British and American English

Spelling differences

Latin-derived spellings

• -our,-or:

Most words ending in an unstressed –our in British English (Colour,honour,humour)

end in –or in American

English(Color,honor,humor)

-re,-er:Some words end in –re in

British English (Centre,theatre,spectre)

End in er in American English (Center,theater,specter)

Greek-derived spellings

• -ise, -ize:American spelling avoids

-ise endings in words like

(organize,realice,recognize)

British spelling uses both

-ize and(organise, realise, recognise)

-ogue, -og:

British English use -ogue

(Catalogue, dialogue, monologue)

American English use –og

(Catalog, dialog, monolog)