UK vs US English
When writing academic pieces such as dissertations, essays, and research papers, you have to follow a specific style of English as stated in the instructions. The most commonly used forms include:
- American English
- British English
- Australian English
These styles have a lot in common, and they share many of the same rules. However, their word choice, punctuation, and spelling differ.
You must check your instructions to establish the specific style you will use in your paper. In case it’s not specified, you can choose any that feels the most natural. This article dives into the differences between UK and US English.
Table of Contents
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- US vs UK spelling
- US vs UK punctuation
- US vs UK verb conjugation
- US vs UK abbreviations
- Consistency
- Why is it so complicated?
1. US vs UK Spelling
The difference between US and UK words usually relates to just one or two letters.
· The use of ‘’-ize’’ and ‘’-size’’, ‘’-ise’’ and ‘’-yse’
US Realize Analyze
UK Realise Analyse (is flexible)
Australia Realise Analyse (almost always)
· The use of ‘’-er’’ and ‘’-re’’
US Theater Meter
UK Theatre Metre
Australia British usage
· The use of ‘’-or’’ and ‘’-our’’
US Color Splendor
UK Colour Splendour
Australia British usage
· The use of ‘’-ction’’ and ‘’-xion’’
US Connection
UK Connexion (acceptable but extremely rare)
Australia American usage
· The use of ‘’-e’’
US – often drops ‘’-e’’ for word modifications
Judge to Judgment
UK- often keeps ‘’-e’’ for word modifications
Judge to Judgement
Australia- alternates between American and British usage
· The use of ‘’-e’’, ‘’-oe’’, and ‘’-ae’’
US Pediatrician Leukemia
UK Paediatrician Leukaemia
Australia British usage
· The use of ‘’l’’ and ‘’ll’’
US Canceled Traveled
UK Cancelled Travelled
Australia British usage
The following is a list of preferred spelling for words commonly used in academic writing.
US UK Australia
Analyze Analyse Analyse
Apologize Apologise Apologise
Categorize Categorise Categorise
Capitalize Capitalise Capitalise
Characterize Characterise Characterise
Colonize Colonise Colonise
Endeavor Endeavour Endeavour
Enroll Enrol Enrol
Fulfill Fulfil Fulfil
Globalize Globalise Globalise
Honor Honour Honour
Hypothesize Hypothesise Hypothesise
Inquire Enquire Enquire
Install Instal Instal
Legalize Legalise Legalise
Maneuver Maneuvre Maneuvre
Maximize Maximise Maximise
Minimize Minimise Minimise
Mold Mould Mould
Neutralize Neutralise Neutralise
Optimize Optimise Optimise
Paralyze Paralyse Paralyse
Plow Plough Plough
Privatize Privatise Privatise
Randomize Randomise Randomise
Realize Realise Realise
Recognize Recognise Reacognise
Past Tense Verbs
US UK Australia
Canceled Cancelled Cancelled
Channeled Channelled Channelled
Labeled Labelled Labelled
Modeled Modelled Modelled
Traveled Travelled Travelled
Nouns
US UK Australia
Acknowledgment Acknowledgement Acknowledgment or Acknowledgement
Aluminum Aluminium Aluminium
Artifact Artefact Artefact
Behavior Behaviour Behaviour
Caliber Calibre Calibre
Center Centre Centre
Color Colour Colour
Cooperation Co-operation Cooperation or Co-operation
Councilor Councillor Councillor
Counselor Counsellor Counsellor
Defense Defence Defence
Fetus Foetus Foetus
Fiber Fibre Fibre
Leukemia Leukaemia Leukaemia
Neighbor Neighbour Neighbour
Tire Tyre Tyre
Adjectives
US UK Australia
Aging Ageing Ageing
Favorite Favourite Favourite
Gray Grey Grey
Livable Liveable Liveable
Orthopedic Orthopaedic Orthopaedic
Somber Sombre
2. US vs UK Punctuation
The difference between punctuation in the US and UK English is the number of quotation marks in terms of single or double. The placement of other quotation marks about quotations also differs.
In US English, double (”) quotation marks are used. However, quotations within quotations make use of single (‘) quotation marks. For example,
The man said, ”My wife has called this restaurant ‘the cosiest.”’
For UK English, single quotation marks are used, while double marks are placed for quotations within quotations. For example,
The man said, ‘My wife has called this restaurant ‘’the coziest’’.
For placement of punctuation marks in US English, the marks appear within the quotation marks. For example,
”The coziest in the City,’’ she said.
Punctuation marks in UK English appear outside the quotation marks. For example,
‘The coziest in the city’, she said.
3. US vs UK Verb Conjugation
The two English forms differ in terms of subject-verb agreement with collective nouns. US English treats collective nouns as singular, while UK English treats collective nouns as plural.
US- The team is headed to Norway for the quarter-finals
UK- The team are headed to Norway for the quarter-finals
Another difference is the verb endings in simple past and past participle tenses. US English verbs take ‘’-ed’’ endings for simple past tense and past participles. UK English verbs take ‘’-ed’’ endings for simple past tense and past participles but with more exceptions.
US- Spell to Spelled UK- Spell to Spelt
Learn to Learned Learn to Learnt
Compel to Compelled Compel to Compelled
4. US vs UK Abbreviations
Abbreviations and the placement of periods in abbreviations are different for both US and UK English.
For US English, most abbreviations take a period. However, in UK English, only abbreviations that don’t end with the last letter of the full word take a period.
US UK
Doctor Dr. Dr
Mister Mr. Mr
Honourable Hon. Hon.
Drive Dr. Dr.
5. Consistency
Consistency is vital when writing academic papers. You must ensure that you use the same style throughout your document. All words must be spelled the same instead of mixing US and US English spellings.
She cancelled her orthopaedic appointment last minute- Wrong
She canceled her orthopaedic appointment last minute- Correct
She cancelled her orthopedic appointment last minute- Correct
You must also ensure you use the same spelling of a word in all its forms.
The office needed installation services urgently. John offered to instal the software- Wrong
The office needed installation services urgently. John offered to install the software- Correct
The office needed instalation services urgently. John offered to instal the software- Correct
6. Why Is It So Complicated?
Britain colonized America. After gaining independence, the Americans used the English language as a way to create their own identity. This led to the innovation of new spellings and punctuations that differed from what the British used.
Australia has a more flexible form of English, although it tends more toward the British side. Out of all styles, US English is the least flexible, although conventions are continually changing.