Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Spelling

This guideline is a part of the English Wikipedia's Manual of Style.

It is a generally accepted standard that editors should attempt to follow, though it is best treated with common sense, and occasional exceptions may apply. Any substantive edit to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on the talk page.

Shortcuts

The following is a handy reference for editors, listing various common spelling differences between national varieties of English.

Please note: If you are not familiar with a spelling, please do some research before changing it – it may be your misunderstanding rather than a mistake, especially in the case of American and British English spelling differences.

English spelling comparison chart[edit]

This table gives the accepted spellings (following government guidelines and major dictionaries). It is by no means exhaustive, but rather an overview. When two variants appear in the same cell, the one listed first is more widely used. (For example, in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and Ireland, ageing is more common than aging; in Canada and the US, aging is more common.)

The spelling systems of unlisted Commonwealth countries, such as India, Pakistan and Singapore, are generally close to the British spelling system, with possibly a few local differences. Some non-Commonwealth English-speaking countries, such as the Philippines and Liberia, have spelling systems closer to American spelling.

With some exceptions, boxes in green show use of British spellings and those in violet show use of US spellings. Boxes in pink indicate that both spellings are used.

UK & Ireland^[1]	South Africa^[2]	New Zealand^[3]	Australia^[4]	Canada^[5]	United States^[6]^[7]
acknowledgement	acknowledgement	acknowledgement	acknowledgement, acknowledgment	acknowledgement, acknowledgment	acknowledgment
aeroplane	aeroplane	aeroplane	aeroplane	airplane	airplane
ageing, aging	ageing, aging	ageing, aging	aging, ageing	aging, ageing	aging, ageing
all right	all right	all right	alright, all right	all right	alright, all right
aluminium	aluminium	aluminium	aluminium	aluminum	aluminum
authorise, authorize	authorise, authorize	authorise	authorise, authorize	authorize	authorize
analyse	analyse	analyse	analyse	analyze	analyze
artefact	artefact	artefact	artefact, artifact	artifact	artifact
cancelled	cancelled	cancelled	cancelled	cancelled	canceled
catalogue	catalogue	catalogue	catalogue	catalogue	catalog, catalogue
centre	centre	centre	centre	centre	center
civilisation, civilization	civilisation, civilization	civilisation	civilisation, civilization	civilization	civilization
colour	colour	colour	colour	colour	color
co-operation	co-operation	co-operation	cooperation, co-operation	co-operation, cooperation	cooperation
defence	defence	defence	defence	defence	defense
dialogue	dialogue	dialogue	dialogue	dialogue	dialogue, dialog (conversation) dialog (text)
diarrhoea	diarrhoea	diarrhoea	diarrhoea, diarrhea	diarrhea	diarrhea
encyclopaedia	encyclopaedia	encyclopaedia	encyclopedia	encyclopedia	encyclopedia
empanel, impanel	empanel, impanel	empanel, impanel	impanel, empanel	impanel, empanel	impanel, empanel
foetus, fetus	foetus	foetus	fetus, foetus	fetus	fetus
fulfil	fulfil	fulfil	fulfil(l)	fulfill	fulfill
jail, gaol	jail, gaol	jail	jail	jail	jail
grey	grey	grey	grey	grey	gray, grey
honour	honour	honour	honour	honour	honor
instalment	instalment	instalment	instalment	instalment, installment	installment
judgement, judgment	judgement, judgment	judgement	judgement, judgment	judgment, judgement	judgment
kerb (roadside) curb (restrain)	kerb (roadside) curb (restrain)	kerb (roadside) curb (restrain)	kerb (roadside) curb (restrain)	curb	curb
labour	labour	labour	labour^[8]	labour	labor
licence (n.), license (v.)	licence (n.), license (v.)	licence (n.), license (v.)	licence (n.), license (v.)	licence (n.), license (v.)	license (n. and v.)
liquorice	liquorice	liquorice	licorice	licorice	licorice
manoeuvre	manoeuvre	manoeuvre	manoeuvre	manoeuvre	maneuver
meagre	meagre	meagre	meagre	meagre	meager
mould	mould	mould	mould	mould	mold
organisation, organization	organisation, organization	organisation	organisation, organization	organization	organization
plough	plough	plough	plough	plow	plow
practice (n.), practise (v.)	practice (n.), practise (v.)	practice (n.), practise (v.)	practice (n.), practise (v.)	practice (n.), practise (v.)	practice (n. and v.)
computer program, training programme	computer program, training programme	computer program, training programme	computer program, training program, theatre program	computer program, training program	computer program, training program
pyjamas	pyjamas	pyjamas	pyjamas	pyjamas, pajamas	pajamas
routeing, routing	routeing, routing	routeing, routing	routing	routing	routing
sceptic	sceptic	sceptic	sceptic	skeptic	skeptic
sombre	sombre	sombre	sombre	sombre	somber
sulphur	sulphur	sulphur	sulfur, sulphur	sulfur, sulphur	sulfur
theatre	theatre	theatre	theatre	theatre	theater, theatre
travelling	travelling	travelling	travelling	travelling	traveling, travelling
tyre	tyre	tyre	tyre	tire	tire
veranda	veranda	verandah	verandah	veranda	veranda
vice (fault and tool)	vice (fault and tool)	vice (fault and tool)	vice (fault and tool)	vice (fault) vise (tool)	vice (fault) vise (tool)
vigour	vigour	vigour	vigour	vigour	vigor
yoghurt, yogurt, yoghourt	yoghurt, yogurt	yoghurt	yoghurt	yogourt, yogurt, yoghurt, yoghourt	yogurt
UK & Ireland	South Africa	New Zealand	Australia	Canada	United States

