Practice
British and American spelling: common differences
Sign in to saveA British notice may ask you to visit the town centre, while an American notice may send you to the town center. The place is the same; the spelling follows a different house style.
Recognize common British and American spelling patterns and choose one consistent spelling style for a piece of writing.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
colour / color /ˈkʌlə(r)/
The short answer
Choose the spelling style expected by your reader and keep it consistent. British English often has forms such as colour, centre, and travelled; American English usually has color, center, and traveled.
The museum is near the city centre.
Why it works: Centre is a common British spelling for the middle of a place.
5 more examples
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The brochure uses colour photographs on every page.
Colour is a common British spelling in writing that follows a British style.
Not this:The brochure uses
color photographson every page. What changes: Color is the usual American spelling for the same meaning. -
Meet me at the information centre after lunch.
Centre is a common British spelling for a middle place or a service location.
Not this:Meet me at the
information centerafter lunch. What changes: Center is the usual American spelling in the same sentence. -
We travelled by train to the conference.
British style commonly doubles the final l in travelled and travelling.
Not this:We
traveledby train to the conference. What changes: American style commonly uses one l before the ending in traveled and traveling. -
The theatre is opposite the station.
Theatre is a common British spelling for a place where people watch a performance.
Not this:The
theateris opposite the station. What changes: Theater is the usual American spelling for the same place. -
The team will organise the volunteer schedule.
Organise is widely used in British style.
Not this:The team will
organizethe volunteer schedule. What changes: Organize is standard in American English and is also accepted by some British publishers.
Read the full guide
Start by finding out which style your task needs. Then look for familiar patterns, such as -our and -or or -re and -er. A dictionary and the publication's style guide settle words that do not fit a simple pattern. Do not change the spelling inside a title, a quotation, a person's name, or an official label unless you are asked to edit it.
Choose a style before you edit
A spelling choice starts with the reader and the text's requirements. A university, employer, publisher, or exam may specify British or American English. If no style is specified, choose a suitable standard variety and use it consistently in your own prose.
This guide follows American spelling, so it uses color in the headings.
The sentence tells the reader which style the guide uses. The choice is deliberate, not a correction to British spelling.
A British organization asks for a report. Which form is likely to fit its style: centre or center?
Centre is likely to fit, but follow the organization's stated style guide if it gives one.
Look for -our and -or
Many familiar words have -our in British spelling and -or in American spelling. Colour and color are a useful first pair. Other words may follow the pattern too, but check a dictionary rather than changing every word that looks similar.
Her favourite colour is green.
Favourite and colour are common British spellings in this sentence.
Her favorite color is green.
Favorite and color are usual American spellings with the same meaning.
Notice -re and -er
Some words end in -re in British English and -er in American English. Centre and center are common examples. This difference also appears in words such as theatre and theater, but it does not apply to every word that ends with these letters.
The new cafe is beside the sports centre.
Centre is the common British spelling in this use.
Choose the American spelling: The clinic is near the city ___.
Use center. It is the usual American form for the middle of a place.
Check the final l before an ending
British and American style can differ when a word ending in l takes an ending. British spelling commonly has travelled and travelling. American spelling commonly has traveled and traveling. This pattern has exceptions, so let a reliable dictionary confirm an unfamiliar word.
They are travelling overnight to save time.
Travelling with two ls is common in British spelling.
They are traveling overnight to save time.
Traveling with one l is common in American spelling.
Treat -ise and -ize carefully
American English normally uses organize, realize, and similar -ize forms. In British English, organise and realize may both appear, depending on the publisher's preferred style. Do not assume that -ize is always American or that -ise is always British.
The volunteers will organise the collection.
Organise is a widely used British form.
The volunteers will organize the collection.
Organize is standard American spelling and appears in some British house styles too.
Keep exceptions and quoted text intact
Not every difference belongs to a broad pattern. For example, British writing often uses programme for a television show or event, while both varieties commonly use program for computer instructions. Preserve spelling in direct quotations, official names, and product titles unless your task explicitly asks you to change it.
The festival programme is available at the entrance.
Programme is common British spelling for an event listing.
You quote an American university's official title in a British report. Should you change its spelling?
No. Keep an official title as the institution writes it, even when it differs from the report's main spelling style.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose the spelling system your reader expects, then keep it steady. Look for common pairs such as colour or color, centre or center, and travelled or traveled. When a word is uncertain, check a dictionary or the relevant style guide.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "British and American spelling: common differences"
Are British and American spellings always different?
No. Most English words have the same spelling in both varieties. The differences are limited to certain words and patterns, such as colour or color and centre or center. Use a dictionary or style guide when a word is unfamiliar or when the required style is unclear.
The brochure uses colour photographs on every page.
Should I use British or American spelling?
Use the spelling style required by your teacher, reader, employer, or publisher. If no style is required, choose a standard variety that fits your audience and use it consistently. A British report may use colour, while an American report may use color.
The brochure uses color photographs on every page.
Is organize British or American spelling?
Organize is standard in American English. It is also accepted by some British publishers, especially those that prefer -ize endings. Organise is widely used in British style. Check the house style before changing a word such as organize or organise.
Meet me at the information centre after lunch.
Why does travelling have two ls in British spelling?
British spelling commonly doubles the final l before endings in words such as travelled and travelling. American spelling commonly uses traveled and traveling. This is a common pattern, but not a rule for every word ending in l, so confirm unfamiliar forms in a dictionary.
Meet me at the information center after lunch.
Can I mix British and American spelling in one document?
Avoid mixing the two systems in your own prose unless a style guide requires it. Choose a main spelling style and apply it consistently. Keep the original form in a direct quotation, official title, or product name when that wording must remain exact.
We travelled by train to the conference.