Bug 41534 - Terminology: Use US English spelling for cancel variants (canceled, canceling and cancellation) for consistency
Summary: Terminology: Use US English spelling for cancel variants (canceled, canceling...
Status: NEW
Alias: None
Product: Koha
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Staff interface (show other bugs)
Version: Main
Hardware: All All
: P5 - low normal
Assignee: Bugs List
QA Contact: Testopia
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2026-01-07 04:35 UTC by David Nind
Modified: 2026-01-07 06:14 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

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Text to go in the release notes:
Version(s) released in:
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Description David Nind 2026-01-07 04:35:45 UTC
The OPAC and staff interface use a mix of the British English spelling and US English spelling for cancel variants (canceled, canceling, cancellation).

We should use the typical US English spelling for consistency.

The British English spelling (with double ls):
- cancelled
- cancelling
- cancellation (same for both British and US English)

The US English spelling (typical spelling):
- canceled
- canceling
- cancellation (same for both British and US English)

Reference:
- Miriam-Webster Dictonary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cancelled
Comment 1 David Nind 2026-01-07 04:39:27 UTC
grep command for locating British English or incorrect spelling of cancel variants:

git grep -in "cancelled" -- ':!*.js' ':!*.map'
git grep -in "cancelling" -- ':!*.js' ':!*.map'
git grep -in "cancelation" -- ':!*.js' ':!*.map'
Comment 2 David Nind 2026-01-07 06:14:09 UTC
Some areas (not exhaustive) where British English spelling is used.

System preference descriptions
==============================

These system preferences use "cancelling" in the description:
- AcqItemSetSubfieldsWhenReceiptIsCancelled
- CancelOrdersInClosedBaskets
- TransferWhenCancelAllWaitingHolds

These system preferences use "cancelled" in the description:
- HoldCancellationRequestSIP
- SearchCancelledAndInvalidISBNandISSN (and in the system preference name)

Authorized values
=================

AR_CANCELLATION authorized values category:
- OPAC authorized value: description is "Cancelled from the OPAC user page"

ERM_AGREEMENT_CLOSURE_REASON authorized values category:
- cancelled: authorized value and description

User interface
==============

ERM
---

ERM module > Agreements > New agreement:
- Status: select closed
- Closure reason: Cancelled

Circulation - Bookings
----------------------

1. Enable the booking module
2. Make Books bookable
3. Place a booking for a record
4. Note the filters on the bookings section: Exclude cancelled
5. Note in the status column: "Cancelled: Whatever you entered for the cancellation reason" 

Circulation - Recalls
---------------------

1. Enable Recalls
2. Set a circulation and fines rule
3. Check out an item to a patron
4. Create a recall, and then cancel it in the staff interface
5. On the record in the staff interface, cancel the recall: Recalls > Actions > Cancel
6. In the last column it shows as "Cancelled"
7. Go to: [the patron that created the recall] > Recalls history: note that in the status column there is "Cancelled on [date]"
8. Go to: [the patron account in the OPAC > Recalls history: note that in the status column there is "Cancelled on [date]"
9. Go to: Circulation > Recalls > Old recalls: note that in the status column there is "Cancelled on [date]"

Patrons - Accounting
--------------------

1. Go to a patron's account
2. Create a manual invoice
3. From the transactions tab, Actions > Cancel charge
4. Note in the 'Account type' column:
   - Cancelled charge (for the transaction to cancel the charge)
   - Manual fee (Cancelled charge) (for the original charge)

Administration - Jobs
---------------------

Status column for a canceled job - shown as "Cancelled"

Article requests
----------------

1. Enable the ArticleRequests system preference
2. Place an article request for a patron on a record
3. Go to Circulation > Patron request > Article requests
4. Cancel the request: Actions > Cancel request
5. In the dialog box, for the cancellation reason select "Cancelled from the OPAC user page"

Acquisitions - "Cancelled orders" heading should be "Canceled orders"
---------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Go to the basket for My Vendor
2. Add an order
3. In the "Cancel order" column, click "Cancel order" for the order
4. Note the heading for a section of the basket is "Cancelled orders", instead of "Canceled orders"

Other places
============

From using just regular case-insensitive searches, cancelling and cancelled are used the most:
- canceled: 246
- cancelled: 942
- canceling: 10
- cancelling: 106
- cancellation: 1111
- cancelation: 3

Other things
============

Should we fix code comments and coded values?
- I think there is too many of them, and little gain from doing so.

Should we fix notices?

For UNIMARC installer data, should this be left as cancelled/cancelling? I think so, as UNIMARC is not used by the US (as far as I'm aware).

Previous release notes would be left as they are.

All the tests use a mix, but predominately with double ls.