American English differs vastly from British English in spelling, pronunciation, usage and punctuation. The idea originated with a view to develop a national language with its very own identity. The Americans have simplified spellings by dropping or interchanging some letters, yet the dictates of phonetics are still dominant.
For instance words ending in “our” in British English becomes “or” in the American form. Example: Colour – Color, Labour – Labor.
Similar patterns are seen in the following:
“ise” becomes “ize” standardise/standardize
“tre” becomes “ter” centre/center
“ae” becomes “e” encyclopaedia/encyclopedia
“ce” becomes “se” licence/license
As some clarification is necessary on these issues, we have included a list of common words which highlight the differences between British and American English. The extensive list comprises different groups of words dealing with American spelling as compared to Greek, Latin and French spelling. It also includes other miscellaneous information providing a proper perspective of the subject.
CLASSIC SPELLINGS SIMPLIFIED
American British
‑e‑/‑oe‑
amoeba, ameba amoeba
diarrhea diarrhoea
edema oedema
enology, oenology oenology
esophagus (oesophagus) oesophagus
estrogen (oestrogen) oestrogen
estrus (oestrus) oestrus
fetal (foetal) foetal
fetid, foetid fetid, foetid
fetor, foetor fetor
fetus (foetus) foetus
gonorrhea gonorrhoea
homeopath homoeopath
homeostasis homoeostasis
maneuver manoeuvre
menorrhea menorrhoea
penology penology poenology?)
‑e‑/‑ae‑
aeon, eon aeon, eon
aesthete, esthete aesthete
aesthetic, esthetic aesthetic
anemia anaemia
anemic anaemic
anesthetic, ‑thesia, ‑thetist anaesthetic, ‑thesia, ‑thetist
archaeology, archeology archaeology
cesarean (caesarean), cesarian (caesarian) caesarean, caesarian
cesium caesium
diaeresis, dieresis diaeresis
encyclopedia, encyclopaedia encyclopedia, encyclopaedia
ether ether (aether)
fecal (faecal) faecal
feces (faeces) faeces
gynecology gynaecology
hemoglobin haemoglobin
hemophilia haemophilia
hemorrhage haemorrhage
hemorrhoid haemorrhoid
leukemia leukaemia
medieval, mediaeval medieval, mediaeval
orthopedics, orthopaedics orthopaedics
paean (pean) paean
paleobotany palaeobotany
Paleocene Palaeocene
paleoclimatology palaeoclimatology
paleogeography palaeogeography
paleography palaeography
paleolithic palaeolithic
paleomagnetism palaeomagnetism
paleontology palaeontology
Paleozoic Palaeozoic
pedagogy paedagogy
pederast pederast, paederast
pediatrician paediatrician
pediatric paediatric
pediatrics paediatrics
pedophile paedophile
pedophilia paedophilia
primeval primeval (primaeval)
syneresis, synaeresis synaeresis
synesthesia, synaesthesia synaesthesia
‑r‑/‑rh‑
eurythmy, eurhythmy eurhythmy
silent ‑ph‑
apothegm apophthegm
LATIN SPELLINGS SIMPLIFIED
‑f‑/‑ph‑
bisulfate bisulphate
disulfide disulphide
sulfate sulphate
sulfide sulphide
sulfur, sulphur sulphur
trisulfate trisulphate
OLD/MIDDLE ENGLISH SIMPLIFIED
‑ed/‑t
burned, burnt burnt, burned
dreamed, dreamt dreamt, dreamed
knelt, kneeled knelt (kneeled)
leaned leaned, leant
leaped, leapt leaped, leapt
learned learned, learnt
smelled, smelt smelt, smelled
spelled spelt, spelled
spilled, spilt spilt, spilled
spoiled, spoilt spoilt, spoiled
‑f‑/‑gh‑ and ‑ow/‑ough
draft, ‑fty draught, ‑ghty (only air current, drawing of liquid)
draftsman draughtsman, draftsman (one who makes drawings)
plow (plough), ‑man, ‑share plough, ‑man, ‑share
snowplow snowplough
‑i‑/‑y‑
gypsy, gipsy gypsy, gipsy
jibe (gybe) gybe (nautical)
siphon, syphon siphon (syphon)
tire tyre (on vehicles only)
tyke, tike tyke (tike)
tyro tiro (tyro)
/‑st
amid, amidst amid, amidst
among, amongst among, amongst
