Pages

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

British - American English - Spelling Rules



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
 Look at the example followings lists for words which have different meanings in British and American English:

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





0 comments:

Post a Comment