Grammar Entry 634 / 1011 60-second read

Orientate vs. Orient

BrE accepts orientate; US prefers orient.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

We will orientate new hires.

✓ Correct

We will orient new hires.

The ruleii

US: ORIENT. UK: either.

ORIENTATE is a valid British back-formation. American editors call it a needless extra syllable.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

US style = orient.

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