{Business Tips} Spelling is NOT universal...

In the party world....we often forget that people of different countries spell words quite differently. We encounter this on a daily basis when customizing designs for clients. What one country deems wrong, another deems right. Grammar is also this way...but that is a whole different post! Most of our clients are American...although we were born and raised in a British/Canadian spelling state of mind. Many times you will see us spell words in the American way when it comes to words like Honor/Honour, we became tired of being told we were spelling things wrong....when technically we were not. ;)  We will NEVER get use to the word customising...we simply use customizing. :) So if you have never thought about it...it can be very daunting.



Here is a handy dandy guide to spelling differences in America, Britain and Canada. It is not complete. You get the general idea. ;)

Canadian English generally follows British spelling, but often the American alternative is possible too. The most commonly used spelling, where applicable, is marked with an asterisk (*).

Australian English also generally follows the British tradition.

Here is a link to quotation mark use in case you are curious. Also not created equal. British/Canadian use out of quote periods etc. American is inside even if logic says it should not be so. HERE.

British	Canadian	American
acknowledgement	acknowledgement*, acknowledgment	acknowledgment, acknowledgement
ageing, aging	aging*, ageing*	aging
aeroplane	airplane	airplane
aesthetics	aesthetics	aesthetics, esthetics
aluminium	aluminum	aluminum
among, amongst	among*, amongst	among
amortise	amortize	amortize
anaemia	anemia	anemia
anaesthesia	anaesthesia*, anesthesia	anesthesia
analogue	analogue	analogue, analog
analyse	analyze*, analyse	analyze
annex, annexe	annex	annex
apnoea	apnea	apnea
apologise*, apologize	apologize	apologize
archaeology	archaeology*, archeology	archaeology, archeology
armour	armour*, armor	armor
artefact	artifact	artifact
authorise*, authorize	authorize	authorize
axe	axe	ax, axe
balk*, baulk	balk	balk
banister*, bannister	banister*, bannister	banister
behaviour	behaviour	behavior
behove	behoove	behoove
blonde (for female)	blonde*, blond*	blond, blonde
B.Sc.	B.Sc.	B.S.
burette	burette*, buret	buret, burette
burnt, burned	burned*, burnt*	burned, burnt
bussed, bussing	bused, busing	bused, busing
Caesarean	Caesarian*, Cesarean, Cesarian	Cesarean, Caesarean
calibre	calibre	caliber
cancelled	cancelled	canceled, cancelled
candour	candour	candor
capitalise	capitalize	capitalize
carburettor	carburetor*, carburettor	carburetor
catalogue	catalogue	catalog(ue)
catalyse	catalyze*, catalyse	catalyze
centre	centre	center
cheque (noun, money)	cheque	check
chequered	checkered	checkered
chilli*, chili	chili	chili
cigarette	cigarette	cigarette, cigaret
clamour	clamour	clamor
collectable *, collectible	collectible	collectible
colour	colour*, color	color
connection*, connexion	connection	connection
convenor	convenor	convener
cosy	cozy	cozy
counsellor	counsellor*, counselor	counselor
criticise*, criticize	criticize	criticize
curb (verb)	curb	curb
customize, customise	customize	customize
demeanour	demeanour	demeanor
dependant (a person who relies on another person, especially for financial support)	dependant	dependent
defence	defence*, defense	defense
dialling, dialled	dialing, dialed; dialling, dialled	dialing, dialed
dialogue	dialogue	dialog(ue)
diarrhoea	diarrhea	diarrhea
dietician*, dietitian	dietitian*, dietician	dietitian*, dietician,
dispatch*, despatch	dispatch	dispatch
doughnut	doughnut, donut	donut, doughnut
Dr (A contracted form of a word, ending with the same letter as the full form, is not followed by a full stop).	Dr.	Dr.
draught (current of air)	draft	draft
dreamt, dreamed	dreamt*, dreamed*	dreamed, dreamt
emphasise	emphasize	emphasize
encyclopedia*, encyclopædia	encyclopedia	encyclopedia
endeavour	endeavour	endeavor
enquiry*, inquiry	inquiry*, enquiry	inquiry
enrol	enrol	enroll
favour	favour	favor
