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American and British English: differences in spelling

A number of words end in -our in British English and -or in American English. Some words end in -er in American English and -re in British English. Many verbs which end in -ize in American English can be spelt in British English with -ize or -ise. In British English -I is doubled in an unstressed syllable before a suffix beginning with a vowel, while in American English it is not doubled.

Some of the commonest words with different spellings are given below.

American EnglishBritish English
Aluminum Aluminium
Analyze Analyse
Catalog(ue) Catalogue
Center Centre
Check Cheque
Color Colour
Defense Defence
Dialog/ dialogue Dialogue
Favor Favour
Flavor Flavour
Honor Honour
Jewelry Jewellery
Labor Labour
Meter Metre
Pajamas Pyjamas
Paralyze Paralyse
Practice, practise Practise
Program Programme
Realize Realise/ realize
Theater Theatre
Tire Tyre
Traveler Traveller

Sections In This Article

American and British English: differences in grammar - I
American and British English: differences in grammar - II
American and British English: differences in vocabulary - I
American and British English: differences in vocabulary - II
American and British English: differences in vocabulary - III
American and British English: differences in vocabulary - IV
American and British English: differences in usage - I
American and British English: differences in usage - II
American and British English: differences in spelling
 

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