British Spelling Vs. American Spelling: Linguistically At Odds
Having doubts regarding American vs British spellings and words? Here are the most commonly used words that might be the cause for confusion...
Penlighten Staff
Last Updated: Apr 12, 2018
Did You Know?
With a speaking-population of 500+ million, English, an official first language in 57 countries, is the second-most spoken language in the world, and has its origin from Britain, where settlers from parts of Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark brought along with them certain dialects to this region.
The first known inhabitants of the United States were the Native Americans (Indians). Then the Europeans arrived and colonized the country. The most influential in all aspects were the British, and hence, English was most widely spoken all over. With passing times, even the language changed slightly, and now we have American English. Commonwealth countries follow British English, whereas the rest of the world goes more with American English. Between both types, many words that are actually the same meaning have different spellings, while many things that have the same meanings are termed differently. Oh well! Let's just have a look at some examples, and things will be much clearer.
Same Word, Different Spelling
Here, we will have a look at some differences, or in other words, a comparison between British and American spelling conventions.
| BRITISH | AMERICAN |
| ageing | aging |
| aluminium | aluminum |
| amphitheatre | amphitheater |
| analogue | analog |
| analyse | analyze |
| annexe | annex |
| appetiser | appetizer |
| apologise | apologize |
| archaeology | archeology |
| arguement | argument |
| armour | armor |
| arse | ass |
| axe | ax |
| behaviour | behavior |
| behove | behoove |
| bogeyman | boogeyman |
| carburettor | carburetor |
| catalogue | catalog |
| catalyse | catalyze |
| centre | center |
| centimetre | centimeter |
| cheque | check |
| chequer | checker |
| chilli | chili |
| civilise | civilize |
| criticise | criticize |
| colonise | colonize |
| colour | color |
| cosy | cozy |
| counselling | counseling |
| cypher | cipher |
| defence | defense |
| dialogue | dialog |
| doughnut | donut |
| draught | draft |
| dreamt | dreamed |
|
emphasise
|
emphasize |
| encyclopaedia | encyclopedia |
| enrolment | enrollment |
| equalling | equaling |
| excelling | exceling |
| favourite | favorite |
| fibre | fiber |
| flavour | flavor |
| foetus | fetus |
| fuelled | fueled |
| fulfill | fulfil |
| furore | furor |
| glycerine | glycerin |
| grey | gray |
| gynaecology | gynecology |
| harbour | harbor |
| honour | honor |
| humour | humor |
| instalment | installment |
| jewellery | jewelry |
| judgement | judgment |
| kilometre | kilometer |
| labour | labor |
| leapt | leaped |
| learnt | learned |
| licence | license |
| litre | liter |
| louvre | louver |
| leukaemia | leukemia |
| lustre | luster |
| manoeuvre | maneuver |
| marvellous | marvelous |
| mediaeval | medieval |
| memorise | memorize |
| metre | meter |
| mementoes | mementos |
| modelling | modeling |
| monologue | monolog |
| mould | mold |
| moult | molt |
| moustache | mustache |
| mum | mom |
| neighbour | neighbor |
| neurone | neuron |
| oestrogen | estrogen |
| offence | offense |
| omelette | omelet |
| organise | organize |
| orthopaedic | orthopedic |
| paediatric | pediatric |
| palaeontology | paleontology |
| parallelled | paralleled |
| phoney | phony |
| popularise | popularize |
| practise | practice |
| pretence | pretense |
| prise | prize |
| programme | program |
| pyjamas | pajamas |
| plough | plow |
| quarrelling | quarreling |
| realise | realize |
| recognise | recognize |
| rumour | rumor |
| saviour | savior |
| sceptic | skeptic |
| signalling | signaling |
| skilful | skillful |
| speciality | specialty |
| spectre | specter |
| storey | story |
| sulphur | sulfur |
| theatre | theater |
| titbit | tidbit |
| toxaemia | toxemia |
| travelling | traveling |
| tyre | tire |
| vice | vise |
| woollen | woolen |
| yoghurt | yogurt |
The British way of spelling words usually involves the 'u' or an 'll', whereas American spellings mostly do away with the 'u' and also has a single 'l'.
