When you begin writing , you will need to decide what style of English to use. The most commonly used dialects are American English, British English and Australian English. Although these dialects follow many of the same rules, they also have some important differences – especially in relation to spelling.
So why are there differences?
With the Declaration of Independence in 1776 Americans wanted to proclaim their differences from Britain and one way was to reform spelling. Noah Webster led the way.
But his radical proposals had little support and in the end the spelling reforms were moderate in comparison to what he wanted.
The spelling reforms weren’t strongly supported by academics and linguists, maybe because with a lot of English spelling you see the etymology (the history) in the word which they didn't want destroyed.
He managed to simplify quite a few words though.
British to American
-our to -or - colour to color
-re to -er - centre to center -
-ise to -ize - realise to realize
-yse to -yze - analyse to analyse
-ogue to -og or -ogue - dialogue to dialogue or dialog
-enc to -ense - -defence to defense
No doubling of the final l – travelling to traveling
Basic spelling differences
The following “cheat sheet” outlines the preferred spelling of some words that are commonly used in academic writing.
| 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 | enroll |
| 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 |
| US | UK | Australia |
| canceled | cancelled | cancelled |
| channeled | channelled | channelled |
| labeled | labelled | labelled |
| modeled | modelled | modelled |
| traveled | travelled | travelled |
| US | UK | Australia |
| acknowledgment | acknowledgement | (either) |
| aluminum | aluminium | aluminium |
| artifact | artefact | artefact |
| behavior | behaviour | behaviour |
| caliber | calibre | calibre |
| center | centre | centre |
| color | colour | colour |
| cooperation | co-operation | (either) |
| councilor | councillor | councilor |
| counselor | counsellor | counselor |
| 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 |
| 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 |