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Program or Programme?
What Is the Difference between "Program" and "Programme"?
"Program" and "programme" are easy to confuse if you're following UK writing conventions. ("Programme" is not used in the US.)For American English:
- Use "program" for everything.
- Use "program" for anything to do with computers.
- It is a useful program to delete old files.
- I taught myself to program in JavaScript.
- Use "program" when you need a verb.
- I will program you in for 1 o'clock.
- Use "programme" for an itinerary, TV show, radio show, or a collection of work projects.
- There is a funny news programme on the radio later.
- The government programme to remove the waste has three separate projects.

More about "Program" and "Programme"
Use "Program" for Computers
For anything to do with a computer, use "program." For example:- Do you know how to program the computer?
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(Here, "program" is a verb.)
- A sheet of paper and a box of crayons provide a more expressive medium for kids than a computerized paint program. (Astronomer Clifford Stoll)
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Use "Program" for Verbs
"Program" can be a verb. "Programme" is never a verb. For example:- Do you know how to program the alarm?
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(Usually, this will have something to do with computers.)
- Please program the team-building exercises before the lunch.
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(It's not always about computers though.)
Brits, Use "Programme" for Itinerary, Show, or Collection of Projects
In the UK, "programme" is used for an itinerary, a show (usually TV or radio), or a collection of work projects. For example:- It looks like an entertaining programme tonight.
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- Family Guy is one of my favourite programmes.
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(Family Guy is one of my favorite programs. - The person who leaked the secret programme is in hiding.
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(Here, "programme" means a collection of work projects.)
- I'm glad the President finally found an economic development program. I'm just sad that it's only in Baghdad. (Politician John Kerry)
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"Programmed" and "Programming"
In the US and UK, use "programmed" and "programming."Programmed. Use "programmed" for the past tense and past participle of "to program." For example:
- He programmed the system you had programmed.
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(The first "programmed" is the simple past tense. The second is a past participle.)
- Programming the computer, he said that he enjoyed programming.
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(The first "programming" is a present participle. The second is a gerund.)
A Video Summary
Here is a short video summarizing this lesson on "program" and "programme."A Video Summary
Watch a video showing 10 big differences between British English and American English.Ready for the Test?
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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? cannot or can not? who's or whose? What are nouns? What are verbs? List of easily confused wordsPage URL