[This article is a sequel to American Spellings for British Schools? in J21, 1997/1]

Choosing between American and British spellings as standards for written English. Part 2.

In Part 1: Preface | Differences between British and American English | Index of Topics of detailed analysis

Topic 12. Alphabetical list of recommended spellings.

In the following list recommended spellings are listed in plain type, while non-recommended forms are listed in italics with the preferred alternative following in plain type. Most of the preferred forms are standard in America, but a few are in minority or non-standard usage there, and a few are standard in Britain but not in America. For words recommended with two spellings (eg, behove, behoove), each represents a different pronunciation. Some words (eg, macabre) are listed simply to show that an otherwise regular pattern of change (here, -re > -er) does not apply, and the form 'macaber' is not available.

A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z.

acknowledgement (+s)
> acknowledgment (+s) acknowledgment
acre
advertise > advertize
advertize
adz (+es)
adze (+s) > adz (+es)
aeon (+s) > eon (+s)
aesthete (+s) > esthete (+s)
aesthetic (+s) > esthetic (+s)
agonise > agonize
agonize
aluminium
aluminum
ameba
amoeba > ameba
anaemia > anemia
analog
analogue > analog
analyse > analyze
analyze
he analyses > he analyzes
he analyzes
his analyses

anemia
appall +s
appal +s > appall +s
apologise > apologize
apologize
appareled
apparelled > appareled
authorise > authorize
arbor
arbour > arbor
archaeology > archeology
archaeologist > archeologist
archeology
archeologist
ardor
ardour > ardor
armor (+y)
armour (+y) > armor (+y)
artefact (+s) > artifact (+s)
artifact (+s)
authorise > authorize
authorize
ax (+ed, +ing, +es)
axe > axe (+ed, +ing, +es)

B
baptise > baptize baptize bark (+s) barque (s) > bark (+s) bedevil +ed, +ing bedevil +led, +ling > bedevil +ed, +ing behavior (+ism) behaviour (+ism) > behavior behoove	behove bevel +ed,+ing bevell +ed,+ing > bevel+ed,+ing blamable blameable > blamable boro (+s) borough (+s) > boro (+s) brasier > brazier brazier

cadre
caldron (+s)
caliber
calibre > caliber
calipers
callipers > calipers
calisthenics
callisthenics > calisthenics
cancel +ation, +ed, +ing
cancel +lation, +led, +ling
> cancel +ation, +ed, +ing
candor
candour > candor
carat > karat
carburet +er (+s)
carburett +er,+or (+s) > carburet +er (+s)
catalog (+ed, +ing, +er, +s)
catalogue (+d, [e]+ing, +r, +s)
> catalog (+ed, +ing, +er, +s)
cauldron (+s) > caldron (+s)
cavil +ed, +ing
cavil +led, +ling > cavil +ed, +ing
center
centimeter
centimetre > centimeter
centre > center
centralise > centralize
centralize
channel +ed, +ing
channel +led, +ling > channel +ed, +ing
characterise > characterize
characterize
check (+s)
checker (+s)
cheque (+s) > check (+s)
chequer (+s) > checker (+s)
chili (+s) > chilli (+s)
chilli (+s)
cigaret (+s)
cigarette (+s) > cigaret (+s)

civilise > civilize
civilize
clamor (+ed, +ing, +ous, +s)
clamour (+ed, +ing, +ous, +s)
     > clamor (+ed, +ing, +ous, +s)
clangor
clangour > clangor
cognisance > cognizance
cognizance
cognisant > cognizant
cognizant
colonise > colonize
colonize
color (+ation, +ed, +ful, +ing, +s)
colour (+ation, +ed, +ful, +ing, +s)
     > color (+ation, +ed, +ful, +ing, +s)
computerise > computerize
computerize
cosier > cozier
cosiest > coziest
cosiness > coziness
cosy > cozy
councilor
councillor > councilor
counsel +ed, +ing, +or
counsel +led, +ling, +lor
     > counsel +ed, +ing, +or
cozier
coziest
coziness
cozy
criticise > criticize
criticize
cruel +er, +est
cruel +ler, +est > cruel +er, +est
crystal(l)ise > crystalize
crystalize
cudgel +ed, +ing
cudgel +led, +ling > cudgel +ed, +ing
curb (+s)

defence (+s) > defense (+s)
defense (+s)
demeanor
demeanour > demeanor
demagog (+s)
demagogue(+s) > demagog (+s)
deviled
devilled > deviled
devour (+ed, +ing, +s)
dial (+ed, +ing)
dial (+led, +ling) > dial (+ed, +ing)
dialog (+s)
dialogue (+s) > dialog (+s)
dialyse > dialyze
dialyze
diarrhea
diarrhoea > diarrhea
discolor (+ation, +ed, +ing, +s)

discolour (+ation, +ed, +ing, +s)
> discolor (+ation, +ed, +ing, +s)
dishevel +ed
dishevel +led > dishevel +ed
dishonor (+ed, +ing, +s)
dishonour (+ed, +ing, +s)
> dishonor (+ed, +ing, +s)
distill (+s)
distil (+s) > distill (+s)
donut (+s)
doughnut (+s) > donut (+s)
draft (+ed, +ing, +s, +y)
draught (+s, +ty) > draft (+ed, +ing, +s, +ty)
dramatise > dramatize
dramatize
draughty > drafty
drivel +ed, +ing
drivel +led, +ling > drivel +ed, +ing

