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Spelling Rules: American English Vs. British English

American English Vs. British English

Introduction

To gain mastery in using English, we must conquer the following three of the God of English’s creations:

  • The angel called ‘reading’
  • The human called ‘writing’
  • The devil called ‘spelling’

While most of us have been put through the paces for reading and writing, we unfortunately almost always falter when it comes to complicated spelling. To make matters worse, the artificial intelligence in our digital devices, with their constant spelling prompts and auto corrects, provides us an easy escape from memorizing proper spellings.   

If English is not your native language and you are one of those seekers who wishes to understand the nuances of spelling differences between American and British English, then welcome! You have come to the right place! This blog offers details on the various spelling rules in American English vis-a-vis British English for many common everyday words.

Why are Spelling Rules different in American English and British English?

We recommend you read our blog: Why American English is more Popular than British English. The reason#4 in that blog provides you the answer to this pertinent question.

Is Indian English Spelling different from American English Spelling?

Yes. The spelling used in Indian English is a legacy of the British rule. All the spelling rules are distinctly British in nature. If you are an Indian wishing to write and spell in American English, read and learn the rules listed below in this blog.

The 12 Rules of Spelling Difference between American English and British English/ Indian English
Rule 1: Words ending with the suffix ‘-re’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word ends with the suffix ‘-re’ in British English/ Indian English, then in the corresponding spelling of that word in American English will end with the suffix ‘-er’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-re’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-er’)
amphitheatreamphitheater
calibrecaliber
centimetrecentimeter
centrecenter
fibrefiber
kilometrekilometer
litreliter
lustreluster
manoeuvremaneuver
meagremeager
metremeter
millimetremillimeter
sabresaber
sceptrescepter
sombresomber
spectrespecter
theatretheater

Rule 2: Words ending with the suffix ‘-nce’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word ends with the suffix ‘-nce’ in British English/ Indian English, then in the corresponding spelling of that word in American English will end with the suffix ‘-nse’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-nce’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-nse’)
DefenceDefense
OffenceOffense
PretencePretense
Licence (as a noun) (*the verb form used is ‘License’)License (both as a noun and a verb)

Rule 3: Words ending with the suffix ‘-ise’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word ends with the suffix ‘-ise’ in British English/ Indian English, then in the corresponding spelling of that word in American English will end with the suffix ‘-ize’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-ise’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-ize’)
ApologiseApologize
AppetiserAppetizer
AuthoriseAuthorize
CapitaliseCapitalize
CharacteriseCharacterize
CiviliseCivilize
ColoniseColonize
CriticiseCriticize
DramatiseDramatize
EmphasiseEmphasize
EqualiseEqualize
MobiliseMobilize
NaturaliseNaturalize
OrganiseOrganize
PopularisePopularize
RealiseRealize
RecogniseRecognize
SatiriseSatirize
StandardiseStandardize
SymboliseSymbolize
VaporiseVaporize

Rule 4: Words ending with the suffix ‘-our’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word ends with the suffix ‘-our’ in British English/ Indian English, then in the corresponding spelling of that word in American English will end with the suffix ‘-or’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-ise’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-ize’)
ArmourArmor
BehaviourBehavior
CandourCandor
ClamourClamor
DemeanourDemeanor
EndeavourEndeavor
FlavourFlavor
GlamourGlamor
HarbourHarbor
HonourHonor
HumourHumor
LabourLabor
NeighbourNeighbor
OdourOdor
RancourRancor
RigourRigor
RumourRumor
SaviourSavior
SplendourSplendor
ValourValor
VapourVapor
VigourVigor

Rule 5: Words containing ‘-ph-’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word containing the letters ‘-ph-’ in British English/ Indian English to represent the ‘f’ sound, then for the corresponding spelling of that word in American English, it will be replaced with ‘f’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words containing ‘-ph-’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words containing ‘-f-’)
SulphateSulfate
SulphideSulfide
SulphurSulfur

Rule 6: Words containing the double vowel ‘-oe’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word contains  two consecutive vowels ‘oe’ in British English/ Indian English, then for the corresponding spelling of that word in American English, this double vowel will be replaced with ‘e’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words containing ‘-oe’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words containing ‘-e’)
DiarrhoeaDiarrhea
OestrogenEstrogen
FoetusFetus
ManoeuvreManeuver

Rule 7: Words containing the double vowel ‘-ae’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word contains two consecutive vowels ‘ae’ in British English/ Indian English, then for the corresponding spelling of that word in American English, this double vowel will be replaced with ‘e’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words containing ‘-ae’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words containing ‘-e’)
AnaemiaAnemia
CaesareanCesarean
GynaecologyGynecology
HaemorrhageHemorrhage
LeukaemiaLeukemia
PalaeontologyPaleontology
Paediatric / paediatricianPediatric/ Pediatrician

Rule 8: Words ending with the suffix ‘-ogue’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word ends with the suffix ‘-ise’ in British English/ Indian English, then the corresponding spelling of that word in American English is truncated to end with the suffix ‘-og’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-ogue’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-og’)
AnalogueAnalog
DialogueDialog
CatalogueCatalog
EpilogueEpilog
MonologueMonolog
PrologueProlog

Exception:

  • Travelogue (The spelling of this word is identical in British English/ Indian English and American English.)

