Navigating the Spelling Seas

Somwhere along your IELTS, TOEIC, or General Paper journeys, you might have discovered spelling differences which are also highlighted as you write online. Depending on the settings on your laptop or e-device, you will have chosen either American and British English. While these spelling differences might seem two peas in a pod, they have their quirks. I would say it is best to stick to one form of spelling for an entire exam and you won’t be sweating the small stuff.

To help you avoid these pitfalls, let's dive into some of the most common words with different spellings at basic to intermediate levels. Do you have more to add to the list?

The Top 20 Common Differences

1. Color (US) vs. Colour (UK)

2. Center (US) vs. Centre (UK)

3. Favorite (US) vs. Favourite (UK)

4. Analyze (US) vs. Analyse (UK)

5. Behavior (US) vs. Behaviour (UK)

6. Traveler (US) vs. Traveller (UK)

7. Organize (US) vs. Organise (UK)

8. Theater (US) vs. Theatre (UK)

9. Catalog (US) vs. Catalogue (UK)

10. Program (US) vs. Programme (UK)

11. License (US) vs. Licence (UK)

12. Honor (US) vs. Honour (UK)

13. Realize (US) vs. Realise (UK)

14. Apologize (US) vs. Apologise (UK)

15. Defense (US) vs. Defence (UK)

16. Neighbor (US) vs. Neighbour (UK)

17. Check (US) vs. Cheque (UK)

18. Plow (US) vs. Plough (UK

19. Jail (US) vs. Gaol (UK)

20. Yogurt (US) vs. Yoghurt (UK)

Of course, when it comes to usage, there are also some key differences in vocabulary and I will highlight those in the next post. All in all, I feel it super useful simply to be aware of how words are presented and used. The good thing though is both American and British spelling are accepted in major exams.