Writing Tips
http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Institutional Links
-
Translation Bureau
Language Portal of Canada
-
TERMIUM Plus®
-
Index U
- UFO
- UK
- U.K.
- ultra-
- ultraviolet
- UN
- U.N.
- un- (1)
- un- (2)
- unconscious of
- under (1)
- under (2)
- Underground Railroad
- Underground Railway
- under the circumstances
- under the provisions of
- under way
- underway
- under weigh
- undiscriminating
- unexpected surprise
- uni-
- unidentified flying object
- uniform resource locator
- uninterested
- unique
- unique to
- United Kingdom
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United Nations
- United States
- United States of America
- universal product code
- unlawful
- unsanitary
- unsatisfied
- until
- until such time as
- up
- up-and-coming
- UPC
- upcoming
- upgrade
- upon
- up on
- upper case
- uppercase
- upper-case
- upward
- upwards
- upwards of
- Urdu
- URL
- US
- U.S.
- USA
- U.S.A
- use
- used not to
- used to
- Usher of the Black Rod
- usual custom
- utilize
- UV
- UV index
Proactive Disclosure
Important notice
Writing Tips has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.
For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!
Search and Functionalities Area
use, utilize
Of these two verbs, use has a wider range of meaning and is suitable for most writing. The verb utilize emphasizes practicality, profitability or an unusual use. In North America, the spelling utilize is preferred to utilise.
- I did not use all the supplies you left me.
- The candidate will be expected to use (not utilize) a word processor.
- The reorganization enabled the company to utilize (or use) its resources more efficiently.
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
Writing tools – Writing Tips
A product of the Translation Bureau
