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’) | |
| amphitheatre | amphitheater | |
| calibre | caliber | |
| centimetre | centimeter | |
| centre | center | |
| fibre | fiber | |
| kilometre | kilometer | |
| litre | liter | |
| lustre | luster | |
| manoeuvre | maneuver | |
| meagre | meager | |
| metre | meter | |
| millimetre | millimeter | |
| sabre | saber | |
| sceptre | scepter | |
| sombre | somber | |
| spectre | specter | |
| theatre | theater |
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’) | |
| Defence | Defense | |
| Offence | Offense | |
| Pretence | Pretense | |
| 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’) | |
| Apologise | Apologize | |
| Appetiser | Appetizer | |
| Authorise | Authorize | |
| Capitalise | Capitalize | |
| Characterise | Characterize | |
| Civilise | Civilize | |
| Colonise | Colonize | |
| Criticise | Criticize | |
| Dramatise | Dramatize | |
| Emphasise | Emphasize | |
| Equalise | Equalize | |
| Mobilise | Mobilize | |
| Naturalise | Naturalize | |
| Organise | Organize | |
| Popularise | Popularize | |
| Realise | Realize | |
| Recognise | Recognize | |
| Satirise | Satirize | |
| Standardise | Standardize | |
| Symbolise | Symbolize | |
| Vaporise | Vaporize |
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’) | |
| Armour | Armor | |
| Behaviour | Behavior | |
| Candour | Candor | |
| Clamour | Clamor | |
| Demeanour | Demeanor | |
| Endeavour | Endeavor | |
| Flavour | Flavor | |
| Glamour | Glamor | |
| Harbour | Harbor | |
| Honour | Honor | |
| Humour | Humor | |
| Labour | Labor | |
| Neighbour | Neighbor | |
| Odour | Odor | |
| Rancour | Rancor | |
| Rigour | Rigor | |
| Rumour | Rumor | |
| Saviour | Savior | |
| Splendour | Splendor | |
| Valour | Valor | |
| Vapour | Vapor | |
| Vigour | Vigor |
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-’) | |
| Sulphate | Sulfate | |
| Sulphide | Sulfide | |
| Sulphur | Sulfur |
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’) | |
| Diarrhoea | Diarrhea | |
| Oestrogen | Estrogen | |
| Foetus | Fetus | |
| Manoeuvre | Maneuver |
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’) | |
| Anaemia | Anemia | |
| Caesarean | Cesarean | |
| Gynaecology | Gynecology | |
| Haemorrhage | Hemorrhage | |
| Leukaemia | Leukemia | |
| Palaeontology | Paleontology | |
| Paediatric / paediatrician | Pediatric/ 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’) | |
| Analogue | Analog | |
| Dialogue | Dialog | |
| Catalogue | Catalog | |
| Epilogue | Epilog | |
| Monologue | Monolog | |
| Prologue | Prolog |
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’) | |
| Programme | Program | |
| Monogrammed | Monogramed |
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’) | |
| Cheque | Check | |
| Chequer | Checker |
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 | |
| Gybe | Jibe |
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 Cancelling | Canceled Canceling | |
| Equalled Equalling | Equaled Equaling | |
| Fuelled Fuelling | Fueled Fueling | |
| Grovelled Grovelling | Groveled Groveling | |
| Levelled Levelling | Leveled Leveling | |
| Libelled Libelling | Libeled Libeling | |
| Modelled Modelling | Modeled Modeling | |
| Panelled Panelling | Paneled Paneling | |
| Quarrelled Quarrelling | Quarreled Quarreled | |
| Revelled Revelling | Reveled Reveling | |
| Travelled Travelling | Traveled Traveling |
| British English / Indian English Spelling (Nouns containing ‘-ll-’) | Equivalent American English Spelling (Nouns containing ‘-l’) | |
| Jeweller | Jeweler | |
| Jewellery | Jewelry | |
| Traveller | Traveler |
| British English / Indian English Spelling (Adjectives containing ‘-ll-’) | Equivalent American English Spelling (Adjectives containing ‘-l’) | |
| Marvellous | Marvelous | |
| Woollen | Woolen |
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’) | |
| Appal | Appall | |
| Distil | Distill | |
| Enrol | Enroll | |
| Enthral | Enthrall | |
| Fulfil | Fulfill | |
| Instil | Instill |
| British English / Indian English Spelling (Adjectives containing ‘-l’) | Equivalent American English Spelling (Adjectives containing ‘-ll’) | |
| Skilful | Skillful | |
| Wilful | Willful |
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.
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