E
edema emigre (+s) emphasise > emphasize emphasize enamel +ed, +ing enamel +led, +ling > enamel +ed, +ing encyclopaedia > encyclopedia encyclopedia endeavor (+ed, +ing, +s) endeavour (+ed, +ing, +s) > endeavor (+ed, +ing, +s) enquire (+d, [e]+ing, +s) > inquire (+d, [e]+ing. +s) enquiry ([y]+ies) > inquiry ([y]+ies) enroll (+ment, +s)	enrol (+ment, +s) > enroll (+ment, +s) enthrall (+s) enthral (+s) > enthrall (+s) eon (+s) epaulet (+s) epaulette (+s) > epaulet (+s) epilog (+s) epilogue (+s) > epilog (+s) equal +ed, +ing equal +led, +ling > equal +ed, +ing esthete (+s) esthetic (+s) estrogen exorcise > exorcize exorcize

F
faeces > feces favor (+able, +ed, +ing, +ite, +s) favour (+able, +ed, +ing, +ite, +s) > favor (+able, +ed, +ing, +ite, +s) femur feces fertilise > fertilize fertilize fervor fervour > fervor fetus (+es) fiber (+s)	fibre (+s) > fiber (+s) flavor (+ed, +ing, +s) flavour (+ed, +ing, +s) > flavor (+ed, +ing, +s) foetus (+es) > fetus (+es) fossilise > fossilize fossilize fuel +ed, +ing fuel +led, +ling > fuel +ed, +ing fulfill (+ment, +s) fulfil (+ment, +s) > fulfill (+ment, +s) funnel +ed, +ing funnel +led, +ling > funnel +ed, +ing

G
gage (+d, gaging, +s) gauge (+d, gauging, +s) > gage (+d, gaging, +s) gambol +ed, +ing gambol +led, +ling > gambol +ed, +ing gaol +ed, +ing, +or, +s > jail +ed, +er, +ing, +or, +s gelatin gelatine generalise > generalize generalize genre (+s) glamor (+ize, +ous) glamour (+ize, +ous) > glamor (+ize, +ous)	glycerin glycerine gobbledegook gobbledygook > gobbledegook goiter (+s) goitre (+s) > goiter (+s) gravel +ed, +ing gravel +led, +ling > gravel +ed, +ing gray +er, +est > grey (+er, +est, +hound) grey (+er, +est, +hound) grovel +ed, +ing grovel +led, +ling > grovel +ed, +ing gynaecology > gynecology gynecology

H
haemoglobin > hemoglobin haemorrhage (+d, [e]+ing, +s) > hemorrhage (+d, [e]+ing, +s) harbor (+ed, +ing, +s) harbour (+ed, +ing, +s) > harbor (+ed, +ing, +s) hemoglobin hemorrhage (+d, [e]+ing, +s) honor (-able, +ed, +ing, +s) honor +ary, +ific	honour (+able, +ed, +ing, +s) > honor (+able, +ed, +ing, +s) humor (+ed, +ing, +ous, +s) humour (+ed, +ing, +ous, +s) > humor (+ed, +ing, +ous, +s) hydrolyse > hydrolyze hydrolyze hypnotise > hypnotize hypnotize

I
ideologue imperil +ed, +ing imperil +led, +ling > imperil +ed, +ing industrialise > industrialize industrialize inquire (+d, [e]+ing. +s) inquiry ([y]+ies) initial +ed, +ing initial +led, +ling > initial +ed, +ing install (+ment, +s) instal(+ment, +s) > install (+ment, +s) instill (+s) instil (+s) > instill (+s) institutionalise > institutionalize	institutionalize -isation > -ization -ise > -ize -ised > -ized -iser > -izer -ises > -izes -ising > -izing -ization -ize -ized -izer -izes -izing

J
jail +ed, +er, +ing, +or, +s jeopardise (+ed, +ing, +s) > jeopardize (+ed, +ing, +s) jeopardize (+ed, +ing, +s) jewel +ed, +er, +ing, +ry	jewel +led, +ler, +lery, +ling > jewel +ed, +er, +ry, +ing judgement (+al, +s) > judgment (+al, +s) judgment (+al, +s)

