A lot of people are confused about the use of the terms “check” and “cheque.” But who could blame them? It can be puzzling!
At Print & Cheques Now, we’re diving into the features, variations, and future of one familiar financial document that often sparks confusion due to different spellings. If you’re looking for the quick answer first, cheque and check are the same thing—just spelled differently depending on where you are in the world. But there’s more behind those two spellings than meets the eye. Read on to learn more about the difference between a cheque and a check.
What Is a Check or Cheque?
A cheque, or check, is commonly used as a negotiable document. While many see it written as check, there’s also the Canadian spelling of cheque.
People with bank accounts can use checks to direct the bank to pay a specified amount to the individual or organization named in the check.
So, a cheque is essentially a bill of exchange, with the key distinction being that the bank is always the drawee on the check/cheque. The Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881 defines a check/cheque as a “bill of exchange drawn on a specified banker,” and notes that it is payable on demand rather than at a future date.
Whether you spell it cheque or check, having reliable, professionally printed cheques still matters for many businesses and individuals today. Print & Cheques Now offers secure, customizable business and personal cheques designed to meet modern banking standards. Learn more or place an order today.
Features of a Cheque
There are several features of a cheque that make it negotiable. All businesses and individuals use checks when conducting their personal and business transactions. Here are the essential features that define a check/cheque.
Must Be in Writing
Whether it’s a cheque vs. check, it has to be written by hand, typed, or printed. Using a pencil makes it void. All signatures should be written with an ink pen or a ballpoint pen, so they can’t be tampered with or erased.
Must Be Unconditional
The payment amount must be unconditional. If there are conditions imposed to pay the amount to the holder of the check/cheque, then it can’t be considered a check at all. Any cheque that is made payable on a contingent event taking place is void ab initio.
Must Be Drawn on a Specified Banker
Any valid cheque/check must be drawn on a specified banker. If there is no mention of the banker in the check/cheque, then it isn’t valid. Apart from that, it should include information about all three parties: the payee, drawee, and drawer.
A Specific Sum of Money
The most important requirement of a cheque is that it must be paid only for a specific sum of money. If there are no monetary terms, then it isn’t a valid check/cheque. The payable amount must be clearly stated.
A Specific Payee
All parties of the check/cheque must be certain, and it should be clearly written on it. The cheque should also include an unconditional order to be a valid check/cheque.
Date
All valid checks/cheques must be dated and signed by the drawer. The date is conclusive proof, i.e., presumption under Section 118(b), unless proved otherwise.
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What Are the Differences Between Cheque vs. Check?
North Americans and Europeans tend to spell words differently in English. These divergent spellings aren’t as common as they used to be, but there are still a lot of words that mean the same thing and are just spelled differently. This can cause issues for second-language learners and novice writers whose first language isn’t English.
“Check” and “cheque” mean the exact same thing but are just spelled differently in American and British English. Check was the older spelling and is still used with greater frequency in all contexts to this day.
However, in the early 19th century, British English writers started using the spelling “cheque” for financial contexts. Canadians typically use the British English spelling as well. Even though you may know the differences between cheque vs. check in terms of who uses what, it can still be confusing.
Some people don’t recognize them to be the same, which is all down to their schooling and how they learned the English language. If you can’t decide when and where to use the different spellings, no worries! We’re here to explain it for you.
When To Use “Check”
This is the older spelling and is standard in American English. But keep in mind, the word “check” has multiple uses in American English and can be used as both a verb and a noun.
As a Noun
When used as a noun, the word check may refer to a popular payment method used as an alternative to cash or to a limit or safeguard against abuse of power. It is also used to describe a situation in a game of chess, when a player’s king is in immediate danger of being taken out by an opponent.
Here are some examples of the word check as a noun:
- The branches of the United States government have several checks and balances to protect against abuse of authority.
- If someone wants to buy an expensive item but doesn’t want to use a significant amount of cash, they can ask, “Is it okay if I write you a check?”
- When Franco moved his bishop to a new square, he put Adrian’s King in check.
As a Verb
The word “check” can also mean to halt progress, slow down, or verify. Here are some examples of this word used as a verb:
- You should always check your work before submitting your test.
- Two friends discussing the game last night may say this, “Did you check the football game last night?”
- The voting results managed to check the slow rise of the S&P 500.
When it comes to using cheque vs. check, writers in the United States may use the word “check” in all circumstances.
When To Use “Cheque”
Cheque isn’t commonly used in American English and is even considered a spelling error in some instances. It’s used only in financial contexts and only rarely, to avoid confusion.
