Spelling Differences (AmE/BrE)
B2 · Upper IntermediateAmerican vs British EnglishTyre vs. tire, mould vs. mold — spelling pairs that don't follow a general rule, so you simply learn them.
What you'll learn
- This lesson covers irregular, one-off spelling pairs — for the systematic -our/-or, -re/-er, -ise/-ize, and consonant-doubling rules, see British vs American Spelling
- Some pairs are simply different words for the same spelling job: tyre/tire, kerb/curb, mould/mold, cheque/check
- Some borrow differently from other languages: aluminium/aluminum, pyjamas/pajamas, manoeuvre/maneuver
- British English spells some -l words with a single 'l' where American doubles it in the base word itself, not just before a suffix: skilful/skillful, wilful/willful
- British English distinguishes the noun from the verb in a couple of word pairs (practice/practise, licence/license); American English uses one spelling, 'practice' and 'license,' for both
Beyond the suffix rules
The British vs American Spelling lesson covers the PREDICTABLE, rule-based spelling patterns: colour/color, centre/center, realise/realize, catalogue/catalog, and doubling a final consonant before a suffix (travelled/traveled). Those patterns apply across many words at once, so learning the rule gets you most of the way there.
This lesson is about the words that DON'T follow a general rule — pairs you simply have to learn individually, because each one is its own small exception rather than part of a pattern.
Genuinely different spellings for the same word
A handful of everyday words simply took a different final shape in each variety, unrelated to any of the systematic suffix patterns.
Words borrowed differently from other languages
A few words were absorbed from French, Greek, or other languages slightly differently on each side of the Atlantic, leaving a spelling difference that isn't part of any general English suffix rule.
Single 'l' in the base word, and the noun/verb split
British English keeps a single 'l' in a few words where American doubles it — this is different from the travelled/traveled suffix pattern, because here the difference sits in the word's base spelling itself, not in adding an ending. Separately, British English distinguishes a noun spelling from a verb spelling in two common word pairs; American English collapses each pair into one spelling used for both.
Watch out
Not every British/American spelling difference comes from a general rule — some are simply separate words to memorize individually.
The noun/verb spelling split (practice/practise) is specifically British — American English uses one spelling for both.
Real life — A mechanic's shop sign
"The sign says 'Tyre and Exhaust Centre' — is that a spelling mistake?"
"No, that's just British spelling — 'tyre' instead of 'tire,' and 'centre' instead of 'center.'"
"Interesting — I only knew about colour and centre, not tyre."
"Those word-specific ones catch people out the most, since there's no rule to fall back on — you just have to know them."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Give the American spelling
Choose the American spelling of the British word 'tyre' (the rubber ring on a wheel).
Exercise 2 · Give the British spelling
Choose the British spelling of the American word 'curb' (the edge of a pavement/sidewalk).
Exercise 3 · Give the American spelling
Choose the American spelling of the British word 'mould' (a fungal growth, or a shape for casting).
Exercise 4 · Give the American spelling
Choose the American spelling of the British word 'aluminium' (the metal).
Exercise 5 · Give the British spelling
Choose the British spelling of the American word 'check' (a printed order to a bank to pay money).
Exercise 6 · Choose the American spelling
In British English, 'practice' (noun) and 'practise' (verb) are spelled differently. Which single spelling does American English use for BOTH?
Exercise 7 · Choose the correct description
'Enrolment' (British, one 'l') vs. 'enrollment' (American, two 'l's) — this is a difference in...
Exercise 8 · Give the British spelling
Choose the British spelling of the American word 'jewelry.'
Exercise 9 · Give the American spelling
Give the American spelling of the British word 'pyjamas.'
Exercise 10 · Give the British spelling
Give the British spelling of the American word 'skillful.'
Exercise 11 · Sort the words into groups
0 / 8 sorted
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
Choose the American spelling of the British word 'storey' (a level of a building).
You learned
- This lesson covers irregular pairs; the systematic suffix rules are in British vs American Spelling.
- Some words are simply different: tyre/tire, mould/mold, cheque/check, storey/story.
- Some were borrowed differently: aluminium/aluminum, manoeuvre/maneuver, sceptic/skeptic.
- British keeps a single 'l' in a few base words (skilful) where American doubles it (skillful).
- British splits practice/practise and licence/license by noun vs. verb; American uses one spelling for both.
Related grammar lessons
Vocabulary Differences (AmE/BrE)
Build a working list of the everyday words that differ between American and British English — flat/apartment, lift/elevator, biscuit/cookie, autumn/fall — plus one genuine false friend, 'pants,' that means something different depending on which variety you're speaking.
Preposition Differences (AmE/BrE)
Learn the small, well-known set of prepositions that differ between American and British English — at/on the weekend, fill in/fill out, Monday to/through Friday, in/on a team — so a quick preposition choice never gives away confusion instead of fluency.
Grammar Differences (AmE/BrE)
See the handful of genuine grammar differences between American and British English — present perfect vs. simple past, 'have got' vs. 'have', collective-noun agreement, the mandative subjunctive, and 'shall' — so both varieties sound natural to you, in speech and in writing.
Countability Mistakes
A focused review of the specific words that trip learners up most — advice, information, furniture, news, and the much/many, a little/a few pairs that go with them.