Sharing research and ideas on Linguistics, Applied Linguistics and ELT (English Language Teaching)
Differences between British, Canadian and American Spelling
by Karen Bond
This list is very much a work-in-progress. If you find any inaccuracies, or can think of any words or spellings that I have omitted, please
email me at teacherkarenb @ hotmail.com. If you are looking for a specific word in Canadian or American English, please go to Edit, then Find.
Canadian English generally follows British spelling, but often the American alternative is possible too.
The most commonly used spelling, where applicable, is marked with an asterisk.
Australian English also
generally follows the British tradition.
 |  |  |
British | Canadian | American |
acknowledgement | acknowledgement*, acknowledgment | acknowledgment |
ageing, aging | aging*, ageing* | aging |
aeroplane | airplane | airplane |
aesthetics | aesthetics | aesthetics, esthetics |
aluminium | aluminum | aluminum |
| among, amongst | among*, amongst | among |
| amortise | amortize | amortize |
| anaemia | anemia | anemia |
anaesthesia | anaesthesia*, anesthesia | anesthesia |
| analogue | analogue | analogue, analog |
| analyse | analyze*, analyse | analyze |
| annex, annexe | annex | annex |
| apnoea | apnea | apnea |
apologise*, apologize | apologize | apologize |
archaeology | archaeology*, archeology | archeology, archaeology |
| armour | armour*, armor | armor |
| artefact | artifact | artifact |
| authorise*, authorize | authorize | authorize |
axe | axe | ax, axe |
| balk*, baulk | balk | balk |
| banister*, bannister | banister*, bannister | banister |
| behaviour | behaviour*, behavior | behavior |
| behove | behoove | behoove |
| blonde (for female) | blond*, blonde* | blond, blonde |
| B.Sc. | B.Sc. | B.S. |
| burette | burette*, buret | buret, burette |
burnt, burned | burned*, burnt* | burned, burnt |
| bussed, bussing | bused, busing | bused, busing |
| Caesarean | Caesarian*, Cesarean, Cesarian | Cesarean, Caesarean |
| calibre | calibre | caliber |
cancelled | cancelled | canceled, cancelled |
| candour | candour | candor |
| capitalise | capitalize | capitalize |
| carburettor | carburetor*, carburettor | carburetor |
catalogue | catalogue | catalog(ue) |
| catalyse | catalyze*, catalyse | catalyze |
centre | centre | center |
cheque (noun, money) |
cheque |
check |
chequered |
checkered |
checkered |
| chilli*, chili | chili | chili |
| cigarette | cigarette | cigarette, cigaret |
| clamour | clamour | clamor |
| collectable *, collectible | collectible | collectible |
colour | colour | color |
| connection*, connexion | connection | connection |
| convenor | convenor | convener |
cosy | cozy | cozy |
counsellor | counsellor*, counselor | counselor |
criticise*, criticize | criticize | criticize |
| curb (verb) | curb | curb |
| demeanour | demeanour | demeanor |
| dependant (a person who relies on another person, especially for financial support) | dependant | dependent |
defence | defence*, defense | defense |
dialogue | dialogue | dialog(ue) |
diarrhoea | diarrhea | diarrhea |
| dietician*, dietitian | dietitian*, dietician | dietician, dietitian |
| dispatch*, despatch | dispatch | dispatch |
doughnut | doughnut, donut | donut, doughnut |
Dr (A contracted form of a word, ending with the same letter as the full form, is not followed by a full stop). | Dr. | Dr. |
draught (current of air) | draft | draft |
dreamt, dreamed | dreamt*, dreamed* | dreamed, dreamt |
emphasise | emphasize | emphasize |
| encyclopedia*, encyclopędia | encyclopedia | encyclopedia |
| endeavour | endeavour | endeavor |
enquiry*, inquiry | inquiry*, enquiry | inquiry |
enrol | enrol | enroll |
favour | favour | favor |
| favourite | favourite | favorite |
fibre | fibre | fiber |
| finalize, finalise | finalize | finalize |
flautist | flutist*, flautist | flutist |
flavour | flavour | flavor |
| focused, focusing or focussed, focussing | focused, focusing or focussed, focussing | focused, focusing |
| foetus*, fetus | fetus | fetus |
| forever*, for ever | forever | forever |
| fuelling | fuelling | fueling |
fulfil | fulfil | fulfill, fulfil |
| galvanise | galvanize | galvanize |
| gaol (old fashioned), jail* | jail | jail |
| gauge | gauge | gauge, gage |
| generalise | generalize | generalize |
glamour | glamour | glamour, glamor |
| gonorrhoea | gonorrhea | gonorrhea |
grey | grey | gray |
| gynaecology | gynecology*, gynaecology | gynecology |
haemorrhage | hemorrhage | hemorrhage |
harbour | harbour | harbor |
| harmonise*, harmonize | harmonize | harmonize |
haulier | hauler | hauler |
| homeopathy*, homoeopathy | homeopathy | homeopathy |
honour | honour | honor |
| humour | humour | humor |
| initialise | initialize | initialize |
| instalment | instalment*, installment | installment |
| jail*, gaol (old fashioned) | jail | jail |
jewellery | jewellery*, jewelry | jewelry |
judgment*, judgement | judgment*, judgement | judgment |
kerb (noun) | curb | curb |
| kilometre | kilometre | kilometer |
| label, labelled, labelling | label, labelled, labelling | label, labeled, labeling |
labour | labour | labor |
| lasagne | lasagna | lasagna |
leant, leaned | leaned | leaned |
learnt, learned |