American vs British Spelling Differences. Have you ever noticed that some words are spelled differently in American and British English? If you have seen color in one place and colour in another, you are not alone! These variations can be confusing for English learners and even native speakers.
In this guide, we will explore the key American vs British spelling differences, from -or vs. -our to -ize vs. -ise. Whether you are writing for an international audience or just curious about the British and American spelling differences, you are in the right place.
American vs British Spelling Differences
Here are various differences between British and American English:
-or vs. -our
British English retains the -our ending, while American English simplifies it to -or.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| colour | color |
| honour | honor |
| favour | favor |
| behaviour | behavior |
| labour | labor |
-re vs. -er
British English words ending in -re often end in -er in American English.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| centre | center |
| metre | meter |
| litre | liter |
| theatre | theater |
ce vs. -se
Some nouns ending in -ce in British English change to -se in American English. (Verbs usually stay the same.)
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| defence | defense |
| licence (noun) | license |
| offence | offense |
| pretence | pretense |
-ll vs. -l (doubling consonants)
In British English, some verbs double the l before adding suffixes, while American English keeps a single l.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| travelling | traveling |
| cancelled | canceled |
| modelling | modeling |
| equalling | equaling |
However, words like compelling and propelling are the same in both versions.
-ogue vs. -og
American English sometimes shortens -ogue to -og.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| catalogue | catalog |
| dialogue | dialog |
| monologue | monolog |
However, some words, like analogue, remain unchanged in scientific contexts.
-ise vs. -ize
British English often uses -ise, while American English prefers -ize.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| realise | realize |
| organise | organize |
| analyse | analyze |
| recognise | recognize |
Note: Some British organizations (e.g., Oxford University Press) use -ize instead of -ise.
-yze vs. -yse
British English uses -yse, while American English changes it to -yze.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| analyse | analyze |
| paralyse | paralyze |
| catalyse | catalyze |
-ae and -oe vs. -e
British English keeps the ae and oe in some words, while American English simplifies them.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| encyclopaedia | encyclopedia |
| anaemia | anemia |
| oedema | edema |
| foetus | fetus |
Double vowels
British English often retains double vowels, while American English simplifies them.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| manoeuvre | maneuver |
| foetus | fetus |
| paediatric | pediatric |
Other Differences Between British and American English Spelling
Some words have unique spellings in British and American English.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| programme | program |
| cheque (banking) | check |
| grey | gray |
| tyre (car) | tire |
| plough | plow |
| jewellery | jewelry |
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