The best way to make sure that you are being consistent in your spelling is to use the spell check on your word processor (if you are using the computer of course) and choose which variety of English you would like. As you can see, there are really very few differences between standard British English and standard American English. However, the largest difference is probably that of the choice of vocabulary and pronunciation. For further information concerning these areas please refer to the following links below.
Issues of morphology and syntax are infinitely more complicated than spelling, and there is much greater variety around the world, so those issues will not be covered in detail here. I have included a list of common words which are different between British and American English, but only as an introduction. There is also a list of links for anyone who is interested in learning more about American and British English.
| -or vs. -our | -ze vs. -se | ||
| American | British | American | British |
| col or | col our | analy ze | analy se |
| fav or ite | fav our ite | critici ze | critici se |
| hon or | hon our | memori ze | memori se |
| -ll vs. -l | -er vs. -re | ||
| enro ll ment | enro l ment | cent er | cent re |
| fulfi ll | fulfi l | met er | met re |
| ski llf ul | ski l ful | theat er | theat re |
| -og vs. -ogue | -e vs. -oe or -ae | ||
| anal og | anal ogue | encylop e dia | encylycop ae dia |
| catal og | catal ogue | man e uver | man oe uvre |
| dial og | dial ogue | medi e val | medi ae val |
| -ck or -k vs. -que | -dg vs. -dge (or -g vs. -gu) | ||
| ban k | ban que | a g ing | a ge ing |
| che ck | che que | argu ment | argu e ment |
| che ck er | che que r | judg ment | jud ge ment |
| -ense vs. -enze | Other | ||
| def ense | def ence | jewe l ry | jewe lle ry |
| lic ense | lic ence | dra f t | drau gh t |
| p a jamas | p y jamas |
In British English, words that end in -l preceded by a vowel usually double the -l when a suffix is added, while in American English the letter is not doubled. The letter will double in the stress is on the second syllable.
| Base Word | American | British |
| counsel | counse l ing | counse ll ing |
| equal | equa l ing | equa ll ing |
| model | mode l ing | mode ll ing |
| quarrel | quarre l ing | quarre ll ing |
| signal | signa l ing | signa ll ing |
| travel | trave l ing | trave ll ing |
| excel | exce ll ing | exce ll ing |
| propel | prope ll ing | prope ll ing |
Spelling of verbs:
This is related to formation of the past participle for verbs. Below is a sampling of the three main categories of differeneces with verbs.
-ed vs. -t
The first category involves verbs that use -ed or -t for the simple past and past participle. Generally, the rule is that if there is a verb form with -ed, American English will use it, and if there is a form with -t, British English uses it. However, these forms do not exist for every verb and there is variation. For example, both American and British English would use the word 'worked' for the past form of 'to work', and in American English it is common to hear the word 'knelt' as the past tense of 'to kneel'.
| Base Word | American | British |
| to dream | dream ed | dreamt |
| to leap | leap ed | leap t |
| to learn | leared ed | learn t |
base form vs. -ed:
The second category of difference includes verbs that use either the base form of the verb or the -ed ending for the simple past.
| Base Word | American | British |
| to fit | fit | fitt ed |
| to forecast | forecast | forecast ed |
| to wed | wed | wedd ed |
irregular vs. -ed
The third category of difference includes verbs that have either an irregular spelling or the -ed ending for the simple past.
| Base Word | American | British |
| to knit | knit | knitt ed |
| to light | lit | light ed |
| to strive | strove | striv ed |
A good many Englishmen and some Americans used to condemn every difference that did develop, and as recently as a generation ago it was not unusual to hear all “Americanisms” condemned, even in America. It is now generally recognized in this country, but has a full right to work out our own habits. Even a good many of the English now concede this, though some of them object strongly to the fact that Americanisms now are having an influence on British usage.
Conclusion
As we have seen, differences between the American and British variant of English language are appreciable enough. However the opinion on essential distinctions between American and British variants of English language – is exaggerated. Actually not too much as it is a lot of them.
