🍁Canadian Writing Conventions — Quick Reference🍁

Canadian Writing Conventions — Quick Reference - image source - wix.com

1) Spelling

Pattern	Examples
-our	colour, flavour, neighbour, humour
-re	centre, theatre, metre, litre
-ize / -ization	organize, recognize, specialize, realize
Double l endings	travelling, cancelling, modelling, labelled
Licence / license	licence (n.), license (v.)
Practice / practise	practice (n.), practise (v.)
Canadian choices	cheque (bank), tire (car), aluminum, program

Tip: Pick Canadian forms and stay consistent.

2) 📅 Dates

• Plain-English: September 2, 2025

• Numeric (if necessary): 2025-09-02

• Date ranges: September 2–5, 2025 or September 2 to 5, 2025 Avoid: 02/09/25 or 09/02/25

3) ⏰ Times & Time Zones

• 12-hour: 9:00 a.m., 4:30 p.m., 9:00–11:30 a.m.

• 24-hour: 09:00, 16:30, 09:00–11:30

• Time zones: 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET or Pacific Time

• Use noon / midnight instead of 12:00 a.m./p.m.

4) Canadian Mailing Addresses

Format:

Name  

Unit-Street Number + Street Name + Type  

CITY PROV␣␣POSTAL CODE

Examples: 

Apartment: 

Emily Martin

10-1234 MAIN ST 

VANCOUVER BC

V6Z 2K1

House: 

Chloe Johnson

789 OAK AVE WINNIPEG MB

R3C 1A5

PO Box: 

Lucas Smith

PO BOX 456 STN A 

OTTAWA ON

K1A 0B1

International: 

Maya López 

55 KING ST W 

TORONTO ON

M5H 2N2 

CANADA

5) Job Titles

• Capitalize before names: Minister Renée Martin, Dr. Omar Khan

• Lowercase after names / generic: Renée Martin, minister of finance

• Formal: the Right Honourable [name], the Honourable [name]

6) Phone Numbers

• Standard: 604-555-0134

• Toll-free: 1-800-622-6232

• With extension: 613-555-0100 ext. 203

7) Email Signatures

Include: 

Name | Title / Team | Organization | Phone | Email | Address

Example (English): 

Ava Patel Program Coordinator, Community Services City of Calgary 403-555-0199 | ava.patel@calgary.ca 800 MACLEOD TR SE CALGARY AB T2G 2M3

Example (Bilingual): 

Liam O’Neill | Senior Policy Analyst Analyste principal des politiques |

Liam O’Neill Department / Ministère 613-555-0100 | liam.oneill@canada.ca 200 KENT ST OTTAWA ON K1A 0A6 Canada / Canada

8) Small Style Choices

• Numbers: 0.8 L; thousands: 12 500 or 12,500

• Abbreviations: September (not Sep.), approximately (not approx.)

• Headings: Title Case — Canadian Winter Parking Rules

Quick Checklists

Spelling

• -our, -re, -ize/-ization, double l endings

• licence (n.) / license (v.), practice (n.) / practise (v.)

Dates & Times

• Month day, year (September 2, 2025)

• Numeric: 2025-09-02

• 9:00 a.m. / 16:30; PT/ET

Addresses

• UNIT-STREET (10-1234 MAIN ST)

• CITY PROV␣␣A1A 1A1

• Province code = 2 letters (BC, ON, QC…)

Titles

• Capitalize before names; lowercase after names

Signature

• Name, title, organization, phone with hyphens, email, address

Let's apply these Canadian writing conventions in a CELPIP Writing Task 1 email scenario. I'll create a sample task and then write a model email that includes all the previously mentioned points.

CELPIP Writing Task 1 – Sample Email

You recently purchased a new tire from a local auto shop, but it appears to be defective. Write an email to the shop manager requesting a replacement and explaining the issue. Include the date of purchase, your contact information, and request a response.

Word limit: 150–200 words

Sample Email Using Canadian Writing Conventions

Task 1 – Sample 1: Request for Tire Replacement

Email:

Dear Mr. Thompson,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing regarding a tire I purchased from your store on September 2, 2025. The tire appears to have a manufacturing defect, as it loses air unusually quickly and shows signs of uneven wear.

I would like to request a replacement under the store’s warranty policy. Please let me know the procedure for returning the defective tire and receiving a new one.

For your reference, my purchase details are as follows:

• Tire model: All-Season X200

• Purchase date: September 2, 2025

• Receipt number: 12345678

You can reach me at 604-555-0134 or via email at emily.martin@example.com

My mailing address is:

Emily Martin

10-1234 MAIN ST

VANCOUVER BC

V6Z 2K1

Thank you for your attention.

I look forward to your reply at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Emily Martin

Customer

Task 1 – Sample 2: Reporting a Service Issue

You recently attended a workshop at a local community centre, but the projector was not working. Write an email to the centre manager explaining the issue and requesting a follow-up.

Email:

Subject: Follow-Up on Workshop Equipment Issue

Dear Ms. Patel,

I am writing to report an issue during the “Introduction to Photography” workshop on September 5, 2025. The projector in Room 3 was not functioning, which made it difficult for participants to follow the presentation.

I would appreciate it if the equipment could be checked and repaired for future sessions. Please advise if there is a procedure to report such issues formally.

You may contact me at 403-555-0199 or via email at emily.martin@example.com.

My address is:

Emily Martin

10-1234 MAIN ST

VANCOUVER BC

V6Z 2K1

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Emily Martin

🗒️ Notes on Canadian Writing Conventions

1. Spelling:

   “tire” (Canadian usage)

   “defective” spelled correctly, no Americanisms

2. Dates:

3. Used plain-English date: September 2, 2025

   Consistent formatting

4. Times & Time Zones:

5. Not applicable here, but if a callback time was included, it would follow 9:00 a.m./4:30 p.m. style

6. Canadian Mailing Addresses:

   Unit number before street number with hyphen: 10-1234 MAIN ST

   City, province code, and postal code on one line

7. Job Titles / Formality:

   Proper capitalization in greeting: Mr. Thompson

8. Phone Numbers:

   Correct Canadian format: 604-555-0134

9. Email Signature / Contact Info:

10. Name, phone, email, address included in professional format

11. Small Style Choices:

    Numbers written clearly

12. Plain-language, polite tone

    Spelling: Checked for Canadian usage (tire, cheque, programme avoided, aluminium)

13. Dates: Written in plain-English format, e.g., September 5, 2025

14. Times: 12-hour clock with a.m./p.m., if applicable

15. Titles: Capitalized when before name; formal tone used in greetings

16. Signatures: Name, contact info, and mailing address included