English and American English Spelling

Here are the principal differences in spelling between English and American English.

	English	American English
Final -l is always doubled after one vowel in stressed and unstressed syllables in English but usually only in stressed syllables in American English, for example:	rebel > rebelled travel > travelled	rebel > rebelled travel > traveled
Some words end in -tre in English and -ter in American English, for example:	centre theatre	center theater
Some words end in -ogue in English and -og in American English, for example:	analogue catalogue	analog catalog
Some words end in -our in English and -or in American English, for example:	colour labour	color labor
Some verbs end in -ize or -ise in English but only in -ize in American English, for example:	realise, realize harmonise, harmonize	realize harmonize

Common Differences

English	American English
all right	all right, alright (disputed)
analyse	analyze
centre	center
cheque	check
colour	color
counsellor	counselor
criticise, criticize	criticize
defence	defense
doughnut	donut
favour	favor
fibre	fiber
flavour	flavor
fulfil	fulfill
grey	gray
honour	honor
humour	humor
jewellery	jewellery, jewelry
judgement, judgment	judgment
kerb	curb
labour	labor
license, licence (verb) licence (noun)	license (verb) license (noun)
litre	liter
metre	meter
mould	mold
neighbour	neighbor
offence	offense
practise (verb) practice (noun)	practice (verb) practice (noun)
pretence	pretense
programme	program
pyjamas	pajamas
realise, realize	realize
savour	savor
speciality	specialty
theatre	theater
travelled travelling	travelled, traveled travelling, traveling
tyre	tire
valour	valor