British Spelling Vs American Spelling

The first known inhabitants of the United States were the Native Americans (Indians). Then the Europeans arrived and colonized the country. The most influential in all aspects were the British, and hence English was most widely spoken all over. With changing times, even the language changed slightly, and now we have American English.

Mostly, all the Commonwealth countries follow the British spellings, where as the rest of the world goes more with the American spellings. Therefore, many same words have different spellings, which essentially is just that the pronunciation is different. But many words have the same pronunciation too. Oh well! Let's just have a look at these interesting words, and things will be much clearer.

British Spelling vs American Spelling

Here we will have a look at some differences, or in other words, British spelling conventions and American spelling conventions.

BRITISH	AMERICAN		BRITISH	AMERICAN		BRITISH	AMERICAN		BRITISH	AMERICAN
ageing	aging		aluminium	aluminum		amphitheatre	amphitheater		analogue	analog
analyse	analyze		annexe	annex		appetiser	appetizer		apologise	apologize
archaeology	archeology		arguement	argument		armour	armor		arse	ass
axe	ax		behaviour	behavior		behove	behoove		bogeyman	boogeyman
carburettor	carburetor		catalogue	catalog		catalyse	catalyze		centre	center
centimetre	centimeter		cheque	check		chequer	checker		chilli	chili
civilise	civilize		criticise	criticize		colonise	colonize		colour	color
cosy	cozy		counselling	counseling		cypher	cipher		defence	defense
dialogue	dialog		doughnut	donut		draught	draft		dreamt	dreamed
emphasise	emphasize		encyclopaedia	encyclopedia		enrolment	enrollment		equalling	equaling
excelling	exceling		favourite	favorite		fibre	fiber		flavour	flavor
foetus	fetus		fuelled	fueled		fulfill	fulfil		furore	furor
glycerine	glycerin		grey	gray		gynaecology	gynecology		harbour	harbor
honour	honor		humour	humor		instalment	installment		jewellery	jewelry
judgement	judgment		kilometre	kilometer		labour	labor		leapt	leaped
learnt	learned		licence	license		litre	liter		louvre	louver
leukaemia	leukemia		lustre	luster		manoeuvre	maneuver		marvellous	marvelous
mediaeval	medieval		memorise	memorize		metre	meter		mementoes	mementos
modelling	modeling		monologue	monolog		mould	mold		moult	molt
moustache	mustache		mum	mom		neighbour	neighbor		neurone	neuron
oestrogen	estrogen		offence	offense		omelette	omelet		organise	organize
orthopaedic	orthopedic		paediatric	pediatric		palaeontology	paleontology		parallelled	paralleled
phoney	phony		popularise	popularize		practise	practice		pretence	pretense
prise	prize		programme	program		yoghurt	yogurt		pyjamas	pajamas
plough	plow		quarrelling	quarreling		realise	realize		recognise	recognize
rumour	rumor		saviour	savior		sceptic	skeptic		signalling	signaling
skilful	skillful		speciality	specialty		spectre	specter		storey	story
sulphur	sulfur		theatre	theater		titbit	tidbit		toxaemia	toxemia
travelling	traveling		tyre	tire		vice	vise		woollen	woolen

The British spelling of words usually involves the 'u' or a 'll', whereas the American spelling of words mostly omits the 'u' and also has a single 'l'.

British vs American Words

In this table we shall see some words that actually mean the same thing, though completely different words are used for them in the British and American English language styles.

BRITISH	AMERICAN		BRITISH	AMERICAN		BRITISH	AMERICAN		BRITISH	AMERICAN
banger	sausage		bloke	guy		bin	trash can		biscuit	cookie
bonnet	hood		car boot	car trunk		car park	parking lot		caravan	motor home
chemist	pharmacist		chips	fries		cinema	movie theater		crisps	potato chips
dummy	pacifier		football	soccer		full stop	period		flyover	overpass
hire	rent		holiday	vacation		jam/jelly	jello		jumper	sweater
lift	elevator		loo	bathroom		lorry	truck		maize	corn
mince	chopped beef		motorway	highway		nappy	diaper		nought	nothing
number plate	license plate		paraffin	kerosene		pavement	sidewalk		petrol	gas
plaster	band-aid		post	mail		postal code	zip code		pram	baby carriage
queue	line		row	argument		rubber	eraser		serviette	napkin
silencer	muffler		solicitor	lawyer		tin	can		torch	flashlight
car park	parking lot		gearbox	transmission		spanner	wrench		anti-clockwise	counter-clockwise
barrister	attorney		crossroads	intersection		diversion	detour		driving licence	driver's license
dustbin	garbage can, trash can		mad	crazy, insane		maths	math		motorbike	motorcycle
postbox	mailbox		postman	mailman		pub	bar		railway	railroad
return ticket	round trip		sweets	candy		timetable	schedule		whisky	whiskey
zip	zipper		hoarding	billboard		puncture	blowout		current account	checking account
porridge	oatmeal		mason	stoneworker, brickworker		prawn	shrimp		sellotape	Scotch tape
tram	trolley car		zebra crossing	crosswalk, pedestrian crossing		constable	officer		coach	intercity bus
trousers	pants		waistcoat	vest		windscreen	windshield		pram	baby carriage
roundabout	traffic circle		polo neck	turtleneck		primary	preschool		arse	ass
staff	employee		head lamp	headlight		cardigan	sweater		frock	dress
knickers	panties		couch	sofa		cupboard	closet		garden	yard
loft	attic		tap	faucet		coriander	cilantro		take-away	to go
chat show	talk show		college	university		counterfoil	stub		CV	resume
fair	carnival		gum	glue		parcel	package		pay packet	pay check
post mortem	autopsy		property	real estate		purse	wallet		reception	lobby
shop	store		share	stock		tick	check		tube	subway
toilet	restroom		fill up	top up		aerial	antenna		headmaster	principal
tarmac	asphalt		air hostess	flight attendant		alsatian	German shepherd		bank holiday	legal holiday
caretaker	janitor		casualty department	emergency room		coffin	casket		extra time	overtime
goods train	freight train		insect	bug		jug	pitcher		label	tag
lager	beer		luggage	baggage		match	game		mixer	blender
parliament	congress		prison	jail		term	semester		stock	inventory
quarrel	argument		trainers	sneakers		curtains	drapes		break	recess
compere	emcee		frying pan	skillet		pupil	student		plait	braid
basin	sink		mudguard	fender		timber yard	lumberyard		valuer	appraiser
city centre	downtown		adverts	commercial break		bookstall	newsstand		fringe	bangs

The British and American spelling difference are quite minor, but important not to overlook as well. Here we have seen quite a few words, some that are actually the same word, but just a slight difference in the spelling, whereas others means the same thing, but the words used for them are different. But basically, it's English, so very slightly different, and with a little difference in the accent too. And that is what American spelling vs British spelling is all about.