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Important Spelling Variations You Should Know!

Important Spelling Variations You Should Know!

Isn’t it annoying when you type a word and your computer decides that the spelling is wrong and underlines it in red? You sit there, staring at it, questioning its existence, but to no avail. Finally, you decide to check the spelling and it turns out that the spelling is correct. It’s just the variation in spelling between the British and American way – and your computer accepts the American one.

I’m listing the major spelling differences along with the rules here:

  • Words that end in ‘–re’ in British English often have the last two letters reversed when spelled in American English.
British English

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

American English

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

  • The British way of spelling uses the ‘–nce’ ending while the American way is to use ‘–nse’.
defence defense
offence offense
pretence pretense
vice vise
licence license
practise practice

 

  • Words that end in ‘-ise’ in British English change to‘-ize’ in American English.
appetiser
authorise
capitalise
characterise
civilise
colonise
criticise
dramatise
emphasise
equalise
mobilise
naturalise
organise
popularise
realise
recognise
satirise
standardise
symbolise
vaporise
analyse
paralyse
appetizer
authorize
capitalize
characterize
civilize
colonize
criticize
dramatize
emphasize
equalize
mobilize
naturalize
organize
popularize
realize
recognize
satirize
standardize
symbolize
vaporize
analyze
paralyze
  • Americans have dropped the double ‘-ll’ system whereas the British have still retained it.
cancelled
counsellor
equalled
fuelling
fuelled
grovelling
jeweller
jewellery
levelled
libelled
marvellous
modelling
panelled
quarrelling
revelled
woollen
canceled
counselor
equaled
fueling
fueled
groveling
jeweler
jewelry or jewelery
leveled
libeled
marvelous
modeling
paneled
quarreling
reveled
woolen
  • The British retain the more complex way of spelling and use ‘-ae’ and oe’. These change to ‘-e’ in the U.S.
diarrhoea
oestrogen
foetus
manoeuvre
mementoes
anaemia
caesarean
gynaecology
haemorrhage
leukaemia
palaeontology
paediatric
diarrhea
estrogen
fetus
maneuver
mementos
anemia
cesarean
gynecology
hemorrhage
leukemia
paleontology
pediatric

 

  • Words that end in ‘-our’ in British English change toor’ in American English. The ‘u’ is dropped.
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
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

 

So the next time a red line pops up below a word, do not doubt yourself, refer to the list above!