UK v USA words

Knowing the differences between American and British spellings is important, especially because a lot of British computers are set to the US spelling default, and you’ll wonder why there’s a squiggly red mark telling you that the British spelling is wrong!
US –       British
licorice – liquorice
program – programme
maneuver – manoeuvre
plow – plough
sulfur – sulphur
specialty – speciality
naught – nought
skeptic – sceptic
vial – phial
whiskey – whisky

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 below the video)
Do you know the British spellings of these American spellings?   (Answers below after the video)

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

Check the video below.

Why are there differences between American and British spellings? 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.

He really wanted to shake up the spelling but his really radical spelling reforms had little support but he managed a few changes. In 1828 Webster published his American English dictionary.

In most cases American words have fewer letters. 


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