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See also List of dialects of the English language and Wikipedia:Spellchecking.

English spelling comparison chart

This table gives the accepted spellings (following government guidelines and major dictionaries). It is by no means exhaustive, but rather an overview. When two variants appear, the one listed first is more widely used. (For example, in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and Ireland, ageing is more common than aging; in Canada and the US, aging is more common.)

The spelling systems of unlisted Commonwealth countries, such as India, Pakistan and Singapore, are generally close to the British spelling system, with possibly a few local differences. Many non-Commonwealth English-speaking countries, such as the Philippines and Liberia, have spelling systems closer to American spelling.

Australia[1] Canada[2] New Zealand[3] South Africa[4] UK & Ireland[5] United States[6]
aeroplane airplane aeroplane aeroplane aeroplane airplane
ageing, aging aging, ageing ageing, aging ageing, aging ageing, aging aging, ageing
aluminium aluminum aluminium aluminium aluminium aluminum
analyse analyze, analyse analyse analyse analyse analyze
cancelled cancelled cancelled cancelled cancelled canceled, cancelled
catalogue catalogue catalogue catalogue catalogue catalog, catalogue
centre centre centre centre centre center
colour colour colour colour colour color
defence defence defence defence defence defense
dialogue dialogue dialogue dialogue dialogue dialogue, dialog
diarrhoea diarrhea diarrhoea diarrhoea diarrhoea diarrhea
grey grey grey grey grey gray
fulfil fulfill fulfil fulfil fulfil fulfill, fulfil
install install install install install install
instalment instalment instalment instalment instalment installment
judgment, judgement judgment, judgement judgment, judgement judgement, judgment judgement, judgment judgment, judgement
kerb curb kerb kerb kerb curb
labour[7] labour labour labour labour labor
licence (n.),
license (v.) licence (n.),
license (v.) licence (n.),
license (v.) licence (n.),
license (v.) licence (n.),
license (v.) license, licence (n.)
license (v.)
manoeuvre manoeuvre manoeuvre manoeuvre manoeuvre maneuver
organisation organization organisation organisation organisation, organization organization
practice (n.),
practise (v.) practice (n.),
practise (v.) practice (n.),
practise (v.) practice (n.),
practise (v.) practice (n.),
practise (v.) practice (n. and v.)
computer program,
training program(me) computer program,
training program(me) computer program,
training programme computer program,
training programme computer program,
training programme computer program,
training program
routeing, routing routing routeing, routing routing
sceptic skeptic sceptic sceptic sceptic skeptic
theatre theatre theatre theatre theatre theater, theatre
travelling travelling travelling travelling travelling traveling, travelling
tyre tire tyre tyre tyre tire
vice (fault) vice (fault) vice (fault) vice (fault) vice (fault) vice (fault)
vice (tool) vise (tool) vice (tool) vice (tool) vice (tool) vise (tool)
yoghurt yogourt, yogurt, yoghourt yoghurt yoghurt yoghurt, yogurt, yoghourt yogurt
Australia Canada New Zealand South Africa UK & Ireland United States
see Notes for explanations of the references above.

Other spelling differences

Throughout this section, the variants here regarded as "British" are also used in Australia (in most cases), as well as in other Commonwealth countries and in Ireland. Canadian spelling combines British and American.

Preferred variants

In both British English and American English, many words have variant spellings, but most of the time one variant is preferred over the other. In dictionaries, the preferred spelling is listed first among the headwords of an entry. Examples follow:

• acknowledgement vs acknowledgment: acknowledgement is preferred in British English,[8] acknowledgment in American English.
• judgement vs judgment: judgement is preferred in British English (except in the sense of a judge's decision, in which case "judgment" is preferred), judgment in American English.
• per cent vs percent: per cent is preferred in British English, percent in American English.
• dialogue vs dialog: In a non-technical context, the spelling dialogue is preferred in American English. In Webster's dictionary, dialogue is given first, and Chambers also indicates dialog is less used in North America.[9]
• catalogue vs catalog: Webster's treats this case differently, as does Chambers[10] — catalog is the preferred spelling in American English.
• glamour vs glamor: The spelling glamour is preferred in both British and American English. (Glamourous is sometimes found in American English, but is considered incorrect in British English, where glamorous is the only accepted form.)
• foetus vs fetus: In American English, foetus is usually not used. In British English, usage is divided. In academic literature, fetus is preferred.
• aluminium vs aluminum: aluminum is the prevalent spelling throughout North America, however in scientific literature aluminium should be used, as recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
  
• gram vs gramme: gram is the more common spelling; gramme is also possible in British usage.[11]

Older sources use many archaic variants (such as shew for show), which are not to be used outside quotations except in special circumstances (for example, quire may be used instead of choir in architectural contexts).

Different spellings – different meanings

Several words change their meaning when spelt differently.

• check – cheque: to check is to ensure; outside the USA, a bill of exchange drawn on a banker payable on demand is a "cheque".
• kerb – curb: In British English, 'kerb' is the edge of the road or pavement (UK) (sidewalk in the US) where 'kerbstones' can be found. 'To curb' is to limit or control in either dialect.
• disc – disk: In British English, the usual spelling is disc (meaning: thin flat circular object), but in computing, disk is usually used when referring to magnetic disks, as in hard disk. In the case of optical discs, such as "compact disc", the other spelling is used.
• draft – draught: In the UK, draft is a preliminary version of a document; draught is a drink or a current of air.
• enquiry – inquiry: for most British writers, an enquiry is a request for information, but an inquiry is a formal investigation.
• judgement – judgment: In Australian and British Law, a Judge's decision in a case is always spelt Judgment. On the other hand, the forming of opinion or conclusion by an ordinary person is usually spelt judgement.
• metre – meter: in most countries other than the US, metre is the metric unit of length, and meter is a measuring device.
• programme – program: In British English, the spelling program can be used for computer program. In all other cases, programme is invariably used. In Australia, program is widespread in all contexts.
• story – storey: a story is a tale; outside of the U.S., upper floors of buildings are spelt "storey".[12]
• theatre – theater: Many uses of either spelling can be found in American English. Both theater and theatre are commonly used among theatre professionals. The spelling theatre can be seen in names like Kodak Theatre and AMC Theatres. However, theater is used by America's national theater and all major American newspapers such as the New York Times (theater section) to refer to both the dramatic arts as well as to buildings where performances take place. The Columbia University Guide to Standard American English states that "theater" is used except in proper names.[13]
• tyre – tire: In American and Canadian English, tire is used to refer to 'to fatigue' and the inflated rim of a wheel. In British and other forms of English, tire means 'to fatigue' and tyre is the inflated rim of a wheel.
• ensure – insure: To ensure is to make sure. In British English, to insure is to take out an insurance policy. In American English, to insure is sometimes used instead of to ensure.[14]

International organizations

There are three major English spelling standards used by international organizations and publishers:

British English with -ise

Spellings: centre, programme, labour, defence, organisation, recognise, analyse
Language tag en-GB. Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: European Union (EU), Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Commonwealth Secretariat (Commonwealth of Nations), African Union (AU), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), International Olympic Committee (IOC), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Transparency International, Greenpeace. The UK government does not seem to have an official position on spelling, though it often uses this variant in communications.