 English
Spelling
One of the more notable differences between English as it is spoken in
different countries
is in the spelling of word endings. The following table shows some
common spelling equivalents. Note that the British spelling is nearly
always closer to the French.
| American |
Examples |
British |
Examples |
French |
| -ck |
check |
-que |
cheque |
chèque |
| -ense |
defense
license |
-ence |
defence
licence |
défense
licence |
| -er |
center
meter |
-re |
centre
metre |
centre
mètre |
| -g |
catalog
dialog |
-gue |
catalogue
dialogue |
catalogue
dialogue |
| -m |
program |
-mme |
programme |
programme |
| -or |
color
favor |
-our |
colour
favour |
couleur
faveur |
| -zation |
privatization
authorization |
-sation |
privatisation
authorisation |
privatisation
autorisation |
| -ze |
realize
formalize |
-se |
realise
formalise |
réaliser
formaliser |
Here are some less common spelling tendencies:
| American |
Examples |
British |
Examples |
| -e- |
archeology
encyclopedia |
-ae- |
archaeology
encyclopaedia |
| -_l |
jewelry
fueled |
-_ll |
jewellery
fuelled |
| -_ll |
fulfill
enrollment |
-_l |
fulfil
enrolment |
| -ling |
signaling
traveling |
-lling |
signalling
travelling |
| -ipped |
worshipped |
-iped |
worshiped |
Also, in American English the final e is removed from verbs before adding -ing,
whereas in British English this is not always done:
routing, aging (American) vs routeing,
ageing
(British)
Other English Dialects The above rules
are for American vs British spelling. For the most part, the other English
dialects also use British spelling, with some exceptions.
Australian English
program, not programme worshipped, not worshiped
In addition, several British spellings are in the process of becoming
Americanized:
both -ae- and -e- may be found both -ise and -ize are commonly used
-our is becoming -or, except in harbour and saviour
Canadian English
-_l, not -_ll (e.g., fulfill) -m, not -mme (e.g., program)
-zation, not -sation (e.g., privatization) -ze, not -se (e.g.,
analyze)
However, many words have been Americanized and both spellings may be
used.
Copyright ©
Laura K. Lawless All rights reserved.
About Me | About My English | About This Site
|
