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Central Data Service |
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The differences between US English, UK English and Australian spellings - Common Patterns & Examples | ||
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Email : davidn@dfdn.info (44) (0) 7943055280 |
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As the table below shows, the difference between UK and US spelling usually relates to just one or two letters.
|
US |
UK |
Australia |
|---|---|---|
|
uses -ize, -yze (e.g., realize, analyze) |
prefers -ise, -yse (e.g., realise, analyse), but is flexible |
almost always uses ise, yse |
|
-er (e.g., theater, meter) |
-re (e.g., theatre, metre) |
British usage |
|
uses -or (e.g., honor, color, splendor) |
uses -our (e.g. honour, colour, splendour) |
British usage |
|
uses –ction (e.g., connection) |
acceptable to use –xion (e.g., connexion), but this is increasingly rare |
American usage |
|
often drops -e for word modifications (e.g., judge to judgment, live to livable) |
generally keeps –e for word modifications (e.g., judge to judgement, live to liveable) |
keeps -e (e.g., judgement), like British; but sometimes drops -e (e.g., livable) |
|
usually prefers -e to -oe or -ae (e.g., pediatrician, leukemia) |
uses -oe and -ae (e.g., paediatrician, leukaemia) |
British usage |
|
usually prefers one “l” to double “ll” (e.g., canceled, traveled) |
uses double “ll” instead of one “l” “(e.g., cancelled, travelled) |
British usage (travelling vs traveling, cancelled vs canceled) |
The following cheat sheet outlines the preferred spelling of some words that are commonly used in academic writing.
Verbs
|
US |
UK |
Australia |
|---|---|---|
|
analyze |
analyse |
analyse |
|
apologize |
apologise |
apologise |
|
capitalize |
capitalise |
capitalise |
|
categorize |
categorise |
categorise |
|
characterize |
characterise |
characterise |
|
colonize |
colonise |
colonise |
|
endeavor |
endeavour |
endeavour |
|
enroll |
enrol |
enrol |
|
fulfill |
fulfil |
fulfil |
|
globalize |
globalise |
globalise |
|
honor |
honour |
honour |
|
hypothesize |
hypothesise |
hypothesise |
|
inquire |
enquire |
enquire |
|
install |
instal |
install |
|
legalize |
legalise |
legalise |
|
maneuver |
manoeuvre |
manoeuvre |
|
maximize |
maximise |
maximise |
|
minimize |
minimise |
minimise |
|
mold |
mould |
mould |
|
neutralize |
neutralise |
neutralise |
|
optimize |
optimise |
optimise |
|
paralyze |
paralyse |
paralyse |
|
plow |
plough |
plough |
|
privatize |
privatise |
privatise |
|
randomize |
randomise |
randomise |
|
realize |
realise |
realise |
|
recognize |
recognise |
recognise |
Past-tense verbs
|
US |
UK |
Australia |
|---|---|---|
|
canceled |
cancelled |
cancelled |
|
channeled |
channelled |
channelled |
|
labeled |
labelled |
labelled |
|
modeled |
modelled |
modelled |
|
traveled |
travelled |
travelled |
Nouns
|
US |
UK |
Australia |
|---|---|---|
|
acknowledgment |
acknowledgement |
acknowledgment or acknowledgement |
|
aluminum |
aluminium |
aluminium |
|
artifact |
artefact |
artefact |
|
behaviour |
behaviour |
|
|
caliber |
calibre |
calibre |
|
center |
centre |
centre |
|
color |
colour |
colour |
|
cooperation |
co-operation |
cooperation or co-operation |
|
councilor |
councillor |
councillor |
|
counselor |
counsellor |
counsellor |
|
defense |
defence |
defence |
|
estrogen |
oestrogen |
oestrogen |
|
fetus |
foetus |
foetus |
|
fiber |
fibre |
fibre |
|
flavor |
flavour |
flavour |
|
humor |
humour |
humour |
|
judgment |
judgement |
judgement |
|
labor |
labour |
labour |
|
leukemia |
leukaemia |
leukaemia |
|
license |
licence |
licence |
|
liter |
litre |
litre |
|
meter |
metre |
metre |
|
neighbor |
neighbour |
neighbour |
|
organization |
organisation |
organisation |
|
paleontology |
palaeontology |
palaeontology |
|
program |
programme (but program if computer-related) |
program |
|
sulfur |
sulphur |
sulphur |
|
theater |
theatre |
theatre |
|
tire |
tyre |
tyre |
|
vapor |
vapour |
vapour |
Adjectives
|
US |
UK |
Australia |
|---|---|---|
|
aging |
ageing |
ageing |
|
favorite |
favourite |
favourite |
|
gray |
grey |
grey |
|
livable |
liveable |
livable |
|
movable |
moveable |
moveable |
|
orthopedic |
orthopaedic |
orthopaedic |
|
salable |
saleable |
saleable |
|
skeptical |
sceptical |
sceptical |
|
somber |
sombre |
sombre |