In American and Canadian English, plow is the preferred spelling of the farm implement and its related verbs. Plough is the preferred spelling in the main varieties of English from outside North America.





The spelling distinction applies to all senses of the word, including figurative ones. British and Australian writers always use plough, along with ploughed and ploughing; American and Canadian writers always use plow, plowed, and plowing. Both spellings are pronounced the same.

Examples

North America






In winter he plows the streets, and in spring he trims the trees. [The Atlantic] Russell confronted a man who had stolen a snow plow and was driving across the city. [Toronto Sun] Plowing through a stack of mail, he came to an envelope that read “This is not a bill.” [Washington Post]

Outside North America