Rule 9: Words ending with the suffix ‘-mme’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word ends with the suffix ‘-mme’ in British English/ Indian English, then the corresponding spelling of that word in American English is truncated to end with the suffix ‘-m’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-mme’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words ending with ‘-m’)
ProgrammeProgram
MonogrammedMonogramed

Rule 10: Words containing the syllable ‘-que’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word contains the syllable ‘que’ in British English/ Indian English to represent the ‘k’ sound, then for the corresponding spelling of that word in American English, this syllable is replaced with ‘ck’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words containing ‘que’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words containing ‘ck’)
ChequeCheck
ChequerChecker

Exception:

  • Exchequer (The spelling of this word is identical in British English/ Indian English and American English.)

Rule 11: Certain Words containing the letter ‘y’ in British English/ Indian English

If a word contains the letter ‘y’ in British English/ Indian English to represent the ‘i’ sound in, then for the corresponding spelling of that word in American English, this letter is replaced with ‘i’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Words containing the letter ‘y’ to represent the ‘i’ sound)Equivalent American English Spelling (Words containing the letter ‘i’)
Tyre /Tyres (of a wheel)Tire / Tires
GybeJibe

Rule 12: Some Words containing the double consonant ‘-ll’ in British English/ Indian English

  • For some verb whose basic form ends with the consonant ‘l’, the adjective form, past tense form of verb and present participle forms will contain ‘ll’ in British English/ Indian English. The equivalent American English spelling will contain only one ‘l’.
  • For some nouns in British English/ Indian English containing ‘ll’, the equivalent American spelling will contain only a single ‘l’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Verbs containing ‘-ll-’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Verbs containing ‘-l’)
Cancelled CancellingCanceled Canceling
Equalled EquallingEqualed Equaling
Fuelled FuellingFueled Fueling
Grovelled GrovellingGroveled Groveling
Levelled LevellingLeveled Leveling
Libelled LibellingLibeled Libeling
Modelled ModellingModeled Modeling
Panelled PanellingPaneled Paneling
Quarrelled QuarrellingQuarreled Quarreled
Revelled RevellingReveled Reveling
Travelled TravellingTraveled Traveling
British English / Indian English Spelling (Nouns containing ‘-ll-’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Nouns containing ‘-l’)
JewellerJeweler
JewelleryJewelry
TravellerTraveler
British English / Indian English Spelling (Adjectives containing ‘-ll-’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Adjectives containing ‘-l’)
MarvellousMarvelous
WoollenWoolen

Exceptions to Rule 12:

  • For some verbs whose basic form ends with the consonant ‘l’ in British English/ Indian English, the equivalent American English spelling will contain ‘ll’.
  • For some adjectives whose first syllable ends with the consonant ‘l’ in British English/ Indian English, the equivalent American English spelling will contain ‘ll’.

Examples are given in below table:

British English / Indian English Spelling (Verbs ending ‘-l’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Verbs ending with ‘-ll’)
AppalAppall
DistilDistill
EnrolEnroll
EnthralEnthrall
FulfilFulfill
InstilInstill
British English / Indian English Spelling (Adjectives containing ‘-l’)Equivalent American English Spelling (Adjectives containing ‘-ll’)
SkilfulSkillful
WilfulWillful

Miscellaneous Words whose spellings differ in American and British English

This blog focused on all those words for whose spelling difference in British and American English could be broken down to rules and exceptions to those rules. However, there are quite a few words for which there are no specific rules to determine the spelling difference.

If you are interested in such words, we recommend you read our blog: Miscellaneous Spelling Differences in American and British English.

FAQs

Q1: What is the main difference between American English and British English spelling?

A1: The main difference lies in certain spelling conventions, such as the American English preference for "-or" endings (e.g., "color") versus the British "-our" endings (e.g., "colour"), and the American "-ize" suffix versus the British "-ise".

Q2: Can you give an example of a word that is spelled differently in American English and British English, aside from "color/colour"?

A2: Yes, "realize" and "realise" are examples where American English uses "z" while British English uses "s".

Q3: How does American English typically spell words that end in "-re" in British English?

A3: American English usually spells words with "-er" instead of "-re," such as "center" in American English and "centre" in British English.

Q4: Is there a difference in the way American and British English spell the past tense of verbs?

A4: Yes, for some verbs, American English uses "-ed" while British English uses "-t," such as "learned" (American) and "learnt" (British).

Q5: Are there any spelling rules that are universally accepted in both American and British English?

A5: Yes, many spelling rules are consistent across both dialects. However, the differences usually lie in specific word endings or spellings, not in the fundamental rules of spelling.

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