Same Meaning, Different Word
Over here, we shall see some words that actually mean the same thing, though completely different terms are used for referring to them in the British and American English language styles.
| banger | sausage |
| bloke | guy |
| car boot | car trunk |
| bin | trash can |
| bonnet | hood |
| car park | parking lot |
| biscuit | cookie |
| caravan | motor home |
| chemist | pharmacist |
| chips | fries |
| cinema | movie theater |
| crisps | potato chips |
| dummy | pacifier |
| football | soccer |
| full stop | period |
| flyover | overpass |
| braces | suspenders |
| holiday | vacation |
| jam | jelly |
| jumper | sweater |
| lift | elevator |
| loo | bathroom |
| lorry | truck |
| maize | corn |
| mince | chopped beef |
| motorway | highway |
| nappy | diaper |
| nought | nothing |
| number plate | license plate |
| kerosene | paraffin |
| pavement | sidewalk |
| petrol | gas |
| plaster | band-aid |
| post | |
| postal code | zip code |
| college | university |
| queue | line |
| row | argument |
| rubber | eraser |
| serviette | napkin |
| silencer | muffler |
| solicitor | lawyer |
| tin | can |
| torch | flashlight |
| car park | parking lot |
| gearbox | transmission |
| spanner | wrench |
| anti-clockwise | counter-clockwise |
| barrister | attorney |
| crossroads | intersection |
| diversion | detour |
| driving licence | driver's license |
| dustbin | garbage/trash can |
| mad | crazy, insane |
| maths | math |
| motorbike | motorcycle |
| postbox | mailbox |
| postman | mailman |
| pub | bar |
| railway | railroad |
| return ticket | round trip |
| sweets | candy |
| timetable | schedule |
| whisky | whiskey |
| zip | zipper |
| hoarding | billboard |
| puncture | blowout |
| current account | checking account |
| porridge | oatmeal |
| mason | stone/brickworker |
| prawn | shrimp |
| sellotape | Scotch tape |
| tram | trolley car |
| zebra crossing | pedestrian crossing |
| constable | officer |
| coach | intercity bus |
| trousers | pants |
| waistcoat | vest |
| windscreen | windshield |
| pram | baby carriage |
| roundabout | traffic circle |
| polo neck | turtleneck |
| primary | preschool |
| staff | employee |
| head lamp | headlight |
| cardigan | sweater |
| frock | dress |
| knickers | panties |
| couch | sofa |
| cupboard | closet |
| garden | yard |
| loft | attic |
| tap | faucet |
| coriander | cilantro |
| take-away | to go |
| chat show | talk show |
| counterfoil | stub |
| CV | resume |
| fair | carnival |
| gum | glue |
| parcel | package |
| pay packet | pay check |
| post mortem | autopsy |
| property | real estate |
| purse | wallet |
| reception | lobby |
| shop | store |
| share | stock |
| tick | check |
| tube | subway |
| toilet | restroom |
| fill up | top up |
| aerial | antenna |
| headmaster | principal |
| tarmac | asphalt |
| air hostess | flight attendant |
| alsatian | German shepherd |
| bank holiday | legal holiday |
| caretaker | janitor |
| casualty department | emergency room |
| coffin | casket |
| extra time | overtime |
| goods train | freight train |
| insect | bug |
| jug | pitcher |
| label | tag |
| lager | beer |
| luggage | baggage |
| match | game |
| mixer | blender |
| parliament | congress |
| prison | jail |
| jelly | jello |
| stock | inventory |
| quarrel | argument |
| trainers | sneakers |
| curtains | drapes |
| break | recess |
| compere | emcee |
| frying pan | skillet |
| pupil | student |
| plait | braid |
| basin | sink |
| mudguard | fender |
| timber yard | lumberyard |
| valuer | appraiser |
| city centre | downtown |
| adverts | commercial break |
| bookstall | newsstand |
| fringe | bangs |
British and American spelling differences are very minor, but at the same time are very important to know. Here, we have seen quite a few words, some that are actually the same word with just a slight difference in the spelling, whereas others mean the same thing, but the words used for them are altogether different.
