There
are some spelling differences in American English. In the 1800's, the US
Congress actually called for several changes to make words more phonetic.
Look
at the following examples:
|
|
British English
|
American English
|
Example (British - American)
|
|
words ending in -re
|
change to -er
|
centre - center
metre - meter |
|
|
words ending in -our
|
change to -or
|
colour - color
|
|
|
words ending in -ogue
|
change to -og
|
catalogue - catalog
|
|
|
words ending in -ise/ize
|
ending only in -ize
|
realise/realize - realize
|
|
|
final -l doubled after short vowel
|
- l not always doubled after a
short vowel
|
travelled - traveled
modelling - modeling |
|
|
words ending in -ence
|
change to -ense
|
defence - defense
licence - license |
|
British English
|
American English
|
|
A
|
|
|
accelerator
|
gas pedal, accelerator
|
|
aerial (TV, radio)
|
antenna, aerial
|
|
Alsatian
|
German shepherd
|
|
American Indian
|
Native American
|
|
anorak
|
jacket, parka
|
|
at the weekend
|
on the weekend
|
|
aubergine
|
eggplant
|
|
B
|
|
|
bank holiday
|
national holiday,
federal holiday |
|
barrister, solicitor
|
lawyer, attorney
|
|
base rate
|
prime rate
|
|
to bath
|
to bathe
|
|
beetroot
|
beet
|
|
bill (in restaurants)
|
check (in restaurants)
|
|
bin, dustbin
|
garbage can/trash can
|
|
biro
|
ball-point pen
|
|
biscuit
|
cookie
|
|
bonnet
|
hood
|
|
boot
|
trunk
|
|
braces
|
suspenders
|
|
(round) brackets
|
parentheses
|
|
C
|
|
|
candy floss
|
cotton candy
|
|
car park
|
parking lot
|
|
caravan
|
trailer
|
|
caretaker
|
janitor
|
|
catalogue
|
catalog
|
|
centre
|
center
|
|
chemist's shop
|
drugstore, pharmacy
|
|
chips
|
French fries
|
|
city centre
|
downtown, city center
|
|
cloakroom
|
checkroom, coatroom
|
|
clothes peg
|
clothespin
|
|
colour
|
color
|
|
cooker
|
stove
|
|
(bathing) costume
|
swimsuit
|
|
cosy
|
cozy
|
|
cot (baby)
|
crib
|
|
cotton wool
|
cotton ball
|
|
courgette
|
zucchini
|
|
crisps
|
potato chips
|
|
crossroads
|
crossroad (in the country)
intersection (town and country) |
|
curriculum vitae (CV)
|
résumé
curriculum vitae (depending on the professional field) |
|
D
|
|
|
dinner jacket
|
tux, tuxedo
|
|
directory enquiries
|
directory assistance
|
|
diversion
|
detour
|
|
double cream
|
heavy cream
|
|
draught
|
draft
|
|
draughts
|
checkers
|
|
drawing pin
|
thumb tack
|
|
dressing gown
|
(bath) robe
|
|
drink driving
|
drunk driving
|
|
driving licence
|
driver's license
|
|
dummy
|
pacifier
|
|
duvet
|
comforter
|
|
E
|
|
|
earth wire
|
ground wire
|
|
engaged
|
busy
|
|
enquiry
|
inquiry
|
|
everywhere
|
everyplace, everywhere
|
|
expiry date
|
expiration date
|
