British vs. American English: Spelling Differences in Academic Writing

British vs. American English: Spelling Differences in Academic Writing

English is a global language, but it is not uniform. Two main written standards dominate scholarly communication: British English and American English. For academic authors, this distinction is more than a curiosity. Journals, universities and publishers often expect one variety or the other, and editors look for consistent adherence to that choice. A manuscript that shifts between colour and color or between centre and center can appear careless, even if the research itself is rigorous.

Many authors rely on the default language setting in Microsoft Word or another word processor. While this can be a useful first line of defence, it is far from infallible. Spellcheckers are not always configured correctly, may ignore context-sensitive distinctions (such as verb/noun pairs), and cannot reliably handle every variant recorded in major dictionaries. In addition, dictionaries themselves differ: some mark British and American forms explicitly, while others simply list alternatives without explaining which variety uses which spelling.

Creating accurate and consistent British or American spelling therefore requires more than blind trust in software. It requires a basic understanding of common patterns, a sense of where the two varieties diverge and an awareness of tricky exceptions that often catch writers by surprise. This article outlines the most important spelling differences for academic authors and offers practical guidance on choosing and applying one variety consistently in your work.

Why Consistency Matters in Academic Writing

Academic writing is built on clarity, precision and credibility. Readers expect research articles, theses, reports and books to follow a coherent set of language conventions. When spelling fluctuates between varieties, several problems arise:

• Perceived carelessness: Inconsistent spelling suggests that the manuscript has not been carefully proofread, which may influence reviewers’ and editors’ impressions of the work.
• Distraction: Frequent switching between behaviour and behavior or travelling and traveling distracts readers from the argument and makes the text feel uneven.
• Editorial workload: Copyeditors and proofreaders must spend extra time standardising spellings, which can delay publication and potentially introduce errors.
• Professionalism: Consistency signals respect for the norms of the journal or institution and shows that the author understands how academic communication works.

For these reasons, many journals explicitly state a preference for “UK English” or “US English” in their instructions for authors. Even when no preference is stated, the safest approach is to choose one variety—generally the one most closely aligned with the journal’s location and existing content—and use it consistently.

General Strategy: Choosing and Applying a Variety

Before diving into specific spelling families, it helps to establish a clear strategy:

• Check the journal’s guidelines. If the instructions for authors specify British or American spelling, follow that guidance without exception.
• Align with your target audience. If you are not bound by a journal, consider where most of your readers are based and choose the variety that will feel most natural to them.
• Set your word processor language correctly. Choose “English (United Kingdom)” or “English (United States)” as appropriate, and ensure that the entire document—not just individual sections—uses the same setting.
• Use a reputable dictionary. For British English, many authors rely on Oxford or Collins; for American English, Merriam-Webster is a common choice. Stick to one dictionary for spelling decisions.
• Create a personal word list. Note words that you use frequently and that differ between varieties, so you can check them quickly and avoid inconsistency.

With this foundation in place, you can focus on the specific spelling differences that most often appear in academic prose.

Major Spelling Families: British vs. American Patterns

1. -our vs. -or

One of the most visible differences is the contrast between -our and -or endings:

• British English: colour, behaviour, labour, honour
• American English: color, behavior, labor, honor

These words occur frequently in academic writing—especially in the social sciences and humanities—so choosing one pattern and applying it consistently is important. In British English, the -our form is standard; in American English, only -or is correct.

2. -re vs. -er

Another familiar contrast appears in words ending with -re in British English and -er in American English:

• British English: centre, metre, theatre
• American English: center, meter, theater

However, not every word with an er ending changes. Words such as parameter and sober are spelled the same in both varieties. This means you cannot simply convert every -er to -re when “British-ising” a text; you must check each candidate in a dictionary.

3. -ise and -ize

Many authors find the -ise/-ize distinction particularly confusing. In American English, verbs of this type are almost always spelled with -ize:

• American English: organize, specialize, recognize, globalize

British English is more flexible. Traditionally, both -ise and -ize forms are considered correct in many cases, so both organise and organize can be acceptable. Some publishers strongly prefer -ize (following Oxford spelling), while others adopt -ise consistently. The crucial point is internal consistency within your document and alignment with the journal’s house style.

4. -yse vs. -yze

Related to the previous group is a smaller but important pattern involving -yse/-yze:

• British English: analyse, paralyse
• American English: analyze, paralyze

Here the division is clearer: British English normally uses -yse, while American English uses -yze. Because these verbs are common in scientific fields, inconsistent spelling stands out quickly.

