American and British Spelling

Your friend from New York is writing a story. Which spelling should she use for the color of the sky?

• colour

• color

• collor

• coulor

Answer explanation

The word 'color' is the standard American English spelling. 'Colour' is the British English spelling, while 'collor' and 'coulor' are incorrect.

Sort these words into their correct English variant categories: American English or British English.

Groups:

(a) American English

,

(b) British English

• licence

• defense

• organise

• theater

• flavour

• analyze

Answer explanation

Words like 'theater' (-er), 'analyze' (-yze), and 'defense' (-ense) follow American spelling rules. Words like 'organise' (-ise), 'flavour' (-our), and 'licence' (-ence) follow British spelling rules.

A character in a book set in London says, "I'll take the lift to my flat." What do "lift" and "flat" mean in American English?

• elevator and apartment

• stairs and house

• escalator and room

• crane and tire

Answer explanation

In British English, 'lift' is the word for an elevator, and 'flat' is the word for an apartment. The other options use incorrect translations.

Match the American English spelling to its British English equivalent.

• grey

• maneuver

• jewellery

• jewelry

• manoeuvre

• gray

Answer explanation

These pairs show common spelling differences: American English often uses one 'l' where British uses two ('jewelry'/'jewellery'), 'a' instead of 'ey' ('gray'/'grey'), and 'er' instead of 're' ('maneuver'/'manoeuvre').

An American student wrote: 'My favorite part of the city is the theatre downtown.' Which word is spelled using the British English convention?

• favorite

• city

• theatre

• downtown

Answer explanation

The word 'theatre' with an '-re' ending is the British spelling. The correct American English spelling is 'theater.' 'Favorite' is the correct American spelling for the word.

Imagine you are packing for a trip. Sort these clothing items into two groups: American English Terms and British English Terms.

Groups:

(a) American English Terms

,

(b) British English Terms

• pants

• jumper

• trousers

• trainers

• sweater

• sneakers

Answer explanation

'Sneakers,' 'sweater,' and 'pants' (for outer legwear) are common American terms. 'Trainers,' 'jumper' (for a sweater), and 'trousers' are their common British equivalents.

If an email from a coworker mentions putting "petrol" in the "lorry," that person is most likely writing in...

• American English

• British English

• Formal English

• Informal English

Answer explanation

'Petrol' (for gasoline) and 'lorry' (for truck) are common vocabulary words used in British English.

Which sentence uses the correct American English spelling?

• I need to practise my spelling words.

• Did you get a new catalogue in the mail?

• Please analyze the data from the experiment.

• The car's front tyre is flat.

Answer explanation

'Analyze' is the correct American spelling. The other sentences use British spellings: 'practise' (verb), 'catalogue,' and 'tyre.' The American equivalents are 'practice,' 'catalog,' and 'tire.'

Match the American English word to its common British English equivalent.

• holiday

• gas

• biscuit

• chips

• crisps

• cookie

• petrol

• vacation

Answer explanation

These pairs show common vocabulary differences between American English (cookie, vacation, gas, chips) and their British English equivalents (biscuit, holiday, petrol, crisps).

A student is editing a paper for a history class in the United States. Which spelling of the word meaning "protection" should they use?

• defence

• defense

• deffense

• defince

Answer explanation

'Defense' with an 's' is the standard American English spelling. 'Defence' with a 'c' is the British English spelling. The other options are misspelled.