There are small and even stark differences between US and UK English. These differences include conventions in spelling and usage. In academic writing, it is essential that you pick one style of writing and apply it consistently.
This may not seem important to students who grew up in countries outside of the US or the UK. However, in academic or professional writing, consistency in the type of English you use in your writing is paramount. This is known as academic style. Therefore, you should pay attention to the differences in spelling and usage in UK vs US English.
UK vs. US spelling
Spelling differences between UK and US English are among the most recognizable distinctions. These variations are governed by a set of common rules:
-ize vs. -ise
In UK English, verbs ending in "-ise," such as "realise," are common, although "-ize" is also acceptable. US English exclusively uses "-ize," as in "realize." This preference stems from Noah Webster's efforts to simplify American English.
-er vs. -re
UK English retains French-derived endings like "-re" in words such as "centre," while US English adopts the more phonetically intuitive "-er" (e.g., "center").
Double ‘l’ vs. single ‘l’
When conjugating words, UK English doubles the "l" in verbs ending with "l," as in "travelling" or "cancelled." US English simplifies this by using a single "l" in "traveling" or "canceled."
-oe vs. -e
Words like "oestrogen" in UK English simplify to "estrogen" in US English. The "oe" is typically dropped in American spelling.
Dropping ‘e’ in conjugation
When conjugating words ending with "e," UK English often retains the "e," as in "ageing," while US English drops it, as in "aging."
Table of spelling differences
UK English | US English |
Realise | Realize |
Centre | Center |
Travelling | Traveling |
Cancelled | Canceled |
Oestrogen | Estrogen |
Ageing | Aging |
Theatre | Theater |
Defence | Defense |
Licence (noun) | License |
Neighbour | Neighbor |
Quotation marks
Quotation marks also differ significantly between UK and US English in two main aspects. British English uses single quotation marks, whereas US English uses double quotation marks. In addition, in US English, punctuation such as periods and commas are enclosed within the quotes, whereas in UK English they are outside.
Single vs. double quotation marks
In UK English, single quotation marks (‘ ’) are standard for direct speech, while US English prefers double quotation marks (“ ”). For example:
UK: She said, ‘I’ll join you for tea.’
US: She said, “I’ll join you for tea.”
Double quotation marks are used in UK English only for quotes within quotes, while US English reverses this practice.
Punctuation inside or outside quotation marks
UK English places punctuation outside the quotation marks unless it is part of the quoted material. US English generally places punctuation inside. For example:
UK: He called it ‘a splendid idea’.
US: He called it “a splendid idea.”
The differences in spelling and punctuation between UK and US English are not wide enough to make them unintelligible to each other. However, knowing the differences is important for consistency in academic style.
Cite this EminentEdit article |
Antoine, M. (2024, December 02). UK vs. US English. https://www.eminentediting.com/post/uk-vs-us-english |
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