Difficultly enough to understand, this or that book is written by the American or British author. «… separate dictionary features in speech of inhabitants of various English dominions are not so great, that it was possible to speak at least about separate adverbs, characteristic for this or that area: their grammatical system and the basic dictionary fund completely coincide with the same basic components of an English national language in mother country».
Nevertheless distinctions between these two variants of language every year is more and more. And that is why before teachers there is a question: we teach what language to pupils – British or American? According to the director of British school Language Link Robert Dzhenski, now it is possible to speak about occurrence and fastening of the "average" universal English which has incorporated features of different languages.
This - instead of American, not British and any another - the variant also is "language of the international dialogue". It, naturally, is easier for understanding. First, it is neutral on coloring, in - the second, foreigners speak English more slowly, say sounds separately, and words are accurate. Besides, it is more convenient: it is not necessary to strain, trying to come nearer to "purely British" or "purely American" pronunciation. According to many modern linguists and teachers, "correct" language is the British variant, more precisely, that its part which is called "the accepted standard".
Correct base English is necessary, by the way, to understand and other variants of language, dialects and features. And can learn them. The person with good classical English will not be gone anywhere and if it will be necessary, easily enough can be reconstructed, get used to other updating of language. In my opinion to begin with the British variant it is necessary also because it is the fullest and a rich language. The American grammar in comparison with the British is considerably simplified. It is possible to name the American English "negligent" language. The British variant more particular, more scrupulous. In it there is an enormous set of intonational models, unlike American where there is practically one: an equal scale and descending tone. This intonational model defines also all sound structure of the American variant.
In the British English it is a lot of scales: descending and ascending, step and sliding. The same concerns tones. Sometimes the accent gives out not sound pronouncing, and temporal characteristics: it is necessary to tighten a little bit a sound - and in you learn the foreigner. The British English Americans name refined - this language at them never was, and never was that they called "English traditions and culture". All it, naturally, speaks well for the British variant for studying at school. But to the teacher, undoubtedly, it is necessary to explain to pupils the basic lexical and grammatical distinctions between two variants of languages – such work should become one of the cores in studying linguistic material. Thus the British variant of English should become the cores.
So we reach the goal of this work, in the given work proves the following:
The American variant of English language is only places like a variant, instead of independent language. As it has been shown in work, the American variant of English language has no neither the special dictionary structure, nor the special grammatical system.
As a whole, for the American variant of English language the simplified writing (for example, elimination of superfluous signs, an example of elimination of exceptions to the rules, the use of less widespread graphic variants of words) is characteristic. But at the same time, all given processes are carried out on a material of English language.
The statement about mutual penetration and assimilation the American and British variants of English language, and as that in general, the role differences distinctions is insignificant as the variant of English language on which speak in the USA is clear to carriers of the British variant and on the contrary has been proved.
In the given work has been reached objective, namely: clear up the distinctions in lexical grammar and spelling of the British and American varianWells, J.C. Whatever happened to Received Pronunciation //II Jornadas de Estudios Ingleses. – Univesidad de Jaen, 1997
1. Wells, John C. Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. – Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2000.
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_British
4. https://lister.ultrakohl.com/homepage/Lkj/sonny.htm
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_differences
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_American
7. Algeo, John The Cambridge history of the English language: English in North America (Vol. 6). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Ed.). (2001).
8. Bailey, Richard W. Images of English: A cultural history of the language. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. (1991).
9. Bailey, Richard W. American English: Its origins and history. In E. Finegan & J. R. Rickford (Eds.), Language in the USA: Themes for the twenty-first century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (2004).
10. Bryson, Bill. Made in America: An informal history of the English language in the United States. New York: William Morrow. (1994).
11. Finegan, Edward. English in North America. In R. Hogg & D. Denison (Eds.), A history of the English language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (2006).
12. Kretzschmar, William A. American English: Melting pot or mixing bowl? In K. Lenz & R. Möhlig (Eds.), Of dyuersitie and change of language: Essays presented to Manfred Görlach on the occasion of his sixty-fifth birthday Heidelberg: C. Winter. (2002).
13. Read, Allen Walker. Milestones in the history of English in America. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. (2002).