Important Spelling Variations You Should Know!
Isn’t it annoying when you type a word and your computer decides that the spelling is wrong and underlines it in red? You sit there, staring at it, questioning its existence, but to no avail. Finally, you decide to check the spelling and it turns out that the spelling is correct. It’s just the variation in spelling between the British and American way – and your computer accepts the American one.
I’m listing the major spelling differences along with the rules here:
- Words that end in ‘–re’ in British English often have the last two letters reversed when spelled in American English.
| British English
amphitheatre |
American English
amphitheater |
- The British way of spelling uses the ‘–nce’ ending while the American way is to use ‘–nse’.
| defence | defense |
| offence | offense |
| pretence | pretense |
| vice | vise |
| licence | license |
| practise | practice |
- Words that end in ‘-ise’ in British English change to‘-ize’ in American English.
| 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 |
- Americans have dropped the double ‘-ll’ system whereas the British have still retained it.
| cancelled counsellor equalled fuelling fuelled grovelling jeweller jewellery levelled libelled marvellous modelling panelled quarrelling revelled woollen |
canceled counselor equaled fueling fueled groveling jeweler jewelry or jewelery leveled libeled marvelous modeling paneled quarreling reveled woolen |
- The British retain the more complex way of spelling and use ‘-ae’ and ‘–oe’. These change to ‘-e’ in the U.S.
| diarrhoea oestrogen foetus manoeuvre mementoes anaemia caesarean gynaecology haemorrhage leukaemia palaeontology paediatric |
diarrhea estrogen fetus maneuver mementos anemia cesarean gynecology hemorrhage leukemia paleontology pediatric |
- Words that end in ‘-our’ in British English change to ‘–or’ in American English. The ‘u’ is dropped.
| 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 |
So the next time a red line pops up below a word, do not doubt yourself, refer to the list above!