Blog Differences between words in British English and American English

Differences between words in British English and American English

It is easy to imagine the United Kingdom and the United States as two parts of the same country separated by an ocean, but besides the obvious differences in accents from the two countries, texts from both countries have some rather noticeable variations. In this blog, we look at some of these fascinating word differences, categorised on the basis of their spellings:

1. ‘-ou-’ and ‘-o-’ words These are likely to be the most commonly seen differences between British English and American English. Words like colour, flavour, odour, savour and endeavour as spelled in British English are spelled color, flavor, odor, savor and endeavor in American English.

2. ‘-re’ and ‘-er’ words Also fairly common to see, words like centre, metre, calibre, theatre and fibre as spelled in British English are spelled center, meter, caliber, theater and fiber in American English.

3. Single and repeated letters These words have at one point or another confused us in schools. Some words have do not have a specific letter repeated in British English but do in American English, while in others the specific letter is repeated in British English but are not in American English Words in British English like enrol, fulfil, counsellor, traveller, instalment and modelling are spelled enroll, fulfill, counselor, traveler, installment and modeling in American English.

4. ‘-ae-’ and ‘-e-’ words Words in British English like encyclopaedia, aeon, aesthetics, anaesthesia and paediatrics are spelled encyclopedia, eon, esthetics, anesthesia and pediatrics in American English.

5. ‘-oe-’ and ‘-e-’ words Words in British English like diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, oestrogen and oesophagus are spelled diarrhea, gonorrhea, estrogen and esophagus in American English.

6. ‘-ence’ and ‘-ense’ words Also somewhat confusing, words in British English such as offence, pretence, defence and licence (the noun) are spelled offense, pretense, defense and license in American English.

7. ‘-ise’/’-yse’ and ‘-ize’/’-yze’ words Words in British English like synthesise, prioritise, analyse and catalyse are spelled synthesize, prioritize, analyze and catalyze in American English.

8. Miscellaneous words Finally there are some words that don’t follow a particular pattern but are just different. Words in British English like jewellery, artefact, cheque, grey, plough and kerb are spelled jewelry, artifact, check, gray, plow and curb in American English.