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Spellzone has been written in the UK by a teacher from the historic City of York. It covers both British and American English spelling. |  |
Here is an overview of the main differences between British and American spellings:
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| armour armoury behaviour candour clamour colour demeanour endeavour favourite flavour glamour harbour honour humour labour neighbour odour rancour rigour rumour saviour savour savoury splendour valour vapour vigour |
armor armory behavior candor clamor color demeanor endeavor favorite flavor glamor harbor honor humor labor neighbor odor rancor rigor rumor savior savor savory splendor valor vapor vigor |
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| amphitheatre calibre centimetre centre fibre kilometre litre louvre lustre manoeuvre meagre metre millimetre sabre sceptre sombre spectre theatre |
amphitheater caliber centimeter center fiber kilometer liter louver luster maneuver meager meter millimeter saber scepter somber specter theater |
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Note: These words are
spelled with -re in both Britain and the USA:
There is a logical reason for this. Can you work out why these spellings are not changed to in the USA? Join us to find out. |
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| analogue dialogue catalogue epilogue monologue prologue travelogue |
analog dialog catalog epilog monolog prolog travelog |
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| Note: -ogue can also be used in the USA |
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| cancelled counsellor equalled fuelling fuelled grovelling jeweller jewellery levelled libelled marvellous modelling panelled quarrelling revelled woollen |
canceled counselor equaled fueling fueled groveling jeweler jewelry or jewelery leveled libeled marvelous modeling paneled quarreling reveled woolen |
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| To review the doubling rules, look back at Unit 34 page 7 | ||||
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| appal distil enrol enthral fulfil instil skilful wilful |
appall distill enroll enthrall fulfill instill skillful willful |
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| diarrhoea oestrogen foetus manoeuvre mementoes anaemia caesarean gynaecology haemorrhage leukaemia palaeontology paediatric |
diarrhea estrogen fetus maneuver mementos anemia cesarean gynecology hemorrhage leukemia paleontology pediatric |
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 Some words are the same in both countries: |
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| appetiser authorise capitalise characterise civilise colonise criticise dramatise emphasise equalise mobilise naturalise organise popularise realise recognise satirise standardise symbolise vaporise ************** analyse paralyse |
appetizer authorize capitalize characterize civilize colonize criticize dramatize emphasize equalize mobilize naturalize organize popularize realize recognize satirize standardize symbolize vaporize ************** analyze paralyze |
size capsize prize seize ************** advise surprise advertise |
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| Note: Some British spellers do use the -ize ending - either is correct - but the American spelling is almost always -ize. | |||||
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| defence | defense | |||
| offence | offense | |||
| pretence | pretense | |||
| vice (workbench tool) |
vise | |||
| licence (as a noun): I've lost my driving licence. |
license (noun and verb) | |||
| license (as a verb) is
the same in both countries: He is licensed to drive large trucks |
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| practise (as a verb): I practise the piano every day. |
practice (noun and verb) | |||
| practice (as a noun) is the same in both countries. | ||||
Some more examples of spelling differences:
| Spelling change |  |
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| ph > f | sulphate sulphide sulphur | sulfate sulfide sulfur |
| ugh > f or w | draught plough | draft plow |
| y > i | tyre (on a wheel) gybe | tire jibe |
| ou > o | mould moult smoulder | mold molt smolder |
| mme > m | programme | program |
| que > ck | cheque (money) chequer (game) |
check checker |
| ge > g | acknowledgement ageing judgement |
acknowledgment aging judgment |
| Miscellaneous: | aluminium | aluminum |
| axe | ax | |
| cosy | cozy | |
| kerb (edge of road) | curb | |
| furore | furor | |
| grey | gray | |
| carat | (gold) karat | |
| liquorice | licorice | |
| moustache | mustache | |
| nought | naught | |
| pyjamas | pajamas | |
| sceptic | skeptic | |
| phial | vial |
Unit 36 includes more information about the differences in English spelling in Britain and in the USA.
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