Have you ever needed to change spelling from British English to American English or vice versa? One way to do this is to change the language format of your Word document and then do a spell check. For example, if you needed to change spelling from British to American, you could change the language format from British to American English. Then the spell checker would catch such words as "capitalise" and "colour." To try this approach, follow this procedure:
1. Select the text you want to change (probably the whole document).
2. Click the "Tools" menu.
3. Click "Language."
4. Click "Set Language."
5. In the "Mark selected text as" list, click the language you want (either "English [U.S]" or "English [U.K]"). (A check mark next to the language name means that the spelling files for that language are installed.)
Although this will work, it's a tedious way to go. If you'd like to be more efficient, try our MegaReplacer program, which you can use free for 45 days. You can download the program here:
http://www.editorium.com/14843.htm
MegaReplacer automatically finds and replaces a whole list of words, so now all you need is a list of British and American spellings. I've provided one below, already set up for MegaReplacer. Actually, I've provided two lists: one to replace British spellings with American spellings, and one to replace American spellings with British spellings. Of course, if you don't want to use MegaReplacer, you could always find and replace the words by hand, recording a macro as you go so you'll have it for future use.
The lists are not complete, and you might want to argue with some of the entries. That's okay. Feel free to modify them to suit your needs.
Please note that replacing some of the words will also take care of longer words. For example, replacing "honour" with "honor" will also replace "honoured" with "honored."
Now if we just had a list of British/American *translations,* such as "hood"/"bonnet"! Maybe next week. And now, here are the lists, which I hope you'll find useful:
------------------------------
BRITISH TO AMERICAN
------------------------------
abridgement|abridgment
acknowledgement|acknowledgment
adaptor|adapter
adze|adz
aeon|eon
aeroplane|airplane
aesthete|esthete
aesthetic|esthetic
aether|ether
ageing|aging
aluminium|aluminum
Americanise|Americanize
amoeba|ameba
anaemia|anemia
anaemic|anemic
anaesthesia|anesthesia
anaesthetic|anesthetic
anaesthetist|anesthetist
analogue|analog
analyse|analyze
anti-aircraft|antiaircraft
apologise|apologize
apophthegm|apothegm
appal|appall
arbour|arbor
archaeology|archeology
ardour|ardor
armour|armor
armourer|armorer
armoury|armory
artefact|artifact
ash-tray|ashtray
axe|ax
B.Sc.|B.S.
bannister|banister
battleaxe|battle-ax
baulk|balk
behaviour|behavior
behove|behoove
biassed|biased
biassing|biasing
bisulphate|bisulfate
boloney|baloney
book-keeper|bookkeeper
boracic|boric
burglarise|burglarize
burnt|burned
buses|busses
bye law|bylaw
caesium|cesium
caf?|cafe
calibre|caliber
calliper|caliper
callisthenics|calisthenics
camomile|chamomile
cancelled|canceled
cancelling|canceling
candour|candor
cantaloup|cantaloupe
capitalise|capitalize
carburettor|carburetor
carcase|carcass
catalogue|catalog
catalyse|catalyze
categorise|categorize
centre|center
characterise|characterize
cheque|check
chilli|chili
cigarette|cigaret
citrous|citrus
clamour|clamor
clangour|clangor
clarinettist|clarinetist
colonise|colonize
colour|color
connexion|connection
co-operate|cooperate
cosy|cozy
councillor|councilor
counselled|counseled
counselling|counseling
counsellor|counselor
crayfish|crawfish
criticise|criticize
day-dream|daydream
defence|defense
deflexion|deflection
demeanour|demeanor
dependant|dependent
despatch|dispatch
devilled|deviled
devilling|deviling
diaeresis|dieresis
dialogue|dialog
dialyse|dialyze
diarrhoea|diarrhea
disc|disk
dishevelled|disheveled
distil|distill
disulphide|disulfide
dolour|dolor
doodah|doodad
doughnut|donut
Dr|Dr.
