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. So that's how British spelling vs American spelling evolved.

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 the 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		propelling	propelling		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
yoghurt	yogurt

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'.

American Vs British Spellings

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
trousers	pants		waistcoat	vest		windscreen	windshield

You can also read related articles on:

• History of the English Language
• Rules of English Grammar
• List of Interesting Words in English

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 British spelling vs American spelling is all about.