Others – like tung (for “tongue”) – did not. Below we have listed the main spelling differences that exist between British and American English. Many words that come from Ancient Greek have an –ae– in British English but only –e- in US English. Most of these words are scientific, medical, or technical words.
How is tongue Spelt in America?
Both British and American English use the spelling -gue with a silent -ue for certain words that are not part of the -ogue set, such as tongue (cf. tong), plague, vague, and league. In addition, when the -ue is not silent, as in the words argue, ague and segue, all varieties of English use -gue.
Why is UK and US spelling different?
The main difference is that British English keeps the spelling of words it has absorbed from other languages, mainly French and German. Whilst American English spellings are based mostly on how the word sounds when it is spoken.
Is it spelled tongue or tounge?
In English, the only correct way to spell the word is T-O-N-G-U-E. Not as tounge, tonge or tunge. They might sound right, but they are obsolete and inappropriate in writing.
Is it Z or S in British English?
-yse verbs always take s in British English and z in American English – for example analyse/analyze.
Why do Americans use z instead s?
Many American words replace the “s” used in British spelling with a “z” for words such as “realize,” “apologize” and “cozy.” Using a “z” instead of an “s” makes more sense because we pronounce these words with a “z” sound. Besides, “z” is much more fun to use than “s”!
Is it GREY or gray?
Grey and gray are two different spellings of the same word. Gray is more common in the U.S., while grey is more common in other English-speaking countries. In proper names—like Earl Grey tea and the unit Gray, among others—the spelling stays the same, and they need to be memorized.
Why do Americans spell color?
America chose to stick more closely to the original Latin roots of words (color, labor, honor, etc) while Britain elected to use the spellings we Brits know and love.
Why do Brits say US instead of I?
It’s just an old English way of speaking. Many people say “us” but if they are writing will use the word “me”. I was born in Sunderland and I use it some times, depends who I am talking to. “us” meaning you and me sounds like “uss”.
Why is tongue spelled so weird?
The spelling comes from the French, and indicates that the g was once pronounced — in other words, it wasn’t always just an engma (ŋ). However, the word tongue doesn’t come to us from French; the Old English and some Middle English used tunge.
Do Americans say Spelt?
In the United States, stick with spelled. Elsewhere, spelt is an acceptable option.
Why do people spell it tongue?
It’s probably because it sounds like it would be spelled “tounge”. Tongue might seem to be pronounced with two syllables instead of one. It’s just a common spelling error.
How do the British say kiss?
The verb snog is British slang for kiss, cuddle, or make out. It’s a word that is more and more common in American English as well, as a casual way to talk about kissing.
What words can British not say?
The Most Difficult English Words
- British pronunciation: thur-er. American pronunciation: ther-ow. Exactly.
- Pronounced: mer-der-rer. Worcestershire. Ah Worcestershire, the infamous sauce that no one knows how to pronounce.
- Pronounced: luff-ber-er. Debt. The ‘b’ is silent everyone!
- Pronounced: however you like. Squirrel.
Is it Realise or realize?
Realise and realize are two different spellings of the verb meaning “become aware” or “make real.” The spelling varies based on whether you’re writing UK or US English. In UK English, “realise” (with an “s”) is more common. In US English, “realize” (with a “z”) is the only correct spelling.
Why do Americans remove letters?
Why do Americans drop their “U”s when spelling some words? Because American spelling is a bit more practical, and eliminates superfluous vowels. Of course, it’s also inconsistent, which means some superfluous vowels (and consonants) are retained.
Is color spelled color or colour?
Color is the spelling used in the United States. Colour is used in other English-speaking countries. The word color has its roots (unsurprisingly) in the Latin word color. It entered Middle English through the Anglo-Norman colur, which was a version of the Old French colour.
Why do Americans spell it canceled?
Webster decided to chop the past tense of “cancel” down to one l. This variation first showed up in the Webster’s 1898 Dictionary, though it didn’t fully beat out the double-l spelling until about the 1980s. It’s not a hard-and-fast rule, but it’s the accepted form in American English to this day.
Why do Americans say zee?
Zee became the standard way to pronounce Z in the United States in the 19th century. It’s said that zee most likely came about because it rhymes with other letter pronunciations in the English alphabet (e.g., e, d, c, b, g, and p).
Why do the Americans say aluminum?
The American Chemical Society adopted “aluminum” because of how widely it was used by the public, but the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry officially designated the metal as “aluminium” as recently as 1990.
Which is correct Doughnut or donut?
Donut is an alternate spelling of doughnut. Some dictionaries point out that donut is rarely used outside the United States. All of them recognize doughnut as the main spelling, as do some of the more popular style guides.