dramatise|dramatize
draught|draft
dreamt|dreamed
?lite|elite
emphasise|emphasize
enamour|enamor
encyclopaedia|encyclopedia
endeavour|endeavor
enquire|inquire
enquiry|inquiry
enrol|enroll
enthral|enthrall
equalise|equalize
equalled|equaled
equalling|equaling
extemporise|extemporize
faecal|fecal
faeces|feces
favour|favor
fervour|fervor
f?te|fete
fibre|fiber
finalise|finalize
flaky|flakey
flautist|flutist
flavour|flavor
fledgeling|fledgling
flower-pot|flower pot
focussed|focused
focussing|focusing
foetal|fetal
foetid|fetid
foetus|fetus
fount|font
fuelled|fueled
fuelling|fueling
fulfil|fulfill
furore|furor
gaol|jail
garrotte|garrote
garrotted|garroted
garrotting|garroting
gauge|gage
genuflexion|genuflection
gipsy|gypsy
glamour|glamor
goitre|goiter
gonorrhoea|gonorrhea
grey|gray
grovelled|groveled
grovelling|groveling
gybe|jibe
gynaecology|gynecology
haemoglobin|hemoglobin
haemophilia|hemophilia
haemorrhage|hemorrhage
haemorrhoid|hemorrhoid
harbour|harbor
haulier|hauler
homoeopath|homeopath
homoeostasis|homeostasis
honour|honor
humour|humor
incase|encase
inclose|enclose
indorse|endorse
inflexion|inflection
instal|install
instil|instill
jeweller|jeweler
jewellery|jewelry
Jnr.|Jr.
judgement|judgment
kerb|curb
kidnapped|kidnaped
kidnapper|kidnaper
kidnapping|kidnaping
knelt|kneeled
labour|labor
lasagne|lasagna
leant|leaned
leapt|leaped
learnt|learned
leukaemia|leukemia
levelled|leveled
leveller|leveler
levelling|leveling
libelled|libeled
libelling|libeling
libellous|libelous
liberalise|liberalize
licence|license
liquorice|licorice
litre|liter
louvre|louver
lustre|luster
manoeuvre|maneuver
marvelled|marveled
marvelling|marveling
marvellous|marvelous
matin?e|matinee
meagre|meager
mediaeval|medieval
metalled|metaled
metalling|metaling
metre|meter
misdemeanour|misdemeanor
mitre|miter
mobilise|mobilize
modelled|modeled
modeller|modeler
modelling|modeling
mollusc|mollusk
motorise|motorize
mould|mold
moult|molt
moustache|mustache
na?ve|naive
naturalise|naturalize
neighbour|neighbor
neo-classical|neoclassical
nitre|niter
normalise|normalize
note-paper|note paper
nought|naught
ochre|ocher
odour|odor
oedema|edema
oenology|enology
oesophagus|esophagus
oestrogen|estrogen
oestrus|estrus
offence|offense
omelette|omelet
organisation|organization
organise|organize
orthopaedics|orthopedics
paedagogy|pedagogy
paederast|pederast
paediatric|pediatric
paediatrician|pediatrician
paediatrics|pediatrics
paedophile|pedophile
paedophilia|pedophilia
palaeobotany|paleobotany
Palaeocene|Paleocene
palaeoclimatology|paleoclimatology
palaeogeography|paleogeography
palaeography|paleography
palaeolithic|paleolithic
palaeomagnetism|paleomagnetism
palaeontology|paleontology
Palaeozoic|Paleozoic
panelled|paneled
panelling|paneling
panellist|panelist
parallelled|paralleled
parallelling|paralleling
paralyse|paralyze
parlour|parlor
pasteurised|pasteurized
pedlar|peddler
phial|vial
philtre|philter
pleaded|pled
plough|plow
polythene|polyethylene
popularise|popularize
practise|practice
pre-ignition|preignition
premise|premise
pretence|pretense
primaeval|primeval
programme|program
pseudo-intellectual|pseudointellectual
pseudo-science|pseudoscience
pyjamas|pajamas
quarrelled|quarreled
quarreller|quarreler
quarrelling|quarreling
rancour|rancor
realise|realize
recognise|recognize
reconnoitre|reconnoiter
reflexion|reflection
retroflexion|retroflection
revelled|reveled
revelling|reveling
rigour|rigor
r?le|role
routeing|routing
rumour|rumor
sabre|saber
saleable|salable
saltpetre|saltpeter
satirise|satirize
saviour|savior
savour|savor
scallywag|scalawag
sceptic|skeptic
sceptre|scepter
sepulchre|sepulcher
skilful|skillful
smelt|smelled
smoulder|smolder
Snr.|Sr.
