Licence and License
There is often confusion over the words 'licence' and 'license'. In order to understand which to use, you must know the difference between a
noun and a verb. This is because
'licence' is a noun; whereas, 'license' is a verb. However, there are tricks to get around this.
(See Hot Tip right.)
Examples:
 This restaurant is licensed to sell alcohol.
(licensed - from the verb)
("This restaurant is allowed to sell alcohol" < sounds ok; licensed is correct)
Can I see your driving licence please?
('licence' - noun)
("Can I see your driving card/papers?" < sounds ok; licence is correct)
"licensed" (correct version - from the verb 'to license')
(sign outside a public house)
I am unable to give you a license because of your history.
("...to give you an allow/allowing/allowed..." < nonsense; license is wrong.)
("...to give you a card/allowance/papers..." < sounds ok; should be licence)
This is not worth losing your licence over.
Select the correct version (using UK convention):
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A LITTLE TRICK TO SPOT LICENCE
Try using the word 'card' (or 'papers') instead of 'licence'. If the sentence still makes sense, then
'licence' is almost certainly correct.
(This trick works because 'licence' is a noun, just like the words 'card' and 'papers'.)
A LITTLE TRICK TO SPOT LICENSE
Try using the verb 'to allow' (in its various forms; e.g., allowing, allowed,
allows) instead of 'license'. If the sentence still makes sense, then 'license' is almost certainly correct. However, if you find yourself using
'allowance' then you should be using 'licence', because both are nouns. (This trick works because
'to license' is a verb, just like 'to allow'.)
NO CONFUSION
There should be no confusion with licensing or licensed. The endings ing and ed mean these are always from the verb; i.e. there are no such words as licencing or licenced in British or American English.
LICENSE IN AMERICA
In American English, 'license' is both noun and verb.
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