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Important American and British Spelling Differences You Should Know

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The list below shows important american and british spelling differences in English you should know.

It can be said that American English has the more economical and phonetic spelling. Unnecessary letters are left out and words are spelled how they sound.

Here are some of the main differences in the spellings.

American and British Spelling Differences

Words ending in -or vs. -our

American English vs. British English:

  • Armor – Armour
  • Behavior – Behaviour
  • Color – Colour
  • Endeavor – Endeavour
  • Favorite – Favourite
  • Flavor – Flavour
  • Glamor – Glamour
  • Honor – Honour
  • Humor – Humour
  • Labor – Labour
  • Neighbor – Neighbour
  • Odor – Odour
  • Rumor – Rumour
  • Savor – Savour
  • Splendor – Splendour
  • Vigor – Vigour

Words ending in -ll vs. -l

American English vs. British English:

  • Enrollment – Enrolment
  • Fulfill – Fulfil
  • Jewelry – Jewellery
  • Skillful – Skilful

Words ending in -og vs. -ogue

American English vs. British English:

  • Analog – Analogue
  • Boogeyman – Bogeyman
  • Catalog – Catalogue
  • Dialog – Dialogue

Words ending in -ck or -k vs. -que

American English vs. British English:

  • Bank – Banque
  • Check – Cheque
  • Checker – Chequer

Words ending in -ze vs. -se

American English vs. British English:

  • Analyze – Analyse
  • Apologize – Apologise
  • Criticize – Criticise
  • Memorize – Memorise
  • Minimize – Minimise
  • Organize – Organise
  • Paralyze – Paralyse
  • Patronize – Patronise
  • Prize – Prise
  • Realize – Realise
  • Recognize – Recognise
  • Socialize – Socialise
  • Specialize – Specialise

Words ending in -er vs. -re

American English vs. British English:

  • Center – Centre
  • Amphitheater – Amphitheatre
  • Caliber – Calibre
  • Fiber – Fibre
  • Kilometer – Kilometre
  • Liter – Litre
  • Louver – Louvre
  • Luster – Lustre
  • Maneuver – Manoeuvre
  • Meager – Meagre
  • Meter – Metre
  • Saber – Sabre
  • Scepter – Sceptre
  • Somber – Sombre
  • Theater – Theatre

Words ending in -e vs. -oe or -ae

American English vs. British English:

  • Encylopedia – Encycopaedia
  • Estrogen – Oestrogen
  • Leukemia – Leukaemia
  • Maneuver – Manoeuvre
  • Medieval – Mediaeval
  • Pediatric – Paediatric

Words ending in -dg vs. -dge (or -g vs. -gu)

American English vs. British English:

  • Aging – Ageing
  • Argument – Argument
  • Judgment – Judgement

Words ending in -ed vs. -t

American English vs. British English:

  • Dreamed – Dreamt
  • Burned – Burnt
  • Learned – Learnt

Words ending in -ense vs. -ence

American English vs. British English:

  • Defense – Defence
  • License – Licence
  • Offense – Offence
  • Pretense – Pretence

Words ending in a vowel plus -l

American English vs. British English:

  • Counseling – Counselling
  • Equaling – Equalling
  • Fueled – Fuelled
  • Fueling – Fuelling
  • Modeling – Modelling
  • Quarreling – Quarrelling
  • Signaling – Signalling
  • Traveled – Travelled
  • Traveler – Traveller
  • Traveling – Travelling

Important American and British Spelling Differences | Image

American and British Spelling Differences

American and British Spelling Differences

American and British Spelling Differences

American and British Spelling Differences

American and British Spelling Differences

 

Author

Heidi

Saturday 30th of September 2017

Uk English doesn't spell meter and other er ending words re that is French! Also some of the words are just old fashioned versions that don't get used much anymore.

old tom

Saturday 25th of April 2020

in the English form of spelling in 1600-1800 when they were compiling the spelling, to make the book that turned in to The Oxford Dictionary, that the spelling of a word to be as of origin e.g french german, Italian even word taken from there former colonies like dingy, bungalow from India.