Words like colour, honour and centre will end up with a red line below them if you use spell check on your computer, but as a Canadian you need to know when not to rely on your American word processing software.
CTV News asked a number of Edmontonians to spell the word colour, but time and time again we got the wrong answer, with the majority of people spelling it the American way, color.
However, many didn't know they were spelling it wrong.
"This is the right way, if I put a 'u' it's not the right way, underline red," said Jennifer Chan.
American word processors do not include Canadian spellings and that's why Toronto city councillor, Howard Moscoe, is pushing Microsoft for a Canadian version of their popular Word software.
"We've got American television channels and we see that kind of spelling before us one way or another all the time," said Larry Langley a former Edmonton city councillor.
During this time in council in the 90s Langley, made a motion to require all civic signs to use Canadian spellings.
"I saw it coming up so often at City Hall," said Langley. "I said 'Well lets at least agree what we're going to do with it and I guess we still haven't."
Many point to the education system for not emphasizing the Canadian spelling of words.
"I'm young enough that I should be knowing it so I think we need to put some more Canadian influence in our schools," said Kim Schneider.
With files from Bill Fortier
