The words ‘curb’ and ‘kerb’ sound the same. However, they’re spelled differently and mean different things. And to make things more confusing, ‘curb’ is used differently in American English.
All of this means it’s easy to get ‘curb’ and ‘kerb’ confused. To ensure your writing is always error free, then, check out our guide to using these terms correctly in Australian English.
As a verb, ‘curb’ means ‘limit or restrain something unwanted’. For example, we could use it to describe cracking down on something:
Police have increased patrols to curb vandalism.
‘Curb’ can also be a noun that refers to a limit or restraint placed on something. For instance, we could say:
You need to put a curb on your bad behaviour.
So in Australian English, the word ‘curb’ always refers to limiting or restraining something. This applies as both a noun and a verb.
The word ‘kerb’ is always a noun and refers to the raised edge of a pavement or path. For instance, we might say:
I nearly tripped on the kerb while crossing the road.
This spelling is standard in Australian English (and in most English dialects outside North America). However, it is never used in American English.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
American English uses the spelling ‘curb’ for both limitations and the edge of a pavement (or ‘sidewalk’ if we’re going full American here).
In the US, then, people would write:
I nearly tripped on the curb while crossing the road.
You’ll often see ‘curb’ used like this online. However, this would be incorrect in Australian English, where the correct spelling is ‘kerb’.
If you’re using Australian English, or writing for an Australian audience, make sure to distinguish between ‘curb’ and ‘kerb’.
The key is that the raised edge of a pavement or path is known as a ‘kerb’ in Australia. ‘Curb’, meanwhile, is a verb meaning ‘limit or restrain’. In American English, meanwhile, the spelling ‘curb’ is correct in both cases. Remember:
Curb = Limit or restrain
Kerb = Raised edge of path or pavement
Δ
9-minute read
Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...
8-minute read
Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...
7-minute read
Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...
Effective professional communication is an important skill for contractors and freelancers navigating remote work environments....
3-minute read
Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...
2-minute read
If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...