curb and kerb - the difference

by Craig Shrives
The Quick Answer
To curb means to control or to limit. It is spelt the same way in British and American English.

When the word curb/kerb means the edging of a pavement (or a sidewalk), it is spelt curb in the US and Canada, but kerb outside North America.
Got it? Take a quick test.

Curb

The verb to curb means to control or to limit.

For example:
  • We must curb our spending next month.
  • The US will curb its influence over the next decade.
Even though it's not very common, there is a corresponding noun too. It means something that limits or controls.

For example:
  • It will be a curb on spending.
In this US, curb is used for the stone edging of a pavement (i.e. sidewalk). In British English, that word is spelt kerb.

Kerb

Americans don't need to worry about the word kerb. It doesn't exist in American English. However, for Brits, kerb is the stone edging of a pavement. For example:
  • She tripped over the curb. ()    ()
  • She tripped over the kerb. ()    ()
In this US, curb is used for the stone edging of a pavement (i.e. sidewalk). In British English, that word is spelt kerb.
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

Help Us To Improve Grammar Monster

  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.

See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose?
What are nouns? What are verbs? List of easily confused words