Shovelling or Shoveling: Two Spellings, One Meaning

If you are writing about clearing snow, moving soil, or using a shovel, you may wonder whether the correct spelling is shovelling or shoveling.

The good news is that both spellings are correct. The difference is mainly regional: shovelling is the standard form in British English, while shoveling is the usual American English form. Canadian English can use both, although shovelling is commonly preferred in Canadian usage.

So, neither spelling is a mistake. The best choice depends on the variety of English you are using and, in formal writing, the spelling style you want to follow.

Table of Contents

Shovelling or Shoveling: Quick Answer

Shovelling and shoveling are both correct spellings of the present participle and gerund of shovel.

Shovelling — mainly British English
Shoveling — mainly American English
Canadian English — both forms occur, with shovelling commonly used
Meaning — using a shovel to move something such as snow, soil, sand, or coal

Oxford lists shovelling as the standard form and shoveling as the US English form. Its American dictionary also notes shovelling as the usual Canadian form.

For example:

We spent the morning shovelling snow from the driveway.

We spent the morning shoveling snow from the driveway.

Both sentences are correct. The spelling simply reflects different English conventions.

What Does Shovelling or Shoveling Mean?

Shovelling and shoveling mean using a shovel to lift, move, remove, or transfer loose material.

The material could be:

snow
soil
sand
coal
gravel
dirt
rubble

The verb comes from shovel, which can refer to both the tool and the action of moving material with it. Cambridge defines the verb as moving something with a shovel and gives snow as one common example.

The word can also have a figurative meaning. For example:

He was shoveling food into his mouth.

Here, the person is not literally using a shovel. The phrase suggests that someone is eating very quickly or in large amounts.

Why Are There Two Spellings?

The difference comes from the way British and American English handle the final consonant when adding -ing to certain verbs.

British English often doubles the final l:

shovel → shovelling

American English usually keeps one l:

shovel → shoveling

The same pattern appears in several other words:

British English	American English
shovelling	shoveling
travelled	traveled
travelling	traveling
labelled	labeled
cancelled	canceled

This is a spelling difference, not a difference in meaning or pronunciation. Oxford specifically lists shovelling and shoveling as the respective forms used in British and US English.

Shovelling or Shoveling in Canada

If you are writing for a Canadian audience, shovelling is a safe and natural choice.

Canadian English often shares spelling features with British English while also being influenced by American English. In the case of shovel, Oxford’s American dictionary specifically identifies shovelling as the usual Canadian form.

Therefore, you may see:

I spent two hours shovelling snow this morning.

That spelling is perfectly appropriate for Canadian English.

However, shoveling is also understandable and may appear in Canadian writing, especially because American spelling is widely encountered in North America. The important point is that Canadian usage does not make the word’s meaning different.

Which spelling should Canadians use?

For formal Canadian writing, shovelling is a strong choice when following Canadian spelling conventions. If an organization has its own style guide, however, follow that guide consistently.

Shovelling vs. Shoveling in British and American English

The easiest way to remember the difference is to connect each spelling with its English variety.

British English: shovelling

British dictionaries list shovelling as the standard form. Oxford gives the form as:

shovel → shovelling → shovelled

American English: shoveling

American English normally uses one l:

shovel → shoveling → shoveled

Neither form is more correct in every situation. Instead, choose the spelling that matches your target audience.

If your website follows British English, use shovelling. If you write primarily for American readers, use shoveling.

Shovelling or Shoveling Snow

Both shovelling snow and shoveling snow are correct.

The phrase means removing or moving snow with a shovel, usually from an area such as a driveway, sidewalk, path, or entrance.

British English

The neighbours were shovelling snow from the pavement.

American English

The neighbors were shoveling snow from the driveway.

The spelling changes, but the meaning remains the same. Oxford uses shovel snow as an example of the verb’s ordinary use.

Snow shovelling is therefore natural in British and Canadian English, while snow shoveling is common in American English.

Shoveling Pronunciation

The pronunciation of shoveling is straightforward.

It is pronounced approximately:

SHUV-uh-ling

The dictionary pronunciation is represented as /ˈʃʌvlɪŋ/ in Oxford’s entry for shovelling.

Importantly, shovelling and shoveling are not normally pronounced differently simply because one has two ls and the other has one. The extra l is a spelling difference.

The base word shovel is pronounced approximately SHUV-uhl. Cambridge gives the pronunciation as /ˈʃʌv.əl/.

Shovelling Synonyms

The best synonym depends on what you are describing. There is no single synonym that works perfectly in every sentence.

Useful alternatives include:

digging — when removing or breaking up soil
clearing — especially when removing snow or debris
moving — when focusing on transferring material
scooping — when lifting material with a shovel or similar tool
excavating — for more formal or technical digging
removing — when the main idea is getting material out of an area

For example:

She was shovelling snow from the driveway.

could become:

She was clearing snow from the driveway.

