British English and American English Spelling
Here are the principal differences in spelling between British English and American English.
| British English | American English |
Final -l is always doubled after one vowel in stressed and unstressed syllables in English but usually only in stressed syllables in American English, for example: | rebel > rebelled
travel > travelled | rebel > rebelled
travel > traveled |
Some words end in -tre in English and -ter in American English, for example: | centre
theatre | center
theater |
Some words end in -ogue in English and -og in American English, for example: | analogue
catalogue | analog
catalog |
Some words end in -our in English and -or in American English, for example: | colour
labour | color
labor |
Some verbs end in -ize or -ise in English but only in -ize in American English, for example: | realise, realize
harmonise, harmonize | realize
harmonize |
Common Differences
English | American English |
all right | all right, alright (disputed) |
analyse | analyze |
centre | center |
cheque | check |
colour | color |
counsellor | counselor |
criticise, criticize | criticize |
defence | defense |
doughnut | donut |
favour | favor |
fibre | fiber |
flavour | flavor |
fulfil | fulfill |
grey | gray |
honour | honor |
humour | humor |
jewellery | jewellery, jewelry |
judgement, judgment | judgment |
kerb | curb |
labour | labor |
license, licence (verb)
licence (noun) | license (verb)
license (noun) |
litre | liter |
metre | meter |
mould | mold |
neighbour | neighbor |
offence | offense |
practise (verb)
practice (noun) | practice (verb)
practice (noun) |
pretence | pretense |
programme | program |
pyjamas | pajamas |
realise, realize | realize |
savour | savor |
speciality | specialty |
theatre | theater |
travelled
travelling | travelled, traveled
travelling, traveling |
tyre | tire |
valour | valor | | | | | | | | | | | | Courtesy of : http://www.englishclub.com/writing/spelling_american-english.htm |