American English vs British English spelling

What's the difference between American English and British English spelling? Georgina's going to explain how to spell British and American English. Give us 60 seconds and we'll give you the English Give us 60 seconds and we'll give you the English in this short, free English lesson.

Fill the gap with British spelling:

Let’s meet at the _____. You’ll love the play – it’s British _____.
a) theatre / humor
b) theater / humour
c) theater / humor
d) theatre / humour

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Please use English when you comment.

[bbclearningenglish]

Improve your spoken English with BBC Learning English. Tim's looking at some common differences between British English and American English pronunciation.

[suleymanabdullah]

British accent is just breathtaking❤ its very clear and much more easy with right pronountions

[MyLittleEnglishPage]

Fantastic tips! Thank you :) I will share this with my students 💪

[congnguyenthe]

"Make sure you use one or the other", okay I got it

[kenrutherford]

American: Rumor
British: Rumour

American: Theater
British: Theatre

American: Realize
British: Realise

[AliMed]

Hello!, you might've forgotten the R spelling is different for both accents, like in the verb to be 'are', it's pronounced completely different, and thank you for the useful information!

[benjaminestrada]

THANKYOU so much greetings from México

[elizabetharmada]

What if the students join the spelling competition
Which English is official, Brits or Am?

[dannyjorde]

I always had this doubt: how do you pronounce the word "interesting"?
I've heard people saying "in-te-res-ting", but then others say "in-tris-ting", which sounds awful imo 🤣

[lizhoward-k]

No such thing as British English to the English, its just ENGLISH..

[arfareandaneswara]

Do you have a minute to spare to learn some English?
What's the difference between American English and British English spelling? Georgina's going to explain how to spell British and American English. Give us 60 seconds and we'll give you the English in this short, free English lesson.

Hi, I'm Georgina. In today's lesson, we're going to look at three differences between American English and British English spelling.

Words which end with –er in American English, often end in –re in British English.
For example: I live in the center of town.
"center" changes to "centre".

Normally, verbs which end in the suffix –ize in American English can be spelt in British English with either –ize or –ise.
For example: Can you organize the meeting?
"organize" changes to "organise" or "organize".

Sometimes, words with –or in American English can be spelt in British English using –our.
For example: What's your favorite color?
"favorite' changes to "favourite". "color" changes to "colour".

It doesn't matter whether you use American English or British English spelling. Just make sure that you use one or the other.

American English (Am) vs British English (Br) spelling
Remember!
It doesn't matter if you use British or American spelling, but it is important to be consistent!

Words which end with –er in American English, often end in –re in British English.

I live in the center of town.
I live in the centre of town.

Verbs which end in –ize in American English can be spelt in British English with either –ize or –ise.

Can you organize this meeting?
Can you organise/organize this meeting?

Words which use –or in American English, often use –our in British English.

What's your favorite color?
What's your favourite colour?

Shall we go and meet at the theatre? Yes.
You’ll love the play. It’s British humour!

[arfareandaneswara]

Fill the gap with British spelling:

Let’s meet at the You’ll love the play – it’s British
a) theatre / humor
b) theater / humour
c) theater / humor
d) theatre / humour

[nawarnawar]

So, it's acceptable to write either in British or American spelling wherever we live in.