One of the challenges of Canadian English is that it incorporates British English while simultaneously incorporating American English. This is particularly confusing when it comes to choosing which words to use.
Take the words “cheque” and “check”, for example.
Cheque
Speakers of British English use the cheque spelling when referring to the document that orders a bank to pay a specific amount of money from a person’s account to the person in whose name the cheque has been issued.
Check
American English speakers, on the other hand, use the check spelling.
So, where do Canadians come in? Do we side with Americans as we do with tire and curb, or do we side with the British as we do with colour and metre?
Well, in this case, in Canada, we use cheque, just like the Brits.
Now, keep in mind, as with some other words, this usage is changing. Just as how the American spelling of color and pronunciation of zee are starting to gain popularity in Canada, so is the American usage of check. In time, Canadians may end up favouring the simpler approach.
But for now, in Canada, use cheque for the piece of paper for paying someone (or even your bill at the restaurant) and check for all other uses (such as “Check out that falling plane!”).
