English in the Commonwealth of Nations

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The use of the English language in current and former member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations was largely inherited from British colonisation, with some exceptions. English serves as the medium of inter-Commonwealth relations and the language forms part of the common culture of Commonwealth countries.^[1][2]

Commonwealth English is a term that has sometimes been used to refer to English as practiced in the Commonwealth, most typically interchangeably with British English (but also to distinguish between British English and that in the rest of the Commonwealth).^[3] English in the Commonwealth is diverse, and many regions have developed their own local varieties of the language. In Cyprus, it does not have official status but is widely used as a lingua franca.^[4] English is spoken as a first or second language in most of the Commonwealth.

Written English in the current and former Commonwealth generally favours British English spelling as opposed to American English,^[5] with some exceptions, particularly in Canada, where there are strong influences from neighbouring American English.^[6] Few Commonwealth countries besides Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom have produced their own English dictionaries and style guides, and may rely on those produced in other countries.