K
karat kerb (+s) > curb (+s) kidnaped	kidnapped > kidnaped kilometer (+s) kilometre (+s) > kilometer (+s)

L
labor (+ed, +ing, +s) laborious labour (+ed, +ing, +s) > labor (+ed, +ing, +s) leukaemia > leukemia leukemia level +ed, +ing level +led, +ling > level +ed, +ing libel +ed, +ing, +ous libel +led, +ling, +lous > libel +ed, +ing, +ous licence (+d, [e]+ing, +s) > license (+d, [e]+ing, +s) license (+d, [e]+ing, +s) licorice likable likeable > likable liquorice > licorice	liter litre > liter livable liveable > livable localise (+ed, +ing, +s) > localize (+ed, +ing, +s) localize (+ed, +ing, +s) lodgement (+s) > lodgment (+s) lodgment (+s) louver (+s) louvre (+s) > louver (+s) lovable loveable > lovable lucre luster lustre > luster

macabre
marshal +ed, +ing
marshal +led, +ling >marshal +ed, +ing
marvel +ed, +ing, +ous
marvel +led, +ling, +lous
> marvel +ed, +ing, +ous
massacre
maneuver
manoeuvre > maneuver
materialise > materialize
materialize
maximise > maximize
maximize
meager
magre > meager
mechanise > mechanize
mechanize
mediaeval > medieval
medieval
mediocre
to merchandise > to merchandize
to merchandize
mesmerise > mesmerize
mesmerize
meter (+ed, +ing, +s)
metre (+s) > meter (+s)
milage
mileage > milage

millimeter
millimetre > millimeter
minimise > minimize
minimize
misbehavior
misbehaviour > misbehavior
misdemeanor (+s)
misdemeanour (+s) > misdemeanor (+s)
miter (+s)
mitre (+s) > miter (+s)
mobilise > mobilize
mobilize
modernise > modernize
modernize
mold (+ed, +er, +ing, +s, +y)
mollusc (+s) > mollusk (+s)
mollusk (+s)
monolog (+s)
monologue (+s) > monolog (+s)
molt (+ed, +ing, +s)
mortice (+d, [e]+ing, +s)
> mortise (+d, [e]+ing, +s)
mortise (+d, [e]+ing, +s)
mould (+ed, +er, +ing, +s, +y)
> mold (+ed, +er, +ing, +s, +y)
moult (+ed, +ing, +s) > molt (+ed, +ing, +s)
moustache (+s) > mustache (+s)
mustache (+s)

N
nationalise > nationalize nationalize naturalise > naturalize naturalize naught neighbor (+hood, +ing, +s)	neighbour (+hood, +ing, +s) > neighbor (+hood, +ing, +s) neutralise > neutralize neutralize nought > naught noviciate (+s) > novitiate (+s) novitiate (+s)

O
ocher ochre > ocher odor (+ous, +s) odour (+ous, +s) > odor (+ous, +s) oedema > edema oeuvre oestrogren > estrogen offence (+s) > offense (+s) offense (+s) ogre (+s) omelet (+s) omelette (+s) > omelet (+s) organise > organize organise	-or -oration -ored -orer -oring -ors orthopaedic (+s) > orthopedic (+s) orthopedic (+s) -our > -or -ouration > -oration -oured > -ored -ourer > -orer -ouring > -oring -ours > -ors

padre (+s)
paediatric (+ian, +s) > pediatric (+ian, +s)
pajamas
palaeo +lithic, +logy > paleo +lithic, +logy
paleo +lithic, +logy
panel +ed, +ing
panel +led, +ling > panel +ed, +ing
parcel +ed, +ing
parcel +led, +ling > parcel +ed, +ing
parlor (+s)
parlour (+s) > parlor (+s)
partisan > partizan
partizan
pedagog (+s)
pedagogue (+s) > pedagog (+s)
pedal +ed, +ing
pedal +led, +ling > pedal +ed, +ing
peddler (+s)
pediatric (+s)
pedlar (+s) > peddler (+s)
penalise > penalize
penalize
pencil +ed, +ing
pencil +led, +ling > pencil +ed, +ing
philter
philtre > philter

phoney (+s) > phony ([y]+ies)
phony ([y]+ier, [y]+ies, [y]+iest)
plough (+ed, +ing, +s) > plow (+ed, +ing, +s)
plow (+ed, +ing, +s)
polarise > polarize
polarize
practice (+d, [e]+ing, +s)
> practise (+d, [e]+ing, +s)
practise (+d, [e]+ing, +s)
pressurise > pressurize
pressurize
pretence (+s) > pretense (+s)
pretense (+s)
program (+ed, +ing, +s)
programme (+d, [e]+ing, +s)
> program (+ed, +ing, +s)
prolog (+s)
prologue (+s) > prolog (+s)
prophecy ([y]+ies) > prophesy ([y]+ies)
prophesy ([y]+ied, +ing, [y]+ies)
publicise > publicize
publicize
pummel +ed, +ing
pummel +led, +ling > pummel +ed, +ing
pyjamas > pajamas

