Sandra Yeaman

This is the ninth in a series of posts to address common issues in manuscripts with my suggestions for how writers can improve their manuscripts before turning them over to agents, editors, and the many other individuals involved in the process of turning a manuscript into a book.

#9 Preferred Spelling Choices, Per Merriam-Webster

Common English words are spelled differently in English-speaking countries around the world. Since most other English-speaking countries were once part of the British Commonwealth, the British spelling preference prevails in those countries. In the US, one dictionary maker, Noah Webster, whose name remains half of the merriam-webster online dictionary I rely on, decided to simplify the spelling of English words by eliminating letters that weren’t pronounced. While not all of his simplifications stuck, some did, including dropping the u after o in words that contained both letters to represent a single sound. Following is a list of some of the variations that have become the American standard for spelling. The lists are not exhaustive but serve to illustrate the principles for the spelling variations.

Leave out letters that aren’t pronounced (o instead of ou, e instead of ae)

British spelling	American spelling
anaemia	anemia
anesthaesia	anesthesia
armour	armor
behaviour	behavior
caesium	cesium
colour	color
encyclopaedia	encyclopedia
favour	favor
favourite	favorite
flavour	flavor
haemophilia	hemophila
honour	honor
humour	humor
labour	labor
neighbour	neighbor
rumour	rumor

Leave out a doubled letter if it isn’t spoken (l instead of ll, m instead of mme and t instead of tt or tte)

British spelling	American spelling
cancelled	canceled
carburettor	carburetor
equalling	equaling
jewellry	jewelry
modelling	modeling
omelette	omelet
programme	program
quarelled	quareled
traveller	traveler

Leave out a silent e in the middle of a word or e or ue at the end of a word

British spelling	American spelling
acknowledgement	acknowledgment
analogue	analog
annexe	annex
axe	ax
dialogue	dialog
judgement	judgment
monologue	monolog
mould	mold
pedagogue	pedagog

Write words the way they are spoken (z instead of s)

British spelling	American spelling
analyse	analyze
apologise	apologize
authorise	authorize
civilise	civilize
cosy	cozy
emphasise	emphasize
generalise	generalize
industrialise	industrialize
organisation	organization
prise	prize (the verb meaning to lever)
realise	realize
recognise	recognize

Write words the way they are spoken (s or k instead of c)

British spelling	American spelling
defence	defense
disc	disk
mollusc	mollusk
pretence	pretense
sceptic	skeptic

Write words the way they are spoken (er instead of re)

British spelling	American spelling
centre	center
kilometre	kilometer
litre	liter
meagre	meager
theatre	theater

Write past tense of verbs as regular verbs when they are spoken as (or close to) regular verbs

British spelling	American spelling
dreamt	dreamed
leapt	leaped
spelt	spelled
spoilt	spoiled

Differences for which there are no obvious rules

British spelling	American spelling
aeroplane	airplane
aluminium	aluminum
enquire	inquire
grey	gray
kerb	curb
maths	math
milliard	billion
pyjamas	pajamas
vendor	vender

Exceptions

Of course, there are exceptions. No matter the number of words with a doubled l at the end in the British spelling that the American version spells with one l, there are British words spelled with only one l in the middle or at the end that the American version spells with two lls. For example,

• distil (British) and distill (American),
• fulfil (British) and fulfill (American),
• instalment (British) and installment (American),
• skilful (British) and skillful (American),
• wilful (British) and willful (American).

If my spelling checker marks a word I think is correctly spelled, I look it up in merriam-webster.com to see if I have allowed my vast reading of English books from all times and all places to allow some British preferences to move into my home vocabulary. I find them all the time, since my husband is English and still insists the Queen’s English is always correct. I let him think so to keep peace around the house, but I stick with the American versions when I write and edit.

For a more complete list of British vs American spellings, check out Wikipedia’s article on the topic. I wonder if it’s called Wikipaedia in England.