However, clearing does not always mean the same physical action as shovelling. It is better to choose a synonym based on the exact context rather than replacing the word automatically.

Shovel Someone Meaning

The phrase shovel someone is different from shoveling snow.

The basic verb shovel normally refers to moving material with a shovel. However, English also uses shovel in figurative expressions.

For example:

He shoveled food into his mouth.

This means he ate quickly or put food into his mouth in a hurried way. Oxford gives this figurative use as an example of the verb.

If someone says “shovel someone” by itself, the meaning depends heavily on the sentence and context. It is not normally a standard phrase meaning “to push someone.” The verb shove is the word that means to push someone or something forcefully.

So, do not confuse:

shovel = move something with a shovel

shove = push someone or something forcefully

That small spelling difference changes the meaning completely.

Shovelling and Shoveling: Verb Forms

Understanding the other forms of shovel makes the spelling difference easier to remember.

Verb form	British English	American English
Base form	shovel	shovel
Third-person singular	shovels	shovels
Past tense	shovelled	shoveled
Past participle	shovelled	shoveled
-ing form	shovelling	shoveling

Oxford lists shovelled and shovelling as the British forms, while shoveled and shoveling are the US forms.

Notice that the base verb does not change:

shovel

The difference appears when the ending is added.

Common Mistakes With Shovelling and Shoveling

One common mistake is assuming that one spelling must be wrong. It is not.

For example:

❌ Shoveling is always wrong.

That is incorrect. Shoveling is the normal American English spelling.

❌ Shovelling is always wrong because American English uses one l.

That is also incorrect. Shovelling is standard in British English and is also used in Canadian English.

Another mistake is mixing spelling styles within the same piece of formal writing. If you choose British English, it is usually better to stay consistent with forms such as shovelling, travelled, labelled, and cancelled. If you choose American English, use the corresponding American forms.

Consistency makes your writing look more polished.

Examples of Shovelling and Shoveling in Sentences

Here are some natural examples:

British English

We were shovelling snow before the roads became busy.

He spent the afternoon shovelling soil into the garden beds.

They were shovelling gravel into the truck.

American English

We were shoveling snow before the roads became busy.

He spent the afternoon shoveling soil into the garden beds.

They were shoveling gravel into the truck.

The meaning stays the same in each pair. Only the spelling changes.

In everyday writing, the choice usually comes down to your audience rather than grammar.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Use shovelling if you are following British English or want the spelling commonly associated with Canadian English.

Use shoveling if you are following American English.

For websites, schools, businesses, and professional publications, consistency matters more than trying to make one spelling universal. If your existing content uses British spelling, shovelling will fit naturally. If your content follows American spelling, choose shoveling.

The simplest rule is:

British/Canadian style → shovelling

American style → shoveling

Both are legitimate English spellings, so you do not need to worry about choosing the “wrong” word when the spelling matches your chosen variety of English.

FAQs

1. What does shoveling mean?

Shoveling means using a shovel to move, lift, remove, or transfer loose material such as snow, soil, sand, or dirt.

2. Is it snow shovelling or snow shoveling?

Both are correct. Snow shovelling is common in British and Canadian English, while snow shoveling is the usual American English form.

3. Is shovelling or shoveling used in Canada?

Both can be found in Canada, but shovelling is commonly preferred in Canadian usage. Oxford specifically notes shovelling as the usual Canadian form.

4. What is a synonym for shovelling?

Depending on the context, possible synonyms include clearing, digging, scooping, moving, and removing.

5. What does shoveling snow mean?

Shoveling snow means using a shovel to remove or move snow, usually from a driveway, sidewalk, path, or other surface.

6. How do you pronounce shoveling?

Shoveling is pronounced approximately SHUV-uh-ling, with the dictionary pronunciation given as /ˈʃʌvlɪŋ/.

7. What does shoveling snow mean?

It means clearing snow with a shovel. For example, someone may shovel snow from a driveway after a heavy snowfall.

8. What does shovel someone mean?

Shovel someone is not normally a standard expression with one fixed meaning. The verb shovel usually refers to moving material with a shovel. In figurative expressions such as shovel food into your mouth, it can mean putting something somewhere quickly or carelessly.

9. Is shovelling or shoveling correct?

Both are correct. Shovelling is mainly used in British English, while shoveling is the standard American English form.

10. Is shovelling British English and shoveling American English?

Yes. Shovelling is the standard British spelling, while shoveling is the standard American spelling. Canadian English commonly uses shovelling as well.

Final Answer

Shovelling and shoveling are both correct. Shovelling is the standard British English spelling and is also commonly used in Canadian English, while shoveling is the usual American English form.

Both forms mean using a shovel to move something such as snow, soil, sand, or rubble. The pronunciation and meaning remain essentially the same; the difference is mainly a regional spelling convention.

If you are writing for a British or Canadian audience, choose shovelling. For American English, choose shoveling. Most importantly, keep your spelling style consistent throughout your writing.