in Editing

British and American Spelling

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.