What are the spelling differences between British English and American English?

by Target Language Translation Services

- September 10 2021

It is sometimes joked that the United Kingdom and the United States are two countries separated by a common language. Indeed, while the British and the Americans understand each other the vast majority of the time, there are still many significant differences between UK and US English especially in terms of spelling on paper (just as when speaking, the most obvious difference is pronunciation). The spelling differences can lead to confusion or humorous misunderstandings.

Why is the spelling is sometimes different?

The spelling differences first arose because at the time of the British colonization of North America, English spelling wasn’t yet fixed. Standardized spelling of English came about in the 18th century, after the American Colonies had already declared independence.

Further spelling differences came when Noah Webster (founder of Webster’s Dictionary) attempted to simplify English spellings in America. Many of his suggestions – like plow – took hold and became standard American spelling. Others – like tung (for “tongue”) – did not. It is also the key reason why British English is different from American English. British English has tended to keep the spelling of the words it has absorbed from other countries. American English however has tried to adapt the spelling of these words to reflect the way that the words actually sound when they're spoken and make spelling easier.

If you're writing for British readers, you should only use British spellings. In one or two cases, the preferred American spellings are acceptable in British English as well, especially the -ize/-ization endings. While you can use both the -ise/-isation or the -ize/ization endings in British English, it's vital to stick to one style or the other throughout the same piece of writing.

What are some of the differences that exist between British and American spelling?

1) -ae- & –e-

Many words from Old and early Middle English have an –ae– in British English but only –e- in US English. Most of these words are scientific, medical, or technical words.

British U.S.A

aeon / eon

aesthetic / esthetic

anaemia / anemia

anaesthesia /anesthesia

gynaecologist / gynecologist

paediatrician / pediatrician

foetus / fetus

haematology / hematology

aeroplane / airplane

chimaera / chimera

encyclopaedia / encyclopedia

mediaeval / medieval

leukaemia / leukemia

2) Doubled consonants

Sometimes British spelling requires a doubled consonant, for instance in the past participle of certain verbs, where American spelling omits it. In other places, it is US English that has the doubled consonant; in certain verbal infinitives, or to preserve the root word of certain adjectives.

British U.S.A

appal / appall

carburettor / carburetor

counsellor / counselor

dishevelled / disheveled

distil / distill

enrol / enroll

fulfil / fufill

instalment / installment

instil / instill

skilful / skillful

woollen / woollen

3) -ence & –ense

Many nouns that end end with -ence in British English are spelled -ense in American English.

British U.S.A

defence / defense

licence(noun) / license

offence / offense

pretence / pretense

4) Final –e

On both sides of the Atlantic, English is famous for the “silent” –e at the end of many words. Where both American and British English have this, in words such as name, make, or have, it comes from an Old English inflection. But many final –e spellings come from French loanwords, where often the consonant before the final –e is doubled. American English tends to omit these in accordance with Noah Webster’s spelling reforms.

British U.S.A

annexe / annex

glycerine / glycerin

gramme / gram

grille(noun) / grill

programme / program

tonne / ton

The words axe (UK) and ax (US) follow this pattern, though the word comes from Germanic (not French) roots. The word judgement (UK) and judgment (US) can also be taken as an example of this if we discard the suffix –ment.

5) -oe- & –e-

Like –ae- above, British English preserves the –oe- digraph in words derived from the Classical languages, while US English has simplified it to –e-.

British U.S.A

diarrhoea / diarrhea

gonorrhoea / gonorrhea

manoeuvre / maneuver

6) -our v –or

A number of words ending in –our in British English usually end in –or in American English. This is one of the more famous spelling differences between British and American English, and comes from French influence. Nearly all of these words are originally from Latin, and had the plain –or ending.

British U.S.A

arbour / arbor

ardour / arbor

armour / armor

behaviour / behavior

British / American

candour / candor

clamour / clamor

colour / color

demeanour / demeanor

endeavour / endeavor

favour / favor

flavour / flavor

harbour / habor

honour / honor

humour / humor

labour / labor

neighbour / neighbor

odour / odor

parlour / parlor

rancour / rancor

rigour / rigor

rumour / rumor

saviour / savior

savour / savor

splendour / splendor

tumour / tumor

valour / valor

vigour / vigor

7) -re & –er

Like –our, the –re spelling originally comes from French. A number of words ending in –re in British English usually change to –er in American English in order to better reflect American pronunciation.

British U.S.A

calibre / caliber

centre / center

fibre / fiber

litre / liter

lustre / luster

meagre / meager

metre / meter

sabre / saber

sceptre / scepter

sepulchre / sepulcher

sombre / somber

theatre / theater

theatre / theater

8) -ize & –ise and -yse & –yze

In British English, words ending in –ise, -yse or –isation can also be spelled –ize,  –yze and –ization, while in American English only the –ize, –yze and -ization version is acceptable. One of the most famous spelling differences isn’t really a difference at all. Many British people use –ise spellings exclusively, but this is a convention, not a rule. You cannot use –ise spellings in the US.

By contrast, the –yze ending in words like analyze and paralyze is only acceptable in US English. In the UK you must use analyse and paralyse.

British               U.S.A

organize or apologise / apologize

organize or organise / organize

recognize or recognise / recognize

realise or realize / realize

apologise or apologize / apologize

breathalyze or breathalyse / breathalyze

9) Nouns ending with –ogue

Some nouns that end with -ogue in British English end with either -og or -oguein American English.

British      U.S.A

analogue / analog or analogue

catalogue / catalog or catalogue

dialogue / dialog or dialogue

10) -ement & –ment

British English keep an "e" before the suffix "-ment."

British      U.S.A

judgement / judgment

acknowledgement / acknowledgment

11) Other Simplifications

Many American spellings do owe their existence to Noah Webster’s spelling reforms, which sought to simplify spelling and bring it closer to common American pronunciation.

British U.S.A

aeroplane / airplane

artefact / artifact

cheque(banking) / check

chequerboard / checkerboard

chequered / checkered

cosy / cozy

doughnut / donut

draught / draft

gaol / jail

grey / gray

jewellery / jewelry

kerb(noun) / curb

plough / plow

sceptical / skeptical

sulphur / sulfur

12) Miscellaneous spelling differences

British English and British English also have some miscellaneous spelling differences.

British U.S.A

gaol / jail

liquorice / licorice

kerb / curb

13) Different names

Aside from spelling differences, many items and practices have different names in British and American English.

British U.S.A

pavement / sidewalk

petrol / gas

This article is reprinted from The Free Dictionary, Cambridge University Press and LEXICO.

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