while while, whilst
FRENCH SPELLINGS SIMPLIFIED
‑er/‑re
accoutre, accouter accoutre
accouterment, accoutrement accoutrement
amphitheater amphitheatre
caliber, calibre calibre
center centre
centerboard centreboard
centerfold centrefold
centering centring, centreing
fiber, fibre fibre
fiberboard, fibreboard fibreboard
fiberglass, fibreglass fibreglass
goiter goitre
liter (litre) litre
louver, louvre louvre, louver
luster, lustre lustre (brilliance)
maneuver manoeuvre
meager, meagre meagre
meter metre (unit of measurement)
miter, mitre mitre
niter nitre
ocher, ochre ochre
philter, philtre philtre
reconnoiter, reconnoitre reconnoitre
saber, sabre sabre
saltpeter saltpetre
scepter sceptre
sepulchre, sepulcher sepulchre
somber, sombre sombre
specter, spectre spectre
theater, theatre theatre
titer, titre titre
‑or/‑our
arbor arbour
ardor ardour
armor armour
armorer armourer
armory armoury
behavior behaviour
behavioral behavioural
candor candour
clamor clamour
clangor clangour
color colour (and all derivative words)
demeanor demeanour
dolor dolour (literary)
enamor enamour
endeavor endeavour
favor favour
favorite favourite
favoritism favouritism
fervor fervour
flavor flavour
glamor, glamour glamour
harbor harbour
honor honour
humor humour
labor labour
misdemeanor misdemeanour
neighbor neighbour
neighborhood neighbourhood
neighborly neighbourly
odor odour
parlor parlour
pavior, paviour pavior or paviour
rancor rancour
rigor rigour
rumor rumour
savior, saviour saviour
savor, savour savour
savory, savoury savoury
splendor splendour
succor succour
tumor tumour
valor valour
vapor vapour
vigor vigour
‑o‑/‑ou‑
bolt bolt (boult) (metal pin)
citrus citrous (adj)
font fount, font
mold, mould mould (rot)
molding, moulding moulding (ornamental wood or stone)
molt (moult) moult
smolder, smoulder smoulder
‑m/‑mme
gram gram (gramme)
kilogram kilogram (kilogramme)
program, programme programme (verb)
program programme (noun)
program program (programme) (computer)
programmed, programed programmed
programmer, programer programmer
programming, programing programming
‑ck/‑que
check cheque (banking only)
checker chequer, checker (pattern)
‑og/‑ogue & ‑ege/‑egue
analogue or analog analogue
catalog, catalogue catalogue
dialogue, dialog dialogue
epilogue, epilog epilogue
homologue, homolog homologue
monologue, monolog monologue
pedagogue, pedagog pedagogue
prologue, prolog prologue
renege renege (renegue)
synagogue, synagog synagogue
travelogue, travelog travelogue
‑ction/‑xion
connection connection, connexion
deflection deflection, deflexion
flexion (flection) flexion
genuflection genuflection, genuflexion
inflection inflection, inflexion
reflection reflection, reflexion
retroflection retroflexion
‑ize/‑ise
advertise advertise
aggrandize aggrandize, aggrandise
Americanize Americanise, Americanize
apologize apologise, apologize
apprise apprise (to inform)
apprize apprize (archaic) (appraise, esteem)
burglarize burglarise, burglarize
capitalize capitalise, capitalize
categorize categorize, categorise
characterize characterise, characterize
colonize colonize, colonise
criticize criticize, criticise
dramatize dramatise, dramatize
empathize empathize
emphasize emphasize, emphasise
equalize equalise, equalize
extemporize extemporize, extemporise
finalize finalize, finalise
glamorize, glamourize glamorise, glamorize, glamourise, glamourize
liberalize liberalize, liberalise
merchandise, merchandize merchandise
mobilize mobilise, mobilize
motorize motorise, motorize
naturalize naturalise, naturalize
normalize normalize, normalise
organize organise organize
parameterize or parametrize parametrize, parametrise
parenthesize parenthesize, parenthesise
