What words do we use in the United States that are spelled differently from words used in the UK?
Besides spelling differences, are there words that we use differently or have a different context compared to words here in the States?
There are a ton of them, but now that you have asked the question I'm having a hard time thinking of them....oh, I know...words that end in "or" for us, many in the UK end in "our"....I'll probably see twenty later today when I'm not thinking about this question. LOL
Center instead of centre and probably many more in that pattern.
Practice is the same for both noun & verb in the US, whereas in Britain we use practice for the noun (We need plenty of practice.) and practise for the verb (It's necessary to practise every day.)
Like billy, I know there are loads more but they won't come to mind at the moment. There are quite a few words that can be embarrassing because they mean different things but, again, I can't think of any off the top of my head so I'm off to find some!
There are many words spelled differently between American English and British English. Bill mentioned the "or" and "our" words. There are many American words ending in "ize" that are spelled "ise" in the UK.
As for words with different meanings between the two countries, here are a few:
In the UK, it's a "boot"; in the US, it's a "car trunk."
A "boot" is worn on the foot in the US; in the UK, it's a "wellie."
A minor injury in the UK may call for "plasters"; "bandages" in the US.
"Dear" refers to expensive in the UK; it's a term of endearment in the US.
A UK newborn sleeps in a "cot"; the US baby sleeps in a "crib."
A "diary" is an appointment book in the UK, but a personal journal in the US.
UK: chemist/US: pharmacist
UK: Give us a "cuddle." US: Give me a "hug."
These are only a few of many differences between British English and American English. One of the major differences (to me) is that when a billion pounds is referenced in the UK, it means a million million, while a billion US dollars equals a thousand million. BIG difference! Of course, one British pound sterling is currently worth $1.52 in US dollars--another big difference....
Jaye
I Spell Checked (US version) a story I have written and came up with these US spellings and UK alternatives:
US UK
aplogized apologised
armory armoury
artifacts artefacts
bejeweled bejewelled
color colour
dexterous dextrous
disheveled dishevelled
endeavors endeavours
favored favoured
gamboling gambolling
harmonize harmonise
humor humour
jeweled jewelled
labored laboured
marveled marvelled
marveling marvelling
meager meagre
mesmerizing mesmerising
misdmeneanors misdemeanours
misjudgment misjudgement
neighbor neighbour
practiced (Verb) practised (Verb)
pulverized pulverised
raveled ravelled
realization realisation
realized realised
realizing realising
recognizing recognising
reveled revelled
savor savour
savored savoured
somberly sombrely
spiraled spiralled
splendor splendour
tasseled tasselled
Traveler Traveller
vapor vapour
woolen woollen
and of course,
center centre
theater theatre
I hope these are of some help.
These definitely help. The question came to mind when I noticed that jewelry was being spelled as jewellery in a Hub. I noticed that the writer was from the UK and it got me thinking....what else is different?
In fact 'jewellery' can be 'jewelry' or jewlry' in the UK, depending on choice but also on the era in which it was written. Very interesting, our language! It's my passion and it was my job.
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