British and American spelling · Grade 5
British and American English spell some words differently. The words mean the same thing: colour and color, centre and center. Use one spelling and keep to it. British schools (and most of the world) use British spelling; American schools use American spelling.
Key facts
- British -our, American -or: colour / color, favourite / favorite, neighbour / neighbor.
- British -re, American -er: centre / center, theatre / theater, litre / liter.
- American English uses -ize and -yze: organize, realize, analyze. British English usually uses -ise and -yse: organise, analyse.
- British English doubles l before an ending; American English doesn't: travelled / traveled, cancelled / canceled, jewellery / jewelry. But: fulfil / fulfill, enrol / enroll.
- Other pairs: defence / defense, catalogue / catalog, grey / gray, mould / mold, pyjamas / pajamas.