American/British Dictionary
This listing provides a guide to some common words that are spelt differently when using either American or British versions of the English language. American spelling is now used when writing the Derwent abstract.
As a general rule the following apply:
- Words ending in 'ise' should end in 'ize'
- Diphthongs (e.g. encyclopaedia or oestrogen) are always shortened to a single letter which best represents the phonetic sound of the diphthong (e.g. encyclopedia and estrogen)
There are many dictionaries available via the Internet; one listing of these can be found at http://www.dictionary.com/Dir/Reference/Dictionaries/
| American Terms | British Terms | ||
| airplanes aluminum anesthetics anesthetizing analyzed analyzers analyzing anodizing armor armored armoring atomizers atomizing calibers calipers carbonization carburetors cauterization cauterizing center centers centering color colored coloring cookie cross-linking crystallizing curb cyclization decolorizing demagnetizing deodorizing depolarizing depolymerizing desensitizers desulfurizing diaper dikes downspouts economizers elevator encyclopedias equalizing fertilization fertilizer fertilizing fiberglass fibers flashlight flavoring fluidized fluidizing galvanizing gasoline graphitizing gynecology harbor hemorrhoids homogenizing immobilized immunizing ionization ionized isomerizing jewelry land mine localizing magnetization magnetizing malleableizing maneuvering matchetes mercerizing metacenters metalizing mineralization minimizing miter mollusks molded molding molds multicolor nebulizers neutralization neutralizing odor optimization oxidizing ozonizing pajamas parlor pasteurizing plasticizers plowing polarization polarized polymerizable polymerized practicing program pruning shears pulverizing recognizing selvage sensitizing stabilizers sterilization streetcars subsidizing sulfates sulfites sulfur synchronization synthesizing tableting theater tire unauthorized vaporizers vapor vulcanizing windshields |
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aeroplanes aluminium anaesthetics anaesthetising analysed analysers analysing anodising armour armoured armouring atomisers atomising calibres callipers carbonisation carburettors cauterisation cauterising centre centres centring colour coloured colouring biscuit crosslinking crystallising kerb cyclisation decolourising demagnetising deodorising depolarising depolymerising desensitisers desulfurising nappy dykes downpipes economisers lift encyclopaedias equalising fertilisation fertiliser fertilising fibreglass fibres torch flavouring fluidised fluidising galvanising petrol graphitising gynaecology harbour haemorrhoids homogenising immobilised immunising ionisation ionised isomerising jewellery landmine localising magnetisation magnetising malleabilising manoeuvring machetes mercerising metacentres metallising mineralisation minimising mitre molluscs moulded moulding moulds multicolour nebulisers neutralisation neutralising odour optimisation oxidising ozonising pyjamas parlour pasteurising plasticisers ploughing polarisation polarised polymerisable polymerised practising programme secateurs pulverising recognising selvedges sensitising stabilisers sterilisation trams subsidising sulphates sulphites sulphur synchronisation synthesising tabletting theatre tyre unauthorised vaporisers vapour vulcanising windscreens |
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