British Spelling Vs. American Spelling: Linguistically At Odds

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	mail
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.