I went to a movie theatre, paid with a cheque, purchased liquorice at the snack bar, and apologised for making everyone stand as I shimmied to my seat.
As you may have noticed, every word in the previous sentence would have been spelled correctly — if I’d been writing for a British audience. But British English is consistently different from American English. Here are a few of the most common ways:
• Americans use a z in words ending in –ize (e.g., realize); Brits prefer an –ise (realise).
• Americans use an s as the penultimate letter in such words as offense and defense; Brits use a c (offence and defence).
• Americans spell color and humor with five letters; Brits slip in a sixth, between the o and the r (colour and humour).
• Americans attend a theater or a center; Brits prefer the last letters reversed (theatre and centre).
• Americans feel a connection, Brits a connexion.
• Americans smolder, Brits smoulder.
British and English also diverge occasionally on word meanings. Americans vacuum; Brits hoover. Americans use napkins on their laps; Brits use them on their infants (diapers). In America, a hamper is a basket for clothes; in England, it’s a basket for food.
If you mix these up in America, apologize; when in England, change the z to an s.
Neil Chethik, aka the Grammar Gourmet, is executive director at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning (www.carnegieliteracy.org) and author of FatherLoss and VoiceMale. The Carnegie Center offers writing classes and seminars for businesses and individuals. Contact Neil at neil@carnegiecenterlex.org or (859)254-4175.