American and British Spelling

Your friend from England asks you to check the 'tyre' on his bike. Which word is the standard American English spelling for 'tyre'?

• tire

• tier

• tyer

• tie-er

Answer explanation

In American English, the rubber covering for a wheel is spelled 'tire'. 'Tyre' is the British English spelling.

Sort these words based on their typical spelling style: American English or British English.

Groups:

(a) American English

,

(b) British English

• colour

• realize

• analyse

• centre

• flavor

• theater

Answer explanation

American English often uses '-or', '-ize', and '-er' endings (flavor, realize, theater), while British English often uses '-our', '-ise', and '-re' endings (colour, analyse, centre).

Match each British English word for a clothing item to its common American English equivalent.

• sweater

• jumper

• pants

• trousers

• sneakers

• trainers

Answer explanation

These words refer to the same items but are used in different English-speaking regions. A 'jumper' in the UK is a 'sweater' in the US, 'trousers' are 'pants', and 'trainers' are 'sneakers'.

If you were writing a story set in Chicago, which sentence uses the correct American spelling?

• The movie theatre is in the town centre.

• The movie theater is in the town centre.

• The movie theatre is in the town center.

• The movie theater is in the town center.

Answer explanation

For an American setting, 'theater' (with -er) and 'center' (with -er) are the standard spellings. 'Theatre' and 'centre' are British spellings.

Sort these terms for parts of a car into the version of English that typically uses them: American English or British English.

Groups:

(a) American English

,

(b) British English

• bonnet

• boot

• trunk

• hood

Answer explanation

'Hood' and 'trunk' are the American terms for the front and back of a car, while 'bonnet' and 'boot' are the British terms for the same parts.

A British exchange student wrote, 'My favorite part of the trip was visiting the science centre.' Which word uses a British, not American, spelling?

• favorite

• part

• science

• centre

Answer explanation

The word 'centre' is the British spelling. In American English, it is spelled 'center'. 'Favorite' is the American spelling ('favourite' is British).

Match each American English spelling to its British English counterpart.

• defence

• jewelry

• programme

• gray

• grey

• program

• jewellery

• defense

Answer explanation

These pairs show common spelling differences: 'gray' (AmE) vs. 'grey' (BrE), 'jewelry' (AmE) vs. 'jewellery' (BrE), 'defense' (AmE) vs. 'defence' (BrE), and 'program' (AmE) vs. 'programme' (BrE).

Read this note: 'Let's take the lift to my flat and have some crisps.' This note is most likely from a friend in which city?

• New York

• London

• Los Angeles

• Toronto

Answer explanation

The words 'lift' (elevator), 'flat' (apartment), and 'crisps' (potato chips) are all characteristic of British English, making London the most likely location.

Sort these past tense verbs into their typical spelling style: American English or British English.

Groups:

(a) American English

,

(b) British English

• cancelled

• modeled

• labelled

• traveled

Answer explanation

American English typically uses a single 'l' before adding a verb ending (traveled, modeled), while British English often doubles it (cancelled, labelled).

In America, you might order 'french fries' with a burger. What is the common term for this food in a British cafe?

• crisps

• chips

• potatoes

• wedges

Answer explanation

In British English, thick-cut fried potatoes are called 'chips'. What Americans call 'chips' are known as 'crisps' in the UK.