sombre|somber
speciality|specialty
spectre|specter
spelt|spelled
spilt|spilled
splendour|splendor
spoilt|spoiled
stabilise|stabilize
standardise|standardize
storey|story
succour|succor
sulphate|sulfate
sulphide|sulfide
sulphur|sulfur
symbolise|symbolize
synaeresis|syneresis
synaesthesia|synesthesia
tantalise|tantalize
theatre|theater
tiro|tyro
titbit|tidbit
towards|toward
travelled|traveled
traveller|traveler
travelling|traveling
trisulphate|trisulfate
trowelled|troweled
trowelling|troweling
tumour|tumor
tyre|tire
ultra-high|ultrahigh
ultra-modern|ultramodern
valour|valor
vaporise|vaporize
vapour|vapor
vice|vise
vigour|vigor
waggon|wagon
wilful|willful
woollen|woolen
woolly|wooly
worshipped|worshiped
worshipper|worshiper
worshipping|worshiping
------------------------------
AMERICAN TO BRITISH
------------------------------
abridgment|abridgement
acknowledgment|acknowledgement
adapter|adaptor
adz|adze
aging|ageing
airplane|aeroplane
aluminum|aluminium
ameba|amoeba
Americanize|Americanise
analog|analogue
analyze|analyse
anemia|anaemia
anemic|anaemic
anesthesia|anaesthesia
anesthetic|anaesthetic
anesthetist|anaesthetist
antiaircraft|anti-aircraft
apologize|apologise
apothegm|apophthegm
appall|appal
arbor|arbour
archeology|archaeology
ardor|ardour
armor|armour
armorer|armourer
armory|armoury
artifact|artefact
ashtray|ash-tray
ax|axe
B.S.|B.Sc.
balk|baulk
baloney|boloney
banister|bannister
battle-ax|battleaxe
behavior|behaviour
behoove|behove
biased|biassed
biasing|biassing
bisulfate|bisulphate
bookkeeper|book-keeper
boric|boracic
burglarize|burglarise
burned|burnt
busses|buses
bylaw|bye law
cafe|caf?
caliber|calibre
caliper|calliper
calisthenics|callisthenics
canceled|cancelled
canceling|cancelling
candor|candour
cantaloupe|cantaloup
capitalize|capitalise
carburetor|carburettor
carcass|carcase
catalog|catalogue
catalyze|catalyse
categorize|categorise
center|centre
cesium|caesium
chamomile|camomile
characterize|characterise
check|cheque
chili|chilli
cigaret|cigarette
citrus|citrous
clamor|clamour
clangor|clangour
clarinetist|clarinettist
colonize|colonise
color|colour
connection|connexion
cooperate|co-operate
councilor|councillor
counseled|counselled
counseling|counselling
counselor|counsellor
cozy|cosy
crawfish|crayfish
criticize|criticise
curb|kerb
daydream|day-dream
defense|defence
deflection|deflexion
demeanor|demeanour
dependent|dependant
deviled|devilled
deviling|devilling
dialog|dialogue
dialyze|dialyse
diarrhea|diarrhoea
dieresis|diaeresis
disheveled|dishevelled
disk|disc
dispatch|despatch
distill|distil
disulfide|disulphide
dolor|dolour
donut|doughnut
doodad|doodah
Dr.|Dr
draft|draught
dramatize|dramatise
dreamed|dreamt
edema|oedema
elite|?lite
emphasize|emphasise
enamor|enamour
encase|incase
enclose|inclose
encyclopedia|encyclopaedia
endeavor|endeavour
endorse|indorse
enology|oenology
enroll|enrol
enthrall|enthral
eon|aeon
equaled|equalled
equaling|equalling
equalize|equalise
esophagus|oesophagus
esthete|aesthete
esthetic|aesthetic
estrogen|oestrogen
estrus|oestrus
ether|aether
extemporize|extemporise
favor|favour
fecal|faecal
feces|faeces
fervor|fervour
fetal|foetal
fete|f?te
fetid|foetid
fetus|foetus
fiber|fibre
finalize|finalise
flakey|flaky
flavor|flavour
fledgling|fledgeling
flower pot|flower-pot
flutist|flautist
focused|focussed
focusing|focussing
font|fount
fueled|fuelled
fueling|fuelling
fulfill|fulfil
furor|furore
gage|gauge
garrote|garrotte
garroted|garrotted
garroting|garrotting
genuflection|genuflexion
glamor|glamour
goiter|goitre
gonorrhea|gonorrhoea
gray|grey
groveled|grovelled
groveling|grovelling
gynecology|gynaecology
gypsy|gipsy
harbor|harbour
hauler|haulier
hemoglobin|haemoglobin
hemophilia|haemophilia
hemorrhage|haemorrhage
hemorrhoid|haemorrhoid
homeopath|homoeopath
homeostasis|homoeostasis
honor|honour
humor|humour
inflection|inflexion
inquire|enquire
inquiry|enquiry
install|instal
instill|instil
jail|gaol
jeweler|jeweller
jewelry|jewellery
jibe|gybe
Jr.|Jnr.
