---|
| cheque | We gave the contractor a cheque for the full amount. |
| check | Can you check to see that the door is locked? |
‘Check’ and ‘cheque’ are often confused, especially between American and British English. Check is used in American English both for the verb “to examine” and for the banking noun (a written order to pay money). Cheque is the preferred spelling for the banking noun in British English, but the verb is always “check.”
What do “check” and “cheque” mean?
Check can be a noun or a verb. As a verb, it means “to examine, verify, or inspect.” As a noun, it refers to “a written order directing a bank to pay money (in American English)” or “an act of verifying.”
Cheque is a noun and means “a written order directing a bank to pay money,” used in British English and other Commonwealth countries.
| Sentence with ‘check’ | Sentence with ‘cheque’ |
| I need to check my work for mistakes. | She deposited the cheque at the bank. |
| He paid by check at the restaurant. (American spelling) | He wrote a cheque for £100. |
| Can you check if the door is locked? | The company sent a cheque to cover expenses. |
| She gave me a check for my birthday. (US) | He received a cheque from his employer. (UK) |
Usage in context
| Correct usage with both words in context |
|---|
|
Before depositing the cheque, please check that all the details are correct.
In the UK, you pay bills by cheque, but you should always check your bank balance first. |
Cheque is only used for the banking noun in British/Commonwealth English. Check is much more versatile (verb and noun) in American English!
Similar words
| Word | Similar words |
|---|---|
| check | inspect, examine, verify, review, audit, test |
| cheque | bank draft, payment order, remittance, bill, money order |
The origin of check & cheque
| Word | Etymology |
|---|---|
| check | From Middle English chek (noun), from Old French eschec (“chess, check”), from Arabic shāh (“king”) used in chess. The banking sense developed in American English in the 18th century. |
| cheque | Early 18th century, variant of check in the banking sense, adopted in British English to distinguish from the verb. From Old French eschec (“check, chess”), ultimately from Persian shāh (“king”). |
In review: Check vs. Cheque
- Check can be a verb (“to examine”) or a noun (“a written order to pay money” in US English).
- Cheque is only a noun (“written order to pay”) and is preferred in British/Commonwealth English.
Read about other confusing words
Practice: Check or Cheque?
She wrote a ______ to pay for the groceries.
Please ______ your answers before turning in the test.
He received a ______ for $500 from his employer. (UK English)
Can you ______ if the bank is open today?
He paid the bill by ______ at a US restaurant.
FAQs
What does ‘check’ mean?
+
What does ‘cheque’ mean?
+
How do I know which spelling to use?
+
Can ‘cheque’ ever be a verb?
+
Is ‘check’ used in British English?
+
Sources
-
Definition of check and cheque from the Collins English Dictionary. Accessed July 16, 2025.
-
“Cheque.” Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/cheque. Accessed July 16, 2025.
-
“Check.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/check. Accessed July 16, 2025.
Yash, D. "How to Use Check vs. Cheque (Which Word is Right?)." Grammarflex, Sep 2, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/check-vs-cheque/.