pasteurized pasteurised, pasteurized
popularize popularise, popularize
realize realise, realize
recognize recognise, recognize
romanize romanise, romanize
satirize satirise, satirize
stabilize stabilize, stabilise
standardize standardise standardize
surprise, surprize surprise
symbolize symbolise, symbolize
tantalize tantalize, tantalise
vaporize vaporise, vaporize (not vapourise)
‑yze/‑yse
analyze analyse
catalyze catalyse
dialyze dialyse
paralyze paralyse
‑a‑/‑au‑
balk baulk (balk)
cauldron (caldron) cauldron (caldron)
calk (caulk) (metal shoe grip)
caulk (calk) caulk (goop to stop up boat leaks)
gauge (gage) gauge
‑se/‑ce
defense defence
license, licence license (verb)
license, licence licence (noun)
offense, offence offence
practice, practise practise, practice (noun)
practice, practise practise (verb)
pretense, pretence pretence
vise vice (tool for holding work)
PRONUNCIATION SIMPLIFICATIONS
er/‑or
adapter, adaptor adaptor, adapter
adviser, advisor adviser (advisor disputed)
propeller, propellor propeller
‑e/‑ee
employee, employe employee
‑g‑/‑gg‑
fagot, faggot faggot (bundle of sticks)
fagoting, faggoting faggoting (embroidery)
wagon wagon, waggon
‑ll‑/‑l‑
appall, appal appal
distill, distil distil
enroll, enrol enrol
enrollment enrolment
enthrall, enthral enthral
fulfill, fulfil fulfil
fulfillment fulfilment
install, instal install, instal
installment, instalment instalment
instill, instil instil
skillful skilful
thralldom or thraldom thraldom (thralldom)
willful, wilful wilful
‑l‑/‑ll‑
barreled, ‑ling, barelled, ‑lling barelled, ‑lling
calisthenics callisthenics (calisthenics)
caliper calliper
canceled, ‑ling or cancelled ‑lling cancelled, ‑lling
chili, chile, chilli chilli, chili
councillor or councilor councillor
counseled, ‑ling, counselled, ‑lling counselled, ‑lling
counselor, counsellor counsellor
deviled, ‑ling, devilled, ‑lling devilled, ‑lling
disheveled, ‑ling or dishevelled, ‑lling dishevelled, ‑lling
equaled, ‑ling, equalled, ‑lling equalled, ‑lling
fueled, ‑ling, fuelled, ‑lling fuelled, ‑lling
groveled, ‑ling, ‑ler, grovelled, ‑lling, ‑ller grovelled, ‑lling, ‑ller
hosteler or hosteller hosteller
hosteled, ‑ling or hostelled, ‑lling hostelled, ‑lling
jeweler, jeweller jeweller
jewelry jewellery (jewelry) (note ‑el‑, ‑elle‑)
leveled, ‑ling, levelled, ‑lling levelled, ‑lling
leveler, leveller leveller
libeled, ‑ling, libelled, ‑lling libelled, ‑lling
libelous, libellous libellous
marvelous or marvellous marvellous
marveled, ‑ling or marvelled, ‑lling marvelled, ‑lling
metaled, ‑ling, metalled, ‑lling metalled, ‑lling
modeled, ‑ling or modelled ‑lling modelled, ‑lling
modeler modeller
paneled, ‑ling or panelled, ‑lling panelled, ‑lling
panelist panellist
pupilage or pupillage pupillage (pupilage)
quarreled, ‑ling, quarrelled, ‑lling quarrelled, ‑lling
quarreler, quarreller quarreller
reveled, ‑ling, revelled, ‑lling revelled, ‑lling
scalawag (scallywag) scallywag (scalawag)
traveled, ‑ling, travelled, ‑lling travelled, ‑lling
traveler, traveller traveller
troweled, ‑ling, trowelled, ‑lling trowelled, ‑lling
woolen or woollen woollen
woolly, wooly woolly (adj)
woolly, woolie, wooly (pl.‑llies, ‑lies) woolly (pl. ‑llies) (noun)
‑p‑/‑pp‑
kidnapped, kidnaped kidnapped
kidnapper, ‑pping, kidnaper, ‑ping kidnapper, ‑pping
worshiped, ‑ping, worshipped, ‑pping worshipped, ‑pping
worshiper, worshipper worshipper
‑s‑/‑ss‑
biased, ‑sing, biassed, ‑ssing biased, ‑sing, biassed, ‑ssing
buses, busses buses (omnibus)
buses, busses buses, busses (computer)
focused, ‑sing, focussed, ‑ssing focused, ‑sing or focussed, ‑ssing
‑t‑/‑tt‑
carburetor carburettor
cigarette, cigaret cigarette
clarinetist, clarinettist clarinettist
