Licence or License: Which Spelling Should You Use?
Posted on 17th April by Admin
The licence versus license question is one of the trickiest in British English spelling — not because it is hard to remember, but because the two spellings are not interchangeable. Unlike organisation/organization or colour/color, where the difference is simply British versus American convention, licence and license in British English are two different words that serve different grammatical functions.
Getting this distinction right marks out careful, precise writing. This guide explains everything you need to know.
The Quick Answer
In British English:
Licence (with a C) is the noun — the document, permit or permission itself.
License (with an S) is the verb — the act of granting permission.
In American English:
License (with an S) is used for both noun and verb.
Licence as a Noun, License as a Verb
In British English, the spelling changes depending on how the word is being used grammatically:
When you are talking about a thing — a permit, a certificate, an official document granting permission — use licence (with a C):
A driving licence
A television licence
A software licence
A firearms licence
A premises licence
When you are using the word as a verb — meaning to grant permission or to authorise — use license (with an S):
The council will license the new premises next month.
She is licensed to practise medicine in the UK.
The software is licensed for use on up to five devices.
The venue is not licensed to serve alcohol.
What About American English?
In American English, this distinction does not exist. License (with an S) is used for both the noun and the verb. American writers do not use licence at all — it would be flagged as a spelling error by an American spell-checker.
This means that if you are reading an American source and see license used as a noun, it is not an error — it is simply the American convention. However, in British English writing, using license as a noun (a driving license) is incorrect.
Examples in Context
Correct British English Usage
He forgot to renew his driving licence. (noun — the document)
The local authority agreed to license the new restaurant. (verb — to grant permission)
Her driving licence was confiscated after the incident. (noun)
The premises are fully licensed for live music. (verb, past participle)
You need a valid TV licence to watch live television in the UK. (noun)
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: Do you have a driving license? Correct: Do you have a driving licence? (noun)
Incorrect: The venue is not licenced. Correct: The venue is not licensed. (verb, past participle)
Memory Trick
The easiest way to remember this distinction is to compare it with another British English noun/verb pair that follows the same pattern:
Advice (noun, with a C) — She gave me some advice.
Advise (verb, with an S) — I would advise you to apply early.
Licence and license work exactly the same way. C for the noun, S for the verb. If you can remember advice/advise, you can remember licence/license.
Related Word Pairs Following the Same Pattern
Licence/license is part of a small group of British English word pairs where the noun takes a C and the verb takes an S:
Advice / Advise — I need some advice (noun). Can you advise me? (verb)
Device / Devise — A useful device (noun). Let us devise a plan (verb).
Practice / Practise — She went to practice (noun). You should practise more (verb).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a driving licence or driving license in the UK?
In the UK, the correct spelling is a driving licence — with a C. This is the noun form. The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) uses licence in its official documentation. Driving license (with an S) is the American English spelling and would be considered incorrect in a British English context.
Is it TV licence or TV license?
In British English, it is a TV licence — with a C. The BBC and the TV Licensing authority both use the noun form licence in their official communications. TV license (with an S) is the American English form.
Is licensed spelled with a C or an S?
Licensed — the past tense and past participle of the verb to license — is always spelled with an S in both British and American English. In British English, the verb is license (S), so licensed, licensing and licensee all use S. Only the noun form uses C: licence.
What is a licensee?
A licensee is a person or organisation that holds a licence or has been granted permission to do something — for example, the licensee of a pub is the person licensed to sell alcohol on those premises. Note the spelling: licensee uses S because it derives from the verb to license, not from the noun licence.
Does this distinction apply in Australian English?
Yes. Australian English follows British English conventions on this point. Licence is the noun and license is the verb in Australian English, just as in British English. American English is the exception in using license for both.
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Summary
In British English, licence (C) is the noun and license (S) is the verb
In American English, license (S) is used for both
Remember: C for the noun, S for the verb — just like advice/advise
A driving licence, a TV licence, a software licence — all nouns, all C
To license a premises, to be licensed, licensing — all verb forms, all S
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