favourite	favourite	favorite
fibre	fibre	fiber
fibre optics	fiber optics, fibre optics (used by the Canadian government only)	fiber optics
finalize, finalise	finalize	finalize
flautist	flutist*, flautist	flutist
flavour	flavour	flavor
focused, focusing or focussed, focussing	focused, focusing or focussed, focussing	focused, focusing
foetus*, fetus	fetus	fetus
forever*, for ever	forever	forever
fuelling	fuelling	fueling
fulfil	fulfil	fulfill, fulfil
galvanise	galvanize	galvanize
gaol (old fashioned), jail*	jail	jail
gauge	gauge	gauge, gage
gemmology	gemmology	gemology
generalise	generalize	generalize
glamour	glamour	glamour, glamor
gonorrhoea	gonorrhea	gonorrhea
grey	grey	gray
gynaecology	gynecology*, gynaecology	gynecology
haemorrhage	hemorrhage	hemorrhage
harbour	harbour	harbor
harmonise*, harmonize	harmonize	harmonize
haulier	hauler	hauler
homeopathy*, homoeopathy	homeopathy	homeopathy
honour	honour	honor
humour	humour	humor
initialise	initialize	initialize
instalment	instalment*, installment	installment
jail*, gaol (old fashioned)	jail	jail
jewellery	jewellery*, jewelry	jewelry
judgment*, judgement	judgment*, judgement	judgment
kerb (noun)	curb	curb
kilometre	kilometre	kilometer
label, labelled, labelling	label, labelled, labelling	label, labeled, labeling
labour	labour	labor
lasagne	lasagna	lasagna
leant, leaned	leaned	leaned
learnt, learned	learned*, learnt*	learned
licence (noun)	licence	license
license (verb)	license*, licence	license
litre	litre	liter
lustre	lustre	luster
manoeuvre	manoeuvre*, maneuver	maneuver
marvellous	marvellous	marvelous
maximise*, maximize	maximize	maximize
meagre	meagre	meager
metre (unit of length)	metre	meter
modelled	modelled	modeled
modelling	modelling	modeling
mould	mould	mold
moustache	moustache*, mustache	mustache, moustache
mum, mummy	mum, mummy*, mom, mommy	mom, mommy
neighbour	neighbour	neighbor
net, nett (amount of money)	net	net
ochre	ochre	ocher
odour	odour*, odor	odor
oedema, edema	edema	edema
oesophagus*, esophagus	esophagus	esophagus
oestrogen*, estrogen	estrogen	estrogen
offence	offence*, offense	offense
omelette	omelette*, omelet	omelet, omelette
organisation*, organization	organization	organization
organise	organize	organize
optimise*, optimize	optimize	optimize
orientate	orient	orient
orientated	oriented	oriented
orthopaedic	orthopaedic*, orthopedic	orthopedic
pædiatrics	pediatrics	pediatrics
paedophile*, pedophile	pedophile	pedophile
paralyse	paralyze*, paralyse	paralyze
parlour	parlour	parlor
parallelling, parallelled	paralleling, paralleled	paralleling, paralleled
peddler*, pedlar	peddler*, pedlar	peddler
penalise, penalisation	penalize, penalization	penalize, penalization
pleaded	pleaded	pleaded, pled
plough	plow*, plough	plow
practise (verb)	practise*, practice	practice
practice (noun)	practice	practice
pretence	pretense*, pretence	pretense
programme (TV), program (computer)	program*, programme	program
pyjamas	pyjamas	pajamas
rancour	rancour	rancor
realise*, realize	realize	realize
recognise*, recognize	recognize	recognize
rigour	rigour	rigor
rumour	rumour	rumor
sabre	sabre	saber
saleable	saleable	saleable, salable
saviour	saviour	savior
savour	savour	savor
sceptical	sceptical*, skeptical	skeptical
signalling	signalling	signaling
skilful	skilful*, skillful	skillful, skilful
slipped disc	slipped disc	slipped disk
smelt, smelled	smelled	smelled
snorkelling	snorkelling	snorkeling
speciality	specialty*, speciality	specialty
standardise, standardisation	standardize, standardization	standardize, standardization
sulphur	sulphur*, sulfur	sulfur
theatre	theatre	theater
theatregoer	theatregoer	theatergoer
titbit	tidbit	tidbit
towards	toward*, towards	toward, towards (unusual)
travelling	travelling	traveling, travelling
tumour	tumour	tumor
tyre	tire	tire
valour	valour	valor
vapour	vapour	vapor
vice (the device)	vice	vise, vice
vigour	vigour	vigor
visualise*, visualize	visualize	visualize
wagon*, waggon	wagon	wagon
woollen	woollen*, woolen	woolen
yogurt*, yoghurt, yoghourt	yogourt*, yoghurt, yogurt	yogurt*, yoghurt, yoghourt