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This page is supposed to serve as a handy reference for editors.
See also Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style and List_of_dialects_of_the_English_language.
==English spelling comparison chart==
This table gives the generally preferred spellings (following government guidelines). It is by no means exhaustive, but rather an overview.
In some cases both variants are commonly used. The spelling listed first is the one more widely used. In Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and South Africa, -ise spellings are predominant. However -ize spellings (like organization) are also recognized.
{|
| '''Australia''' || '''Canada''' || '''India''' '''& Ireland''' || '''New Zealand''' || '''United Kingdom''' || '''United States of America''' || '''South Africa''' || '''Hong Kong'''
|-
| organisation || organization || organisation || organisation || organisation, organization || organization || organisation || organisation, organization
|-
| judgement, judgment || judgment, judgement || judgment, judgement || judgement, judgment || judgement, judgment || judgment, judgement || judgement, judgment || judgement, judgment
|-
| colour || colour || colour || colour || colour || color || colour || colour
|-
| analyse || analyze, analyse || analyse || analyse || analyse || analyze || analyse || analyse
|-
| labour || labour || labour || labour || labour || labor || labour || labour
|-
| centre || centre || centre || centre || centre || center || centre || centre, center
|-
| program, programme || program || programme, program || programme, program || programme, program || program || programme, program || programme, program
|-
| defence || defence || defence || defence || defence || defense || defence || defence
|-
| theatre || theatre || theatre || theatre || theatre || theater, theatre || theatre || theatre
|-
| licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || license ''(n. & v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' |- | grey || grey || grey || grey || grey || gray, grey || grey || grey |- | practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n. & v.)'' ||practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' |- | aluminium || aluminum || aluminium || aluminium || aluminium || aluminum || aluminium || aluminium |- | dialogue || dialogue || dialogue || dialogue || dialogue || dialogue, dialog || dialogue || dialogue |- | fulfil || fulfill, fulfil || fulfil || fulfil, fulfill || fulfil || fulfill || fulfil || fulfil, fulfill |- | travelling || travelling || travelling || travelling || travelling || traveling || travelling || travelling |}
== Different spellings - different meanings == There are several words that change their meaning when spelled differently. *programme - program: In British English, the spelling ''program'' is used for ''computer program''. In all other cases ''programme'' is used. *theatre - theater: In American English, ''theatre'' is commonly used among theatre professionals. ''Theatre'' tends to refer to the art, ''theater'' to the building. The spelling ''theatre'' is also used in names like Kodak_Theatre and AMC_Theatres *disc - disk: In British English, the usual spelling is ''disc'' (meaning: thin flat circular object), but in computing ''disk'' is usually used, as in Hard_disk, when referring to magnetic disks. In case of optical discs, such as "compact disc", the other spelling is used. *Judgement - Judgment: In Australian ''Law'' a Judge's decision in a case is always spelt ''Judgment''. On the other hand, the forming of opinion or conclusion by an ordinary person, is usually spelt ''judgement''. == International organizations == There are ''three major English varieties'' used as standards by international organizations: === British English with -ize spellings === Spellings: centre, programme, labour, defence, cooperation, organize, recognize, but: analyse
Language tag (a code identifying the language used): En-GB-oed, this standard is based on the Oxford_English_Dictionary. Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: United Nations Organization (UN, WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, etc.), World Trade Organization (WTO), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), World Wildlife Federation (WWF), Amnesty_International. === British English with -ise spellings === Spellings: centre, programme, labour, defence, co-operation, organise, recognise, analyse
Language tag En-GB, this standard is used by the UK government. Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), European Union (EU), Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Commonwealth_Secretariat (Commonwealth_of_Nations), African Union (AU), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), International Olympic Committee (IOC), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Transparency_International, Greenpeace. === Standard U.S. English === Spellings: center, program, labor, defense, cooperation, organize, recognize, analyze
Language tag En-US, this standard is used by the U.S. government. Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: International Monetary Fund (IMF), World_Bank, Organization of American States (OAS), NAFTA Secretariat. Manual of Style (spelling)
license ''(v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || license ''(n. & v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' || licence ''(n.)'',
license ''(v.)'' |- | grey || grey || grey || grey || grey || gray, grey || grey || grey |- | practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n. & v.)'' ||practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' || practice ''(n.)'', practise ''(v.)'' |- | aluminium || aluminum || aluminium || aluminium || aluminium || aluminum || aluminium || aluminium |- | dialogue || dialogue || dialogue || dialogue || dialogue || dialogue, dialog || dialogue || dialogue |- | fulfil || fulfill, fulfil || fulfil || fulfil, fulfill || fulfil || fulfill || fulfil || fulfil, fulfill |- | travelling || travelling || travelling || travelling || travelling || traveling || travelling || travelling |}
== Different spellings - different meanings == There are several words that change their meaning when spelled differently. *programme - program: In British English, the spelling ''program'' is used for ''computer program''. In all other cases ''programme'' is used. *theatre - theater: In American English, ''theatre'' is commonly used among theatre professionals. ''Theatre'' tends to refer to the art, ''theater'' to the building. The spelling ''theatre'' is also used in names like Kodak_Theatre and AMC_Theatres *disc - disk: In British English, the usual spelling is ''disc'' (meaning: thin flat circular object), but in computing ''disk'' is usually used, as in Hard_disk, when referring to magnetic disks. In case of optical discs, such as "compact disc", the other spelling is used. *Judgement - Judgment: In Australian ''Law'' a Judge's decision in a case is always spelt ''Judgment''. On the other hand, the forming of opinion or conclusion by an ordinary person, is usually spelt ''judgement''. == International organizations == There are ''three major English varieties'' used as standards by international organizations: === British English with -ize spellings === Spellings: centre, programme, labour, defence, cooperation, organize, recognize, but: analyse
Language tag (a code identifying the language used): En-GB-oed, this standard is based on the Oxford_English_Dictionary. Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: United Nations Organization (UN, WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, etc.), World Trade Organization (WTO), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), World Wildlife Federation (WWF), Amnesty_International. === British English with -ise spellings === Spellings: centre, programme, labour, defence, co-operation, organise, recognise, analyse
Language tag En-GB, this standard is used by the UK government. Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), European Union (EU), Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Commonwealth_Secretariat (Commonwealth_of_Nations), African Union (AU), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), International Olympic Committee (IOC), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Transparency_International, Greenpeace. === Standard U.S. English === Spellings: center, program, labor, defense, cooperation, organize, recognize, analyze
Language tag En-US, this standard is used by the U.S. government. Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: International Monetary Fund (IMF), World_Bank, Organization of American States (OAS), NAFTA Secretariat. Manual of Style (spelling)
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