What are the differences in spelling between British and American English?

The main difference is that British English keeps the spelling of words it has absorbed from other languages, mainly French and German. Whilst American English spellings are based mostly on how the word sounds when it is spoken.

Why does American spelling have differences to British spelling?

The differences often come about because British English has tended to keep the spelling of words it has absorbed from other languages (e.g. French), while American English has adapted the spelling to reflect the way that the words actually sound when they’re spoken.

Why did America drop the U?

American spelling was invented as a form of protest He dropped the letter u from words like colour and honour – which had developed from the French influence in England – to make them color and honor instead.

Does British English use S or Z?

British English only replaces the ‘z’ with ‘s’ in verbs ending with ‘-ize’, unless Oxford spelling is used, because it was influenced by the French verb ending -iser, whereas American English was influenced by the Latin verb ending -izare, itself derived from the Greek verb ending -ίζειν -ízein.

Why do Americans spell color?

There are a couple of ways you can choose which spelling to use. You can, for example, choose the spelling that’s prevalent in the country you’re from—if you’re an American, use color. If you’re from any of the Commonwealth countries, use colour. If English is not your first language, use the spelling you were taught.

How do the British spell colour?

Color and colour are different spellings of the same word. Color is the preferred spelling in American English, and colour is preferred in all other main varieties of English.

Which came first color or colour?

Difference Between Color and Colour The word color has its roots (unsurprisingly) in the Latin word color. It entered Middle English through the Anglo-Norman colur, which was a version of the Old French colour.

How do you spell color in UK?

Difference Between Color and Colour Color is the spelling used in the United States. Colour is used in other English-speaking countries. The word color has its roots (unsurprisingly) in the Latin word color. It entered Middle English through the Anglo-Norman colur, which was a version of the Old French colour.

Why do British say Zed?

The British and others pronounce “z”, “zed”, owing to the origin of the letter “z”, the Greek letter “Zeta”. This gave rise to the Old French “zede”, which resulted in the English “zed” around the 15th century.