5. ae/oe/ou vs. e/o

British English often retains older vowel combinations such as ae, oe and ou, where American English tends to simplify them to e or o:

• British English: aesthetics, anaemia, manoeuvre, oestrogen, mould
• American English: esthetics, anemia, maneuver, estrogen, mold

These distinctions are particularly common in medical and scientific terminology. However, usage can be mixed, and some British journals now accept simplified spellings in certain contexts. When in doubt, follow your chosen dictionary and journal guidelines.

6. -ce vs. -se and Verb/Noun Pairs

The contrast between -ce and -se creates both straightforward and subtle differences. A clear example is:

• British English: defence
• American English: defense

A more complex case involves verb/noun pairs. In British English, some words use one spelling for the noun and another for the verb:

• Noun: practice, licence
• Verb: practise, license

In American English, the pattern is simplified:

• Noun and verb: practice
• Noun and verb: license

Because these words appear frequently in academic writing—especially in professional disciplines such as law, medicine and education—authors should take particular care with them when writing in British English.

7. Retaining or Dropping the Letter e

Another family of differences concerns whether an internal e is retained. British English often keeps the e, whereas American English omits it:

• British English: sizeable, acknowledgement
• American English: sizable, acknowledgment

Yet this pattern is not completely predictable. For example, British English commonly uses judgement, but in legal contexts judgment is preferred, bringing it closer to the American standard, where judgment is always used. At the same time, knowledgeable generally retains the e in both varieties. These mixed patterns confirm the need to check high-frequency words rather than relying purely on guesswork.

8. Single vs. Double l

The behaviour of the letter l is another well-known difference. In the base form, British English often uses a single l where American English uses double ll:

• British English: enrol, skilful
• American English: enroll, skillful

When adding endings such as -ed or -ing, British English more readily doubles consonants:

• British English: focussed, travelling
• American English: focused, traveling

There are, however, cases where both varieties use the doubled form, as in enrolling. General rules about doubling consonants after short vowels also interact with these patterns, which is why consulting a dictionary is advisable if you are unsure.

9. Other Characteristic Differences

A number of additional contrasts occur less frequently but still appear in academic and administrative writing:

• ph vs. f: British sulphur vs. American sulfur
• sc vs. sk: British sceptic vs. American skeptic
• que vs. ck: British cheque vs. American check
• ogue vs. og: British catalogue vs. American catalog

Not every word in these families differs. For instance, epilogue is spelled the same in both British and American English, illustrating again that patterns must be applied cautiously rather than mechanically.

10. Programme vs. Program

The word program(me) is a particularly interesting case. In British English, programme is still common for general uses (such as a television programme or a programme of events). However, when referring to computer software, British usage aligns with American English and uses program without the final me. American English uses program in all senses.

In academic writing, where software and research programmes can both be discussed, it is important to distinguish which sense you are using and to follow your chosen variety’s convention.

Practical Tips for Academic Authors

Memorising every spelling pair is unrealistic, especially if you write in a second language. Instead, focus on developing good habits:

• Choose your variety early. Decide whether you are writing in British or American English before drafting, and adjust your spellchecker accordingly.
• Keep a personal list of frequent words. Note terms like defence/defense, analyse/analyze, travelling/traveling and others that recur in your field.
• Check titles, abstracts and headings carefully. Spelling inconsistencies are especially visible in these prominent locations.
• Respect quoted material. When citing titles of articles, books or quotations, preserve the original spelling, even if it differs from the variety you are using in your main text.
• Use professional editing if needed. For high-stakes documents such as theses, grant proposals or journal articles, expert proofreading can help standardise spelling and ensure that your language meets publication standards.

Conclusion

British and American English share far more similarities than differences, but the spelling contrasts that do exist are significant in academic writing. Patterns involving -our/-or, -re/-er, -ise/-ize, -yse/-yze, vowel combinations, -ce/-se, the retention of e, the behaviour of l, and a handful of distinctive forms such as sulphur/sulfur, cheque/check and programme/program can give your geographical variety away immediately.

The goal is not to eliminate every possible variation, but to adopt one standard and apply it consistently, guided by journal instructions and reliable dictionaries. When spelling supports rather than distracts from your argument, your research can speak clearly and confidently to its intended audience—whether they spell it behaviour or behavior.

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At Proof-Reading-Service.com, our academic editors and proofreaders check spelling, grammar and style in both British and American English, helping authors meet journal requirements and present their work clearly and professionally.