BRITISH VS AMERICAN

BRITISH VS AMERICAN

There are several areas in which British and American spelling are different. The differences often come about because British English has tended to keep the spelling of words it has absorbed from other languages (e.g. French), while American English has adapted the spelling to reflect the way that the words actually sound when they're spoken.

Words ending in –re British English words that end in -re often end in -er in American English: British US centre center fibre fiber litre liter theatre theater or theatre

Words ending in -our British English words ending in -our usually end in -or in American English: British US colour color flavour flavor humour humor labour labor neighbour neighbor

Words ending in -ize or -ise Verbs in British English that can be spelled with either -ize or -ise at the end are always spelled with -ize at the end in American English: British US apologize or apologise apologize organize or organise organize recognize or recognise recognize

Words ending in a vowel plus lIn British spelling, verbs ending in a vowel plus l double the l when adding endings that begin with a vowel. In American English, the l is not doubled: British US travel travel travelled traveled travelling traveling traveller traveler

Words spelled with double vowelsBritish English words that are spelled with the double vowels ae or oe are just spelled with an e in American English: British US leukaemia leukemia manoeuvre maneuver oestrogen estrogen paediatric pediatric

Nouns ending with –enceSome nouns that end with -ence in British English are spelled -ense in American English: British US defence defense licence license offence offense pretence pretense

Nouns ending with –ogueSome nouns that end with -ogue in British English end with either -og or -oguein American English: British US analogue analog or analogue catalogue catalog or catalogue dialogue dialog or dialogue