American

British

Notes

aluminum *

aluminium

Interesting discussion at

analog

analogue

anesthesia

anaesthesia

archeology

archaeology

boro

borough

"boro" is informal and is sometimes seen in British road markings. In Scotland the word is "burgh" but it is pronounced "burr" or, sometimes, "borough" NOT "berg".

bylaw

bye law

catalog

catalogue +

center

centre

color

colour

curb

kerb

Edge of roadway or pavement. "curb" in the sense of "restrain" is used in British and American English.

defense

defence

dialog

dialogue +

donut

doughnut

"donut" is informal and is quite commonly used in BE to suggest that the bun is of a typical American character.

draft

draught

encyclopedia

encyclopaedia

favorite

favourite

gage

gauge +

American usage is obsolete

gray

grey +

gynecology

gynaecology

hauler

haulier

honor

honour

humor

humour

jewelry

jewellery

license

licence

British usage is license for the verb and licence for the noun

maneuver

manoeuvre

meter

metre

British usage is "meter" for a measuring device and "metre" for the unit of length. A correspondent suggests that the US military prefers "metre".

mold

mould

mustache

moustache +

nite

night

"nite" is informal in both AE and BE.

omelet

omelette +

pajamas US

pyjamas

practice

practise

British usage is "practise" for the verb and "practice" for the noun

program

programme

British usage is "program" for computers and "programme" for television or radio.

routing

routeing

specialty

speciality

story

storey

of building

sulfur

sulphur +

According to a correspondent the American spelling is now "official" British spelling for use by professional chemists but it is unlikely to be recognised by any other British English speaker.

thru

through +

American usage is obsolescent but may still be seen on road signs etc.,

tire

tyre

part of wheel in contact with road

vise

vice

tool