British vs American Spelling: 12 Words You Might Be Getting Wrong
English spelling can vary significantly depending on whether you're using British or American English. These differences can be confusing for learners and even native speakers. In this post, we explore 12 common words with different spellings in the UK and the US.
1. Colour 🇬🇧 vs Color 🇺🇸
British English keeps the "u" in words like colour, honour, and favour. American English drops it.
2. Centre 🇬🇧 vs Center 🇺🇸
British English uses "re" endings, while American English flips them to "er" (e.g., metre vs meter).
3. Realise 🇬🇧 vs Realize 🇺🇸
British English uses "s", American prefers "z" in verbs like realize, organize, and recognize.
4. Defence 🇬🇧 vs Defense 🇺🇸
British uses "ce", American uses "se" in nouns like licence/license, offence/offense.
5. Travelling 🇬🇧 vs Traveling 🇺🇸
Double "l" is common in British English, but American English drops one "l".
6. Ageing 🇬🇧 vs Aging 🇺🇸
British English often retains the "e", while American simplifies it.
7. Jewellery 🇬🇧 vs Jewelry 🇺🇸
British English adds extra letters in some words, while American uses shorter forms.
8. Tyre 🇬🇧 vs Tire 🇺🇸
This one refers specifically to vehicles—don’t mix it up with "tired"!
9. Programme 🇬🇧 vs Program 🇺🇸
Especially in broadcasting, British keeps "programme"; American uses "program" in all contexts.
10. Cheque 🇬🇧 vs Check 🇺🇸
For banking, British uses "cheque"; "check" is for verification and banking in the US.
11. Plough 🇬🇧 vs Plow 🇺🇸
British often keeps older or traditional spellings with "gh".
12. Sulphur 🇬🇧 vs Sulfur 🇺🇸
Scientific terms may differ too — the IUPAC accepts "sulfur" universally now.
Summary Table
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| Colour | Color |
| Centre | Center |
| Realise | Realize |
| Defence | Defense |
| Travelling | Traveling |
| Ageing | Aging |
| Jewellery | Jewelry |
| Tyre | Tire |
| Programme | Program |
| Cheque | Check |
| Plough | Plow |
| Sulphur | Sulfur |
Why It Matters
Using the correct spelling for your audience (UK or US) helps your writing look professional and appropriate. If you’re writing for an international audience, stay consistent!
Join the Conversation
Which spelling differences have confused you the most? Share in the comments below!
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