-ll-

-l-, -ll-

Much confusion is caused by differing spelling practice in BrE and AmE in verbs of two syllables pronounced with the stress on the second syllable, e.g. enthrall/enthral and fulfil/fulfill. Practice varies even within each variety of English; the following table lists the recommended spellings:

BrE / AmE

annul / annul

appal / appall

befall / befall

distil / distill

enrol / enroll

enthral / enthrall

extol / extol

fulfil / fulfill

install / install

instil / instill

The recommended spellings for nouns in -ment are:

BrE / AmE

annulment / annulment

enrolment / enrollment

enthralment / enthrallment

extolment / extolment

fulfilment / fulfillment

instalment / installment

instilment / instillment

For the spelling of inflected forms of verbs in -l (appal, appalled, appalling, etc.) see doubling of final consonants in inflection.