British v American Spellings

Can you answer these questions?

• A lot of American spellings have fewer letters, why?
• Do you know why Americans changed British spellings?
• What year was the first American dictionary published?
  (Answers in the video or read on)
  
  

  There are a few important spelling differences between American and British words that you should be aware of, especially if your spellcheck on your computer is set to the American dictionary.

  It seems crazy but a lot of computers at British colleges are not automatically set to the British English dictionary default. So be careful and change that dictionary setting to the UK dictionary setting.
  
  

  So why are there differences?

  The differences all started with Noah Webster.

  With the Declaration of Independence in 1776 Americans wanted to proclaim their differences from Britain and one way was to reform spelling. Noah Webster led the way.

  But his radical proposals had little support and in the end the spelling reforms were moderate in comparison to what he wanted. 

  The spelling reforms weren’t strongly supported by academics and linguists, maybe because with a lot of English spelling you see the etymology (the history) in the word which they didn't want destroyed.

  He managed to simplify quite a few words though.

  British to American

  -our  to -or  - colour to color

  -re to -er - centre to center -

  -ise to -ize  - realise to realize

  -yse to -yze  - analyse to analyse

  -ogue to -og or -ogue   - dialogue to dialogue or dialog

  -enc to -ense - -defence to defense

  No doubling of the final l – travelling to traveling
  
  

  In most cases American words have fewer letters -

  US -       British
  licorice - liquorice
  program - programme
  maneuver - manoeuvre
  plow - plough
  sulfur - sulphur
  specialty - speciality
  naught - nought
  skeptic - sceptic
  vial - phial
  whiskey - whisky

  Do you know the British spellings of these American spellings:  

  write a check
  cozy
  donut
  roadside curb
  mustache
  omelet
  pajamas
  tire
  gray
  yogurt
  
  

  
  
  Answers

  US - write a check
  Br - cheque

  Am - cozy
  Br - cosy

  Am - donut
  Br - doughnut

  Am - roadside curb
  Br- kerb

  Am - mustache
  Br - moustache

  Am - omelet
  Br - omelette

  Am - pajamas
  Br - pyjamas

  Am - tire
  Br - tyre

  Am - gray
  Br - grey

  Am - yogurt
  Br - yoghurt

  Watch this short video for revision