garrote, ‑ted, ‑ting or garotte, ‑tted, ‑tting garrotte (garotte)
net net (nett) (or money, result, etc)
omelette, omelet omelette, omelet
sulfureted sulphuretted
dg‑/‑dge‑ (& ‑g‑/‑ge‑)
abridgment, abridgement abridgement (abridgment)
acknowledgment, acknowledgement acknowledgement (acknowledgment)
aging, ageing ageing, aging
fledgling fledgling, fledgeling
judgment, judgement judgement (judgment)
misjudgment misjudgement (misjudgment)
in‑/en‑
encase, incase encase (incase)
enclose, inclose enclose (inclose)
endorse, indorse endorse (indorse)
ensure, insure ensure (make sure)
inquire, enquire enquire, inquire
inquiry, enquiry enquiry, inquiry
inure, enure inure, enure
HYPHENATION, SPACES, DIACRITICS, PUNCTUATION
hyphenation and spaces
antiaircraft anti‑aircraft
ashtray ash‑tray, ashtray
bookkeeper book‑keeper
cooperate cooperate, co‑operate
daydream day‑dream
drypoint dry‑point
E‑mail email, e‑mail
flower girl flower‑girl
flower pot flower‑pot
lemongrass lemon grass
neoclassical neo‑classical
note paper note‑paper
preignition pre‑ignition
pseudointellectual pseudo‑intellectual
pseudoscience pseudo‑science
ultrahigh ultra‑high
ultramodern ultra‑modern
diacritics
cafe, cafe cafe, cafe
elite elite
entree, entree entree
fete, fete fete
matinee, matinee matinee
naive, naive naive, naive
role (role) role, role
punctuation
B.S. B.Sc.
Jr Jnr. or Jr.
M.S. M.Sc.
Sr Snr. or Sr.
DIFFERENT SPELLINGS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS
other
adze, adz adze
airplane aeroplane
aluminum aluminium
artifact artefact, artifact
ass (arse) arse
ax, axe axe
bail out bale out, bail out
baloney (boloney) boloney, baloney
battle‑ax battleaxe
behoove behove
boric (boracic) boracic, boric
cantaloupe, cantaloup cantaloup (cantaloupe)
carcass carcass, carcase
chamomile (camomile) camomile, chamomile
clerestory, clearstory clerestory
cozy, cosy cosy
crayfish, crawfish crayfish (crawfish)
curb kerb (edging of road only)
czar, tsar, tzar tsar, czar
dependent, dependant dependant (noun)
disc, disk disc (phono record, CD, CD‑ROM, disc harrow)
disk, disc disk (computing)
disk disc (other meanings)
dissension, dissention dissension
doodad doodah
doughnut, donut doughnut
flaky (flakey) flaky
flotation (floatation) flotation, floatation
furor furore
gray, grey grey
jail jail, gaol
jailbird jailbird, gaolbird
jailbreak jailbreak, gaolbreak
jailer jailer, gaoler
karat (carat) carat (gold)
ketchup, catsup (catchup) ketchup (catchup)
kumquat kumquat (cumquat)
largesse or largess largesse (largess)
lens, lense lens
licorice liquorice (licorice)
mollusk or mollusc mollusc
mustache, moustache moustache
naught, nought nought (digit 0)
night, nite night
nursling nursling, nurseling
pajamas pyjamas
peddler, pedlar pedlar
persnickety (pernickety) pernickety
pickaninny, picaninny piccaninny
polyethylene polythene, polyethylene, polyethene
premise, premiss premise, premiss
propellant, propellent propellant (n)
propellant, propellent propellent (adj)
reverie, revery reverie
Romanian, Rumanian, Roumanian Romanian, Rumanian
Romansh, Romansch Romansh, Rumansh
ruble, rouble rouble, ruble
sanatorium, sanitarium or sanitorium sanatorium
scion (cion) scion
sissy sissy (cissy)
skeptic, ‑al, ‑ism, sceptic, ‑al, ‑ism sceptic, ‑al, ‑ism
specialty speciality
story, storey storey (story) (floor of buildings only)
swab (archaic: swob) swab, swob
swap swap, swop
though, tho though, tho'
through, thru through
tidbit, titbit titbit
today (to‑day) today
tonight, tonite tonight
vial, phial phial, vial
whiskey, whisky whisky (generic name)
whiskey whiskey (Irish & American kinds)
whiskeys, whiskies whiskeys, whiskies
whisky whisky (Scottish kinds)
