American and British Spelling

Your friend from London is writing a story and asks you to check it for an American audience. Which word should you suggest changing? 'My favourite part of the day was visiting the town centre.'

• favourite

• part

• visiting

• town

Answer explanation

The British spelling is 'favourite' (with a 'u'), while the American spelling is 'favorite'. The other words are spelled the same in both versions of English.

Your cousin is moving from the U.S. to England. Match the American English words she uses to the British English words she will need to learn.

• flat

• elevator

• lift

• cookie

• chips

• apartment

• biscuit

• fries

Answer explanation

These pairs show common vocabulary differences: 'cookie' (American) is a 'biscuit' (British), an 'elevator' is a 'lift', 'fries' are 'chips', and an 'apartment' is a 'flat'.

You are making a poster for your geography class about the English language. Sort these words into the correct spelling category: American Spelling or British Spelling.

Groups:

(a) American Spelling

,

(b) British Spelling

• meter

• theatre

• center

• color

• honour

• flavour

Answer explanation

American English often uses '-or', '-er', while British English uses '-our', '-re'. 'Color', 'center', and 'meter' are American spellings. 'Flavour', 'honour', and 'theatre' are British spellings.

Which sentence is written using standard American English spelling?

• The grey cat sat on the pavement.

• I need to organise my notes for the test.

• My neighbor invited us to a barbecue.

• Did you get a new pair of pyjamas?

Answer explanation

The American spelling is 'neighbor'. The other sentences use British spellings: 'grey' (gray in AmE), 'organise' (organize in AmE), and 'pyjamas' (pajamas in AmE).

To complete your science report for a school in the United States, which spelling is correct? 'The liquid measured one _____.'

• litre

• leeter

• liter

• litter

Answer explanation

'Liter' is the standard American spelling for the unit of volume. 'Litre' is the British spelling. The other options are incorrect spellings.

Match the American spelling of the word to its British English equivalent.

• tyre

• gray

• grey

• check (for money)

• cheque

• pajamas

• pyjamas

• tire (on a car)

Answer explanation

Each pair shows a common spelling difference: 'check' becomes 'cheque', 'tire' becomes 'tyre', 'pajamas' becomes 'pyjamas', and 'gray' becomes 'grey' in British English.

A student is writing a report and wants to use American English spelling. Which sentence is written correctly for an American audience?

• The gray cat sat by the window.

• She had to analyse the results of the test.

• The town centre was very busy.

• What is your favourite colour?

Answer explanation

'Gray' is the common American spelling, while 'grey' is the British spelling. The other sentences contain British spellings: 'analyse' (AmE: 'analyze'), 'centre' (AmE: 'center'), and 'favourite'/'colour' (AmE: 'favorite'/'color').

Your teacher asks you to sort words for a presentation on global English. Classify these words into 'Typically American' or 'Typically British' categories.

Groups:

(a) Typically American

,

(b) Typically British

• vacation

• petrol

• lorry

• holiday

• gasoline

• truck

Answer explanation

These words are regional vocabulary. 'Vacation', 'gasoline', and 'truck' are common in American English, while their British equivalents are 'holiday', 'petrol', and 'lorry'.

An author from the UK is writing a book set in New York. Which sentence has a spelling error for an American setting? 'The defence lawyer presented new evidence.'

• defence

• lawyer

• presented

• evidence

Answer explanation

The word 'defence' is a British spelling. To be correct for an American setting, it should be spelled 'defense'. The other words are correct.

If you were writing a story set in London, which sentence would be the most appropriate choice?

• The car had a flat tire.

• Let's take the elevator to the top floor.

• I'll put the groceries in the trunk.

• We waited for the bus on the pavement.

Answer explanation

'Pavement' is the British English word for 'sidewalk'. The other sentences use American English terms: 'tire' (tyre in BrE), 'elevator' (lift in BrE), and 'trunk' (boot in BrE).