This is why British English has more linguistic similarities to French than American English, and also explains our obsession with croissants. Many of these spelling differences result from French influence on English. There has always been this dilemma whether to use British English or to use its US counterpart. He believed it was important for America, a new and revolutionary nation, to assert its cultural independence from Britain through language. Difference between British and American English can be shown by this example : Aeroplane is British English while Airplane is American English. Why isn’t ‘American’ a language? British English has a tendency to keep the spelling of many words of French origin. We need you to answer this question! One particularly vexatious argument concerns the lack of uniform spellings between British and American English. As well popular use makes a word right or wrong. Why are the British and American spellings of some words different? These are some of the most common discrepancies between American and British spelling (with the latter often prevailing as well in Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth nations): He dropped the letter u from words like colour and honour – which had developed from the French influence in England – to make them color and honor instead. Of … The British however, did not accept the new spellings as they saw them as “Americanisms”. The pronunciation differences are part of the normal process of change in language. British newspapers and magazines returned to the old spellings in an effort to stay loyal to “their” English and this is why now Americans and British spell words differently. Knowing the spelling rules and differences will help you learn the spelling exceptions, too. The simple reason for this is that England and America went their separate ways before anyone became unduly rigorous about spelling words the same way every time. But a select few take different spellings on opposite sides of the Atlantic. However the course is designed to work for both British and American English spelling. British vs. American English (2) (spelling differences) There are some well-known spelling differences between British English and American English. Britain and the US share a common language – but English is spoken and spelled very differently on each side of the Atlantic. "The color of the orange is also its flavour" - color is American spelling and flavour is British). Both British English and American English are very different from the English spoken by both regions at the time of the American Revolution. That is why they change the dictionary periodically. The main difference is that British English keeps the spelling of words it has absorbed from other languages, mainly French and German. Or maybe that’s just me. I have two different answers. Wiki User April 28, 2008 6:39PM. Example American color English colour it became popular in early America and became correct after a period of time. Thankfully, most words in English are spelled the same wherever the language is spoken. Before 1828, many words, such as humor (or humour ), defense (or defence) and fiber (or fibre ), had two acceptable spellings on both sides of the pond, because they were introduced in England via both Latin and French, which used different spellings. Many people find themselves confused regarding the difference between American and British spellings. While discussions surrounding the correct spelling of words can generally be cleared up by checking their spelling here at YourDictionary.com, many people find themselves confused regarding the difference between American and British spellings. The first answer is to blame Noah Webster, of Webster's Dictionary fame. Where there is a difference we highlight it and therefore it is possible to learn British English, American English or both spellings. James Harbeck finds out why. These are some of the most common discrepancies between American and British spelling (with the latter often prevailing as well in Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth nations): He wrote the first American spelling, grammar, and reading schoolbooks and the first American dictionary. This English spelling course has been written in the UK, by a teacher from the historic city of York. 3. Prostitute is British while commercial sex worker is American. Thankfully, most words in English are spelled the same wherever the language is spoken. Starting in 1607, English speakers from the British Isles began settling in what is now the eastern United States. But a select few take different spellings on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Whilst American English spellings are based mostly on how the word sounds when it is spoken. Webster wanted American spelling to not only be more straightforward but different from UK spelling, as a way of America showing its independence from the former British rule.