The Colorful History of Color: American vs British English Spelling

The video explores the differences between American and British English, tracing their origins back to 18th-century Britain. It highlights how spelling was not standardized until Samuel Johnson's dictionary in 1755. Later, Noah Webster introduced changes to American English, such as simplifying spellings, to distinguish it from British English.

What was the state of English spelling in 18th century Britain?

• It was chaotic with multiple variations.

• It was standardized and uniform.

• It was only used in formal documents.

• It was influenced by American English.

Who played a significant role in standardizing British English spelling in the 18th century?

• Noah Webster

• William Shakespeare

• Charles Dickens

• Samuel Johnson

In what year did Samuel Johnson publish his influential dictionary?

• 1755

• 1776

• 1828

• 1806

What was one of Noah Webster's goals in creating his dictionary?

• To make American English more similar to British English

• To simplify American English spelling

• To introduce new words to the English language

• To preserve British English traditions

Which letter did Noah Webster remove from the word 'colour' to simplify it?

• U

• L

• C

• R