The spelling differences between British English and American English sometimes trip learners up. In this blog post, we'll explore six words that are spelt differently in the UK and the US. Colour vs. Color The American English spelling of this word drops the letter u. Other examples of this spelling difference: Honour (British) vs. Honor (American) Flavour (British) vs. Flavor (American) Labour (British) vs. Labor (American) Theatre vs. Theater This word is spelt with an re in British spelling and an er in American English. Other examples of this spelling difference: Metre (British) vs. Meter (American) Centre (British) vs. Center (Am...
Spellzone covers both American English and British English spellings. Learn more in Unit 36. Here is a list of all the articles in our American English vs. British English series: American English vs British English: 6 Key Spelling Differences Flavor or Flavour? Realize or realise? A quick guide to the differences between American English and British English spelling. 60 American English Words and their British English Counterparts A list of common words in American English and British English. 60 More American English Words and their British English Counterparts More common words in American English and British English. American...
This month’s American English vs. British English blog post theme is shopping. Click here to read an overview of the main differences between American English and British English spelling, and here for more detailed information. Here are 20 shopping-themed words in American English and British English: allowance – pocket money bill – note bookstore – bookshop cart – trolley check – bill coin purse, change purse – purse currency exchange – bureau de change DIY shop – home improvement store drugstore– chemist gift...
This month’s American English vs. British English blog post theme is school. Click here to read an overview of the main differences between American English and British English spelling, and here for more detailed information. Here are 25 American English school-themed words and their British English counterparts: break – holidays cafeteria – canteen college – university elementary school – primary school, junior school eraser – rubber exclamation point – exclamation mark faculty – staff freshman (college) – fresher (university) grade,...
This month’s American English vs. British English blog post theme is driving. Click here to read an overview of the main differences between American English and British English spelling, and here for more detailed information. Here are 20 American English driving-themed words and their British English counterparts: blinker, turn signal – indicator crosswalk – zebra crossing, pedestrian crossing crossing guard – lollipop person detour – diversion divided highway – dual carriageway drink driver, drink driving – drunk driver, drunk driving driving licence – driver&rs...
Last month we shared 20 food-themed American English words and their British English counterparts. This week—in line with our Word for Wednesday theme for March —we’re looking at clothing-related words. Click here to read an overview of the main differences between American English and British English spellings, and here for more detailed information. Here are 20 American English words for clothes and their British English counterparts: coveralls – boilersuit, overalls diaper – nappy jumper – pinafore overalls – dungarees panties – knickers, pants pants &nda...
Although the Spellzone course was written in the UK, it covers both British English and American English spellings. The different spellings of a words are highlighted throughout the course, and you can choose whether you would prefer to take a British English or an American English version of a test. Click here to read an overview of the main differences between American English and British English spellings, and here for more detailed information. It’s not just spellings you need to watch out for though! Some words have different meanings depending on whether they are used in an American English or a British English context. Here are 20 American English...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for November is vegetables. A vegetable is a plant or part of a plant that is used for food. The word dates to the mid-fifteenth century when it meant 'non-animal life’ and was used to describe any type of plant. It has been used in reference to plants specifically grown for food since 1767. So far we’ve looked at the words cabbage and potato. This week we’ve chosen two words that are used to refer to the same vegetable—courgette and zucchini. Both words describe a dark green cucumber-shaped squash that is typically eaten when small. The same vegetable left to mature is often called a marrow. Cour...
Although the Spellzone course was written in the UK, it covers both British English and American English spellings. The different spellings of a words are highlighted throughout the course, and you can choose whether you would prefer to take a British English or an American English version of a test. Click here to read an overview of the main differences between American English and British English spellings, and here for more detailed information. It’s not just spellings you need to watch out for though! Some words have different meanings depending on whether they are used in an American English or a British English context. The word ‘pants’ in American English, for exa...
Happy 4th of July to our American subscribers! Earlier in the week we shared a BBC article that explored whether English spelling should be made simpler. If you find yourself agreeing that English is more complicated than it needs to be, you’re not alone. Longtime readers of our blog might remember our article on the creation of Webster’s dictionary. In An Independent American Language, we wrote: 'With his dictionary and other spelling books, Noah Webster wanted to emphasise that now America was no longer under the rule of Great Britain, its language should also be independent. Many of the changes involved shortening words and changing odd-looking spellings to ...
July 4th marks Independence Day in America. You can read more about why this day is celebrated here. The internet means choosing whether to use American spelling or English spelling no longer just depends on what country you live in. More and more people work with colleagues from all over the world and different institutes, organisations, and publications have different style guides. This means it is likely that you will have to change between American and British spelling every now and then. While there are some one-offs that are best to learn as you go along (read more about these in Unit 36 of Spellzone), here are six general spelling rules to help you learn the key differences betw...
Although the Spellzone course was written in the UK, it covers both British English and American English spellings. The different spellings of a words are highlighted throughout the course, and you can choose whether you would prefer to take a British English or an American English version of a test. Click here to read an overview of the main differences between American English and British English spellings, and here for more detailed information. It’s not just spellings you need to watch out for though! Some words have different meanings depending on whether they are used in an American English or a British English context. The word ‘pants’ in American English, for exa...
One of the reasons English is so difficult to learn is because it is a language full of idioms. An idiom is a combination of words that has a figurative meaning separate from the actual definitions of the words used. There are an estimated 25,000 idioms in the English language. Here in Britain, the influence of the American film and television industry has led to many so-called ‘Americanisms’ being adopted into day-to-day language. It is not uncommon for a Brit to metaphorically talk about ‘touching base’ or ‘striking out’ without ever actually having seen a ball game. Today, to end our month dedicated to American language, we’re going to take a l...
Today we’re going to zoom out from specifically looking at the United States of America to taking a look at some English language words that have been borrowed from the indigenous languages of the Americas as a whole, from Alaska and Greenland to the southernmost tip of South America. Many of these words describe plants or animals that are from the Americas, whilst others may describe aspects or objects from Native American or First Nations day-to-day life (such as wigwams and igloos). In this post, though, we hope to look at some words whose origins might surprise you! Anorak When you think of British items of clothing, you probably think of wellies and anoraks long before you th...
Last week, to celebrate Independence Day, we had a look at American English. Spellzone devotes a unit to the differences between British and American spellings, but there’s more to it than that. There are also cases where the two types of English use different terms to describe the same thing. With this in mind, today we’re going to take a look at four American words that might confuse us over here in Britain. Eggplant This word might make you imagine a plant that grows eggs – and you wouldn’t actually be too far off. Eggplants are a type of vegetable which, when grown in North America and Europe, are usually oval-shaped with a dark purple skin. In Britain they...
Today is Independence Day in the United States. This holiday celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence; a statement explaining the reasons that the Second Continental Congress had voted on the second of July to make what is now known as the United States legally independent from Great Britain. Across the pond, Independence Day will be celebrated with fireworks, parades, and no doubt a lot of family time, but here at Spellzone we thought we’d mark the occasion by having a look at American English. You may remember our article Five Reasons Why English Spelling Is So Difficult, and how one of these reasons was because the English language has roots from all over the pla...
We’d like to ask teachers their views about whether American spelling is now acceptable in the UK and other countries that have traditionally used British spellings. I’ve read somewhere that people in the USA are pretty tolerant of British spelling but I’m not sure if the reverse is yet true this side of the Atlantic. Throughout the Spellzone site we have made sure that we cater for both British and American spelling. Where there is a difference we give both versions of the word and, if there are many examples, such as word endings colour/color, theatre/ theater (Unit 25), there are separate versions of the word lists and test activities. Fl...
American vs. British English
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English Idioms Explained
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