Unit 36: British / American spelling differences
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To further complicate things Australia, Canada and New Zealand and other English speaking countries can be the same as either British or US spellings but it depends on the word. Look for the flags below to see which spellings these countries use. If you live in another English speaking country not shown here you should check a local dictionary for advice.
This first set of words (also referred to in Unit 25) shows how British our endings change to US or:
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| armour armoury behaviour candour clamour colour demeanour endeavour favourite flavour glamour harbour honour humour labour neighbour odour rancour rigour rumour saviour savour savoury splendour valour vapour vigour |
armor armory behavior candor clamor color demeanor endeavor favorite flavor glamor harbor honor humor labor neighbor odor rancor rigor rumor savior savor savory splendor valor vapor vigor |
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This second set (also referred to in Unit 25) shows how British re endings change to (a more logical) US er, coming in line with many others in our language:
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| amphitheatre calibre centimetre centre fibre kilometre litre louvre lustre manoeuvre meagre metre millimetre sabre sceptre sombre spectre theatre |
amphitheater caliber centimeter center fiber kilometer liter louver luster maneuver meager meter millimeter saber scepter somber specter theater |
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Some words have to retain their original spelling. Can you think why by looking at these examples?
Click here for the answer. |
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The simplification continues with ogue endings changing to og:
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| analogue dialogue catalogue epilogue monologue prologue travelogue |
analog  dialog catalog epilog monolog prolog travelog |
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| Note: -ogue can sometimes be used in the USA Analog is sometimes used in all countries when writing about electronics. |
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And again to reduce the need for doubling:
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| cancelled counsellor equalled fuelling fuelled grovelling jeweller jewellery levelled libelled marvellous modelling panelled quarrelling revelled woollen |
canceled counselor equaled fueling fueled groveling jeweler jewelery leveled libeled marvelous modeling paneled quarreling reveled woolen |
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| appal distil enrol enthral fulfil instil skilful wilful |
appall distill enroll enthrall fulfill instill skillful willful |
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ae and oe words get in on the act too:
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| diarrhoea oestrogen foetus manoeuvre  mementoes anaemia caesarean gynaecology haemorrhage leukaemia palaeontology paediatric |
diarrhea estrogen fetus maneuver mementos anemia cesarean gynecology hemorrhage leukemia paleontology pediatric |
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ize endings are increasingly creeping into British English spelling but other than the examples in the table, we would normally use -ise in British spelling and -ize in American:
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| appetiser authorise capitalise characterise civilise colonise criticise dramatise emphasise equalise mobilise naturalise organise popularise realise recognise satirise standardise symbolise vaporise ************** analyse paralyse |
appetizer authorize capitalize characterize civilize colonize criticize dramatize emphasize equalize mobilize naturalize organize popularize realize recognize satirize standardize symbolize vaporize ************** analyze paralyze |
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Some words are the same in both countries:
size
capsize prize seize ************** advise surprise advertise |
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| Some people are more accepting of British spellers using the -ize endings than others so beware. | ||||
You may remember from Unit 20 that in British English, the spelling of the soft c can be produced by either spelling -ce or -se. Our choice may be determined by their word function (here, noun or verb):
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| defence | defense |
| offence | offense |
| pretence | pretense |
| vice (workbench tool) |
vise |
| licence (as a noun): I've lost my driving licence. |
license (noun and verb) |
| license (as a verb) is
the same in both countries: He is licensed to drive large trucks |
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| practise (as a verb): I practise the piano every day. |
practice (noun and verb) |
| practice (as a noun)
is the same in both countries: Get practice in these words. |
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And finally, some more examples for you to learn:
| Spelling change |  |
 |
| ph > f | sulphate sulphide sulphur |
sulfate sulfide sulfur |
| ugh > f or w | draught plough | draft plow |
| y > i | tyre (on a wheel) gybe | tire jibe |
| ou > o | mould moult smoulder |
mold molt smolder |
| mme > m | programme | program computer program is spelt the same everywhere |
| que > ck | cheque (money) chequer (game) |
check checker |
| ge > g | acknowledgement ageing judgement |
acknowledgment aging judgment |
| Miscellaneous: | aluminium | aluminum |
| axe | ax | |
| cosy | cozy | |
| kerb (edge of road) | curb | |
| furore | furor | |
| grey | gray | |
| carat | (gold) karat | |
| liquorice | licorice | |
| moustache | mustache | |
| pyjamas | pajamas | |
| sceptic | skeptic | |
| phial | vial |
Some believe that with the growth of the internet that American spellings will become the most used. What is for certain, is that Spellzone will watch the changes with interest.
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What next? The links below give you a choice or activity. You can select British or American spellings – or indeed both! |
Go to the test:
British spellings
The Spellzone interactive course is intended to be used online and may not be printed.
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