Check? or is it Cheque?
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
February 26, 2009 11:40pm CST
I have always wondered why there are two version of the same english word.
They both mean the same thing.
A piece of paper with written instructions to the bank to make a payment.
And when I was in school, I learn that the word is cheque and not check.
But when I went into the working world, it seems that every one is using the word check instead of cheque.
So I did a check with the dictionary and found that both words are listed. And that they are correct. Yet when we do a spell check with any document processors, the word check is accepted but cheque is not.
So much so, that when I write the word cheque in response to some discussions, I get corrected that the word should be check and not [b]cheque./b]
I know that one is a US word and the other is a British word. But which is the correct one to use? And is the word cheque obsolete?
3 people like this
14 responses
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
28 Feb 09
well i've used cheque all my life. to me, check simply means to look at something again. it's just like color and colour. i set my document processor's language to english (UK) so cheque is accepted.
as for being corrected, i believe most of us here knows that there is two ways to spelling the word. even banks use cheque when they send my cheque book to me. i can't imagine the day that i'll receive a 'check' in my mail. 
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
3 Mar 09
Yup, the British are usually more particular... American English normally "messes" everything into a single pulp. 
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
3 Mar 09
Hi ahgong,
I think either is fine. Just a territory thingy.
You keep seeing check, eh? Probably your company is obama-lized.
As for word processors, check your language setting... spelling check on the same word is different for different languages. 
As for word processors, check your language setting... spelling check on the same word is different for different languages. 
@muru1950 (963)
• India
27 Feb 09
Hi ahgong
I use the word cheque and not check.
Because in my country,we follow British English.
In internet it is different.Depending upon the software,it will accept either one of the word as correct.
My Firefox,right now have underlined my word "cheque"with red.But I don't bother about it.
Happy mylotting
@youless (112562)
• Guangzhou, China
28 Feb 09
When I was in the primary and high school, we learned British English and therefore "cheque" is a word we learned. When I was in the college, since our foreign teachers come from USA. So we learned more American English at that time. And "check" is what American people spell. Today I mix both of them. Sometimes I tend to use British English, but sometimes I prefer to use American one. However, if I talk to a American, I will try to use more American English. Vice versa. Sometimes I find that American English is easier. For example, dialogue will be dialog, colour will be color etc.
I love China
@LISAANDELYSIA (285)
• China
28 Feb 09
isnt that supposed to be that k=que? in some word i guess it is
1 person likes this
@mermaidivy (15394)
• United States
27 Feb 09
It depends where you work and who people to talk to. You should use check in US and cheque in UK.
1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
27 Feb 09
Well I have always written it as cheque and no matter what Bill Gates says and underlines it with a red, I will keep it as ‘cheque’.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
27 Feb 09
Can any word be obsolete in english language? I wonder! It will be more confusing for the ordinary jo to comprehend the differences in the American and British way of spelling. In school we studied British and now when I am in the cyber world it seems they prefer the American spelling and sometimes it makes me scratch my head to change my spellings to American as I am so used to the British spellings. The argument against spelling reform is merely a plea that what is novel is ugly, what is old is beautiful. The meanings of words are by no means usually to be discovered from their derivations. Many words give no obvious clue to their origin and history.
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
2 Mar 09
I really don't know if words will be come obsolete.
But I am asking. Cos when I was in school, I learn the British English as well.
That is why when I come online and use the spell check, I tend to get a little confused at times when it comes to certain spelling!
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
27 Feb 09
lol =D YEah, i have seen two versions before and when i was in school, i was taught the word, cheque, and not, check.. lol =D I guess it applies to different countries, and all i know is that, USA is one country that always likes to be different, in most of their spelling and words.. lol =D
But no matter what, as long as one understands what, cheque or check, is, it will be fine.. As long as it's in the dictionary, it means it's not obsolete yet.. hehe ^_^ Plus, nobody knows the difference when we are talking about instead of putting it into words.. haha
@maxilimian (3099)
• Indonesia
27 Feb 09
i think it's just only people misspelling 
if you mean cheque is the bank productions then cheque is the right spell, it's not provided in dictionary, because the dictionary write check as looking for the right things ... might be help
have a nice day ahgong
if you mean cheque is the bank productions then cheque is the right spell, it's not provided in dictionary, because the dictionary write check as looking for the right things ... might be help
have a nice day ahgong1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
27 Feb 09
The noun for Check is the paper cheques I am referring to.
Go to http://www.dictionary.com and you will see what I mean.
[i]cheque [chek]
–noun British. check (def. 29).[/i]
[i]check [chek] verb, noun, plural checks or, for 40, chex, adjective, interjection
...
–noun
24. Also, British, cheque. Banking. a written order, usually on a standard printed form, directing a bank to pay money.
...[/i]
@goddessofbeauty (713)
• Philippines
27 Feb 09
I was also confused on which word to use, but I ended up using the word check instead...
@sweetashoney (3597)
• United States
27 Feb 09
To me it would depend on which place that you would be at. If you are in the US you would use check because it is part of the English language.
1 person likes this
@a_s_h_l_e_y (46)
• Canada
27 Feb 09
I use check when im talking about checking something...like making sure someone is correct. And then I use cheque to refer to the cheque you bring to the bank
1 person likes this
@eggpoy (133)
• Philippines
27 Feb 09
The most common Spelling of the word (in all it senses) were check, checque, and cheque from the 1600s until the 1900s. Since the 1800s, the spelling cheque is standard from the financial sense of the word in the UK, Ireland, and the CommonWealth, while only check is retained in its other senses. Thus distinguishing the two defifitions in writting.
On the other hand, Check is used for the financial sense in the U.S
1 person likes this