judgment|judgement
kidnaped|kidnapped
kidnaper|kidnapper
kidnaping|kidnapping
kneeled|knelt
labor|labour
lasagna|lasagne
leaned|leant
leaped|leapt
learned|learnt
leukemia|leukaemia
leveled|levelled
leveler|leveller
leveling|levelling
libeled|libelled
libeling|libelling
libelous|libellous
liberalize|liberalise
license|licence
licorice|liquorice
liter|litre
louver|louvre
luster|lustre
maneuver|manoeuvre
marveled|marvelled
marveling|marvelling
marvelous|marvellous
matinee|matin?e
meager|meagre
medieval|mediaeval
metaled|metalled
metaling|metalling
meter|metre
misdemeanor|misdemeanour
miter|mitre
mobilize|mobilise
modeled|modelled
modeler|modeller
modeling|modelling
mold|mould
mollusk|mollusc
molt|moult
motorize|motorise
mustache|moustache
naive|na?ve
naturalize|naturalise
naught|nought
neighbor|neighbour
neoclassical|neo-classical
niter|nitre
normalize|normalise
note paper|note-paper
ocher|ochre
odor|odour
offense|offence
omelet|omelette
organization|organisation
organize|organise
orthopedics|orthopaedics
pajamas|pyjamas
paleobotany|palaeobotany
Paleocene|Palaeocene
paleoclimatology|palaeoclimatology
paleogeography|palaeogeography
paleography|palaeography
paleolithic|palaeolithic
paleomagnetism|palaeomagnetism
paleontology|palaeontology
Paleozoic|Palaeozoic
paneled|panelled
paneling|panelling
panelist|panellist
paralleled|parallelled
paralleling|parallelling
paralyze|paralyse
parlor|parlour
pasteurized|pasteurised
pedagogy|paedagogy
peddler|pedlar
pederast|paederast
pediatric|paediatric
pediatrician|paediatrician
pediatrics|paediatrics
pedophile|paedophile
pedophilia|paedophilia
philter|philtre
pled|pleaded
plow|plough
polyethylene|polythene
popularize|popularise
practice|practise
preignition|pre-ignition
premise|premise
pretense|pretence
primeval|primaeval
program|programme
pseudointellectual|pseudo-intellectual
pseudoscience|pseudo-science
quarreled|quarrelled
quarreler|quarreller
quarreling|quarrelling
rancor|rancour
realize|realise
recognize|recognise
reconnoiter|reconnoitre
reflection|reflexion
retroflection|retroflexion
reveled|revelled
reveling|revelling
rigor|rigour
role|r?le
routing|routeing
rumor|rumour
saber|sabre
salable|saleable
saltpeter|saltpetre
satirize|satirise
savior|saviour
savor|savour
scalawag|scallywag
scepter|sceptre
sepulcher|sepulchre
skeptic|sceptic
skillful|skilful
smelled|smelt
smolder|smoulder
somber|sombre
specialty|speciality
specter|spectre
spelled|spelt
spilled|spilt
splendor|splendour
spoiled|spoilt
Sr.|Snr.
stabilize|stabilise
standardize|standardise
story|storey
succor|succour
sulfate|sulphate
sulfide|sulphide
sulfur|sulphur
symbolize|symbolise
syneresis|synaeresis
synesthesia|synaesthesia
tantalize|tantalise
theater|theatre
tidbit|titbit
tire|tyre
toward|towards
traveled|travelled
traveler|traveller
traveling|travelling
trisulfate|trisulphate
troweled|trowelled
troweling|trowelling
tumor|tumour
tyro|tiro
ultrahigh|ultra-high
ultramodern|ultra-modern
valor|valour
vapor|vapour
vaporize|vaporise
vial|phial
vigor|vigour
vise|vice
wagon|waggon
willful|wilful
woolen|woollen
wooly|woolly
worshiped|worshipped
worshiper|worshipper
worshiping|worshipping
_________________________________________
RESOURCES
Cambridge Dictionaries Online features The Cambridge International Dictionary of English, with words and definitions for American, Australian, and British English:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
After you've searched for a word, be sure to click the words found in order to see the full definitions and usage examples.
