Spelling Differences Between American And British English

British English is more popular in Nigeria because of our colonial heritage. There are some differences between Standard British English and Standard American English in spelling, vocabulary and pronunciation..

BRITISH

armour
armoury
behaviour
candour
clamour
colour
demeanour
endeavour
favourite
flavour
glamour
harbour
honour
humour
labour
neighbour
odour
rancour
rigour
rumour
saviour
savour
savoury
splendour
valour
vapour
vigour

AMERICAN

armor
armory
behavior
candor
clamor
color
demeanor
endeavor
favorite
flavor
glamor
harbor
honor
humor
labor
neighbor
odor
rancor
rigor
rumor
savior
savor
savory
splendor
valor
vapor
vigor

BRITISH

amphitheatre
calibre
centimetre
centre
fibre
kilometre
litre
louvre
lustre
manoeuvre
meagre
metre
millimetre
sabre
sceptre
sombre
spectre
theatre

AMERICAN

amphitheater
caliber
centimeter
center
fiber
kilometer
liter
louver
luster
maneuver
meager
meter
millimeter
saber
scepter
somber
specter
theater

Note: These words are spelled with -re in both Britain and the USA:

BRITISH

analogue
dialogue
catalogue
epilogue
monologue
prologue
travelogue

AMERICAN

analog
dialog
catalog
epilog
monolog
prolog
travelog

Note:
-ogue can also be used in the USA

BRISTISH

cancelled
counsellor
equalled
fuelling
fuelled
grovelling
jeweller
jewellery
levelled
libelled
marvellous
modelling
panelled
quarrelling
revelled
woollen

AMERICAN

canceled
counselor
equaled
fueling
fueled
groveling
jeweler
jewelry or jewelery
leveled
libeled
marvelous
modeling
paneled
quarreling
reveled
woolen

appal
distil
enrol
enthral
fulfil
instil
skilful
wilful

appall
distill
enroll
enthrall
fulfill
instill
skillful
willful

BRITISH

diarrhoea
oestrogen
foetus
manoeuvre
mementoes
anaemia
caesarean
gynaecology
haemorrhage
leukaemia
palaeontology
paediatric

AMERICAN

diarrhea
estrogen
fetus
maneuver
mementos
anemia
cesarean
gynecology
hemorrhage
leukemia
paleontology
pediatric

Some words are the same in both countries:

BRITISH

appetiser
authorise
capitalise
characterise
civilise
colonise
criticise
dramatise
emphasise
equalise
mobilise
naturalise
organise
popularise
realise
recognise
satirise
standardise
symbolise
vaporise
**************
analyse
paralyse

AMERICAN

appetizer
authorize
capitalize
characterize
civilize
colonize
criticize
dramatize
emphasize
equalize
mobilize
naturalize
organize
popularize
realize
recognize
satirize
standardize
symbolize
vaporize
**************
analyze
paralyze

size
capsize
prize
seize
**************
advise
surprise
advertise

Note: Some British spellers do use the -ize ending – either is correct – but the American spelling is almost always -ize.

BRITISH

defence

AMERICAN

defense

offence

offense

pretence

pretense

vice
(workbench tool)

vise

licence (as a noun):
I’ve lost my driving licence.

license (noun and verb)

license (as a verb) is the same in both countries:
He is licensed to drive large trucks

practise (as a verb):
I practise the piano every day.

practice (noun and verb)

practice (as a noun) is the same in both countries:
Get some practice in these words.

Spelling change

ph > f

sulphate  sulphide  sulphur

sulfate  sulfide  sulfur

ugh > f or w

draught  plough

draft  plow

y > i

tyre (on a wheel)  gybe

tire  jibe

ou > o

mould  moult  smoulder

mold  molt  smolder

mme > m

programme

program

que > ck

cheque (money)
chequer (game)

check
checker

ge > g

acknowledgement
ageing
judgement

acknowledgment
aging
judgment

Miscellaneous:

aluminium

aluminum

axe

ax

cosy

cozy

kerb (edge of road)

curb

furore

furor

grey

gray

carat

(gold) karat

liquorice

licorice

moustache

mustache

nought

naught

pyjamas

pajamas

sceptic

skeptic

phial

vial

whisky

whiskey