BRITISH vs AMERICAN SPELLING

DON'T LET THESE SPELLING CONFUSE YOU

BRITISH vs AMERICAN SPELLING

-our vs -or

British → American

colour → color
favourite → favorite
honour → honor
neighbour → neighbor
labour → labor
flavour → flavor

Tip: British uses -our, American uses -or

-re vs -er

British → American

centre → center
metre → meter
theatre → theater
fibre → fiber

Tip: British ends in -re, American flips it to -er

-ise vs -ize

British → American

organise → organize
realise → realize
apologise → apologize
emphasise → emphasize

Double vs Single Consonant
British → American
travelled → traveled
travelling → traveling
cancelled → canceled
labelling → labeling

Tip: British often doubles the consonant, American usually doesn’t

-ogue vs -og

British → American

catalogue → catalog
dialogue → dialog
monologue → monolog

-ae / -oe vs -e
British → American
anaemia → anemia
paediatric → pediatric
oedema → edema

Other Common Differences

British → American

defence → defense
licence → license
cheque → check
tyre → tire
jewellery → jewelry
aluminium → aluminum