Q
quarrel +ed, +ing	quarrel +led, +ling > quarrel +ed, +ing

R
raccoon (+s) > racoon (+s) racoon (+s) rancor (+ous) rancour > rancor rase > raze ratable rateable > ratable ravel +ed, +ing ravel +led, +ling > ravel +ed, +ing raze rationalise > rationalize rationalize realise > realize realize	recognise > recognize recognize reconnoiter reconnoitre > reconnoiter revel +ed, +er, +ing revel +led, +ler, +ling > revel +ed, +er, +ing revolutionise > revolutionize revolutionize rigor (+ous, +s) rigour (+ous, +s) > rigor (+ous, +s) rival +ed, +ing rival +led, +ling > rival +ed, +ing rumor (+ed, +s) rumour (+ed, +s) > rumor (+ed, +s)

saber (+s)
sabre (+s) > saber (+s)
salable
saleable > salable
saltpeter
saltpetre > saltpeter
savior (+s)
saviour (+s) > savior (+s)
savor (+ed, +ing, +s)
savour (+ed, +ing, +s) > savor (+ed, +ing, +s)
scalawag (+s) > scallywag (+s)
scallywag (+s)
sceptic (+s) > skeptic (+s)
scepter (+s)
sceptre (+s) > septer (+s)
scrutinise > scrutinize
scrutinize
sepulcher
sepulchre > sepulcher
shovel +ed, +ing
shovel +led, +ling > shovel +ed, +ing
signal +ed, +er, +ing
signal +led, +ler, +ling > signal +ed, +er, +ing
sizable
sizeable > sizable
skeptic (+s)
skillful
skilful > skillful
smolder (+ed, +ing, +s)
smoulder (+ed, +ing, +s)
>smolder (+ed, +ing, +s)
snivel +ed, +ing
snivel +led, +ling > snivel +ed, +ing

somber
sombre > somber
specialise > specialize
specialize
specter
spectre > specter
spiral +ed, +ing
spiral +led, +ling > spiral +ed, +ing
splendor (+s)
splendour (+s) > splendor (+s)
stencil +ed, +ing
stencil +led, +ling > stencil +ed, +ing
storey (+ed, +s) > story ([y]+ied, [y]+ies)
story ([y]+ied, [y]+ies)
subsidise > subsidize
subsidize
succor (+ed, +ing, +s)
succour (+ed, +ing, +s)> succor (+ed, +ing, +s)
sulfate (+s)
sulfide (+s)
sulfur (+ic, +ous)
sulphate (+s) > sulfate (+s)
sulphide (+s) > sulfide (+s)
sulphur (+ic, +ous) > sulfur (+ic, +ous)
summarise > summarize
summarize
symbolise > symbolize
symbolize
sympathise > sympathize
sympathize
synagog (+s)
synagogue (+s) > synagog (+s)

T
theater theatre > theater tho thoro though > tho thorough > thoro through > thru thru timbre tire (+d, [e]+ing, +s) titer titre > titer total +ed, +ing total +led, +ling > total +ed, +ing	toweling towelling > toweling transferal (+s) > transferral (+s) transferral (+s) travel +ed, +er, +ing travel +led, +ler, +ling > travel +ed, +er, +ing trial (+ed, +ing) trial (+led, +ling) > trial +ed, +ing tumor (+s) tumour (+s) > tumor (+s) tunnel +ed, +er, +ing tunnel +led, +ler, +ling > tunnel +ed, +er, +ing tyre (+s) > tire (+s)

U
unnamable unnameable > unnamable unravel +ed, +ing unravel +led, +ling > unravel +ed, +ing unshakable unshakeable > unshakable	untrammeled untrammelled > untrammeled usable useable > usable utilise > utilize utilize

V
valor (+ize, +ous) valour (+ise, +ous) > valor (+ize, +ous) vapor (+s) vaporise > vaporize vaporize vapour (+s) > vapor (+s)	vigor (+ous) vigour > vigor (+ous) vice (+s) vise (+s) > vice (+s) visualise > visualize visualize

W
waggon (+er, +s) > wagon (+er, +s) wagon (+er, +s) whir (+s) whirr (+s) > whir (+s) whiskey (+s) > whisky (+s) whisky	willful wilful > willful woolen woollen > woolen worshiped worshipped > worshiped

Y
yodel +ed, +ing	yodel +led, +ling > yodel +ed, +ing

Z

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