DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH SPELLINGS (PART 3)

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH SPELLINGS (PART 3)

(Special for WASSCE/NECO/UTME Candidates)

          Let us, here, discuss Part 3 of ‘Differences between British (U.K.) and American English Spellings’ and bring the series to a close.

Fifth (5^th) Guideline:     Most words which have ise endings in British (U.K.) English, do change to, or have ize endings in American English.

      List of some commonly used words which have ise endings in British (U.K.) English, but have ize endings in American English:

BRITISH	AMERICAN
appetiser authorise capitalise characterise civilise colonise criticise dramatise emphasise equalise mobilise naturalise organise popularise realise recognise satirise standardise symbolise vaporise apologise analyse paralyse	appetizer authorize capitalize characterize civilize colonize criticize dramatize emphasize equalize mobilize naturalize organize popularize realize recognize satirize standardize symbolize vaporize apologize analyze paralyze

Exceptions:

However, there are some words in that category which have exception to the above guideline and pattern.  Such words end with either ise or ize in both British (U.K.) English and American English.

Below is a list of some words which end with either ise or ize in both British (U.K.) English and American English without changes:

BRITISH	AMERICAN
size capsize prize seize advise surprise advertise	size capsize prize seize advise surprise advertise

Sixth (6) Guideline:      Some words which end with ce in noun form in British (U.K.) English, end with se in noun form in American English.

Such words are few though, and they include the following:

BRITISH	AMERICAN
defence offence pretence vice (as work-bench tool) licence	defense offense pretense vise (as work-bench tool) license

Note:                    While the word “license” is both a noun and a verb in American English, it is only a verb in British (U.K.) English, where it refers to the process of getting a licence or being permitted or authorised to do something or carrying out a particular practice. 

Other words with spellings differing in British (U.K.) English and American English:

The following list shows some others words with spellings differing in British (U.K.) English and American English:

  

BRITISH	AMERICAN
aluminium axe cosy kerb (edge of road or pavement) furore grey carat liquorice moustache nought pyjamas sceptic phial whisky acknowledgement ageing judgement cheque (money) chequer (game) programme tyre mould sulphur	aluminum ax cozy curb (edge of road or pavement) furor gray (gold) karat licorice mustache naught pajamas skeptic vial whiskey acknowledgment aging judgment check checker progam tire mold sulfur