ECG and EKG are two terms that refer to exactly the same medical procedure, which is used to measure the electrical activity of the heart. In short, the terms are used differently based on the region. The main difference lies in the spelling and pronunciation, not in the tool’s purpose or function. In the United States, Canada, and several other countries, the term EKG is more commonly used. EKG stands for "electrocardiogram" and reflects the German spelling of the word "cardiogram." This is attributed to the historical influence of German scientists in the field of cardiology. In contrast, ECG stands for "electrocardiogram" and is more widely used in international medical literature, as well as in countries with a British English influence such as South Africa, India and New Zealand.