However, cheque is the standard spelling in British English and has only been used in financial contexts since the early 19th century. Here is an example of the word cheque in use:
- The janitor who won the £10 million lottery was back at school a couple of days after he got his massive cheque.
- A person who owes his landlord rent for the past two months may say this, “Hey, my cheque for this month is going to arrive in two days, so I’ll pay once I cash in my cheque.”
The word “check” is still used in British English in phrases such as “check against,” “in check,” “check-in,” and “fact check.” If you’re a writer in Australia, Canada, or the U.K., you will use the spelling “cheque” for financial context and the spelling “check” for other contexts.
How To Remember the Difference: Cheque vs. Check
Still feeling confused about the difference between cheque and check? Don’t worry! We have an easy trick to remember the difference between a cheque or check.
In American English, cheque isn’t normally spelled with a “qu.” When writing academically or professionally, it is best to use the common spelling in the U.S. In all other countries, the financial noun should be cheque.
Different Types of Bank Cheques and Checks
There are also different types of bank checks/cheques, which can confuse someone who isn’t familiar with them. The most common question most people have is, “Why are there so many different types of bank cheques?”
This is mainly because a regular cheque vs. check doesn’t fit all situations. Some types of bank checks were created to address specific needs, while others were created because regular checks couldn’t be used or to ensure the beneficiary received the funds.
To clear up the confusion, we’re going to highlight the different types of bank checks/cheques used worldwide.
- Bearer Cheque: The bearer cheque is a check/cheque used to withdraw cash by the cheque owner. They are commonly used for a cash transaction.
- Order Cheque: The order check/cheque is withdrawn for the payee. Before it is withdrawn, the bank is going to cross-check the identity of the payee.
- Account Payee Cheque: The account payee cheque will have two parallel lines drawn, with a cross made on the cheque with the word “Account Payee” written between the parallel lines. The payment from the account payee cheque takes place on the company, firm, or person, on whose name the cheque was issued.
- Stale Cheque: The stale cheque is issued by the holder but hasn’t been withdrawn from the bank for three months. When that happens, the cheque becomes a stale cheque.
- Anti-Dated Cheque: The anti-dated cheque is issued for a nearby withdrawn date but has been withdrawn before the printed date on the cheque.
- Post-Dated Cheque: The post-dated cheque is issued by the holder to a payee for an upcoming withdrawn date.
- Manual Cheque: A manual cheque is filled out by hand for payee, date, amount, and memo. No printer or software required. It’s ideal for occasional or on-the-go payments.
- Company-Crossed Cheque: The company-crossed cheque is one that has two parallel lines drawn along with a cross made on the cheque. The payee can’t withdraw cash from the bank by using the cheque, as there is a cross made by the company on the cheque.
- Crossed Cheque: A crossed cheque is a cheque that has two parallel lines drawn at the top of the cheque. This type of cheque isn’t used for making payments in cash but is shown to the bank to transfer payment directly to the account of the payee.
Now that you’re familiar with cheque vs. check as well as the different types, you can learn how to order your own cheques!
The Future of Cheques/Checks
Technology has made a massive change in the lives of people all over the world, especially in the banking sector. This has resulted in a change in the cheques we use today for personal use and business transactions.
Nowadays, you can find checks processed as digital images, enabling mobile transactions. This adds greater convenience and also more security, so you can easily pay via a cheque whenever you want using a smartphone.
The Image Clearing System was introduced by the Cheque and Credit Clearing Company in the UK. This new technology is designed to help banks and building societies easily process checks as digital images, allowing checks to clear faster.
There are other changes expected in cheque imaging that will be introduced gradually. It offers convenient benefits, such as:
- Getting your money sooner
- More choices for paying via cheques
- Writing cheques digitally
- Stopping cheques digitally
With advanced technology, it’s safe to say that the future of checks is safe, and they are here to stay.
Print & Cheques Now: Cheque vs. Check
To summarize the difference between cheque and check in simple terms: both words refer to the same banking instrument used to transfer funds from one party to another. In financial terms, the distinction lies in usage, not meaning.
“Check” is the American spelling and has many meanings beyond banking (such as to verify or inspect), while “cheque” is the British and Canadian spelling and is used only in financial contexts.
- Check is the preferred spelling in American English for all contexts.
- Cheque is the preferred British English spelling for financial contexts.
There you have it! We hope to have resolved the matter regarding the main differences between check vs cheque. Now, you can browse through our products and cheque-related supplies today.