VII — Differences in Spelling
§ 1 Typical Forms
—Some of the salient differences between American and English spelling are shown in the following list of common words:
| American | English |
|---|---|
| Anemia | anaemia |
| aneurism | aneurysm |
| annex (noun) | annexe |
| arbor | arbour |
| armor | armour |
| asphalt | asphalte |
| ataxia | ataxy |
| ax | axe |
| balk (verb) | baulk |
| baritone | barytone |
| bark (ship) | barque |
| behavior | behaviour |
| behoove | behove |
| buncombe | bunkum |
| burden (ship’s) | burthen |
| cachexia | cachexy |
| caliber | calibre |
| candor | candour |
| center | centre |
| check (bank) | cheque |
| checkered | chequered |
| cider | cyder |
| clamor | clamour |
| clangor | clangour |
| cloture | closure1 |
| color | colour |
| connection | connexion |
| councilor | councillor |
| counselor | counsellor |
| cozy | cosy |
| curb | kerb |
| cyclopedia | cyclopaedia |
| defense | defence |
| demeanor | demeanour |
| diarrhea | diarrhoea |
| draft (ship’s) | draught |
| dreadnaught | dreadnought |
| dryly | drily |
| ecology | oecology |
| ecumenical | oecumenical |
| edema | oedema |
| encyclopedia | encyclopaedia |
| endeavor | endeavour |
| eon | aeon |
| epaulet | epaulette |
| esophagus | oesophagus |
| fagot | faggot |
| favor | favour |
| favorite | favourite |
| fervor | fervour |
| flavor | flavour |
| font (printer’s) | fount |
| foregather | forgather |
| forego | forgo |
| form (printer’s) | forme |
| fuse | fuze |
| gantlet (to run the—) | gauntlet |
| glamor | glamour |
| good-by | good-bye |
| gram | gramme |
| gray | grey |
| harbor | harbour |
| honor | honour |
| hostler | ostler |
| humor | humour |
| inclose | enclose |
| indorse | endorse |
| inflection | inflexion |
| inquiry | enquiry |
| jail | gaol |
| jewelry | jewellery |
| jimmy (burglar’s) | jemmy |
| labor | labour |
| laborer | labourer |
| liter | litre |
| maneuver | manoeuvre |
| medieval | mediaeval |
| meter | metre |
| misdemeanor | misdemeanour |
| mold | mould |
| mollusk | mollusc |
| molt | moult |
| mustache | moustache |
| neighbor | neighbour |
| neighborhood | neighbourhood |
| net (adj.) | nett |
| odor | odour |
| offense | offence |
| pajamas | pyjamas |
| parlor | parlour |
| peas (plu. of pea) | pease |
| picket (military) | piquet |
| plow | plough |
| pretense | pretence |
| program | programme |
| pudgy | podgy |
| pygmy | pigmy |
| rancor | rancour |
| rigor | rigour |
| rumor | rumour |
| savory | savoury |
| scimitar | scimetar |
| septicemia | septicaemia |
| show (verb) | shew |
| siphon | syphon |
| siren | syren |
| skeptic | sceptic |
| slug (verb) | slog |
| slush | slosh |
| splendor | splendour |
| stanch | staunch |
| story (of a house) | storey |
| succor | succour |
| taffy | toffy |
| tire (noun) | tyre |
| toilet | toilette |
| traveler | traveller |
| tumor | tumour |
| valor | valour |
| vapor | vapour |
| veranda | verandah |
| vial | phial |
| vigor | vigour |
| vise (a tool) | vice |
| wagon | waggon |
| woolen | woollen |