4.1. Paco has gotten a good guidebook about New York

We are coming to the end of this topic. Now it's turn to learn some hints about the differences in spelling between British and American English.
Icono de iDevice Reflexión
A little harbor full of colors.
By lapidim. Creative Commons.
There are some well-known spelling differences between British English and American English.
Many of these spelling differences derive from French influence on the English language. British English has a tendency to keep the spelling of many words with a French origin. Americans try to spell words more closely to the way they sound phonetically and they tend to miss some letters.
Some general spelling differences between British and American English are listed below.

BRITISH ENGLISH

AMERICAN ENGLISH

-our: behaviour

-or: behavior

-re: centre

-er: center

-se: apologise

-ze: apologize

- l: skilful

- ll: skillful

- ogue: catalogue

- og: catalog

- ence: defence

- ense: defense

- gramme: programme

- gram: program

In American English the past participle of the verb get is gotten:

Paco has just gotten a good guidebook about New York.

Paco has just got a good guidebook about New York. (British English)

 

Icono de iDevice Solved exercise

1) Color. 5) Enrollment.

2) Theater. 6) Analyse.

3) Centre. 7) Kilogram.

4) Travelling. 8) Dialogue.

 

Say which of these words are commonly used in British or American English.

Icono IDevice Important
Remember!

In British English, verbs that end in -l preceded by a vowel usually double the final -l when a suffix -ed/-ing is added: 

(Br E) parallelled / paralleled (Am E)

(Br E) travelling / traveling (Am E) 
 

In American English the final -l is doubled only when the last syllable is stressed:

(Br E) fulfil / fulfill (Am E)

(Br E) skilful / skillful (Am E)

 


Icono de IDevice de pregunta Self-Assessment activity
Say if the following spellings are used in British or American English.

 
By Setaou. Creative Commons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) litre.

  
a) British.
b) American.

2) humor.
  
a) British.
b) American.

3) enrollment.
  
a) British.
b) American.

4) gramme.
  
a) British.
b) American.

5) gotten.
  
a) British.
b) American.

6) criticise.
  
a) British.
b) American.

Icono IDevice Further knowledge

Spelling differences between British and American English.

The main differences between American and British English spellings can be found here.

Watch the video to have a quick look at the differences we have seen above.

 


 

 


You have finally reached the end of the topic. You have learned the Past Perfect Tense as well as some differences in both vocabulary and spelling between British and American English. Congratulations!
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