See Notes for explanations of the references above.

Other spelling differences[edit]

Throughout this section, the variants here regarded as "British" are also used in Australia (in most cases), as well as in other Commonwealth countries and in Ireland. Canadian spelling combines British and American.

Preferred variants[edit]

In both British English and American English, many words have variant spellings, but most of the time one variant is preferred over the other. In dictionaries, the preferred spelling is listed first among the headwords of an entry. Examples follow:

acknowledgement vs acknowledgment: acknowledgement is preferred in British English,^[9] acknowledgment in American English.
judgement vs judgment: judgement is preferred in British English (except in the sense of a judge's decision, in which case judgment is preferred), judgment in American English.
per cent vs percent: per cent is preferred in British English, percent in American English.
dialogue vs dialog: In a non-technical context, the spelling dialogue is preferred in American English. In Webster's dictionary, dialogue is given first, and Chambers also indicates dialog is less used in North America.^[10]
catalogue vs catalog: Webster's treats this case differently, as does Chambers^[11]—catalog is the preferred spelling in American English.
glamour vs glamor: The spelling glamour is preferred in both British and American English. (Glamourous is sometimes found in American English, but is usually considered incorrect in British English, where glamorous is the only accepted form.)
foetus vs fetus: In American English, foetus is never used. In British English, usage is divided. In academic literature, fetus is preferred.
aluminium vs aluminum: aluminum is the prevalent spelling throughout North America; however, in scientific literature aluminium should be used, as recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. (The two spellings also have different pronunciations.)
sulphur vs sulfur: sulphur is the prevalent spelling outside North America; however, in scientific literature sulfur should be used, as recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. (see Sulfur#Spelling and etymology)
caesium vs cesium: cesium is the prevalent spelling throughout North America; however, in scientific literature caesium should be used, as recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

Archaic spelling[edit]

Older sources use many archaic variants (such as shew for show), which are not to be used outside quotations except in special circumstances (for example, quire may be used instead of choir in architectural contexts).

When archaic spelling is used in the title of a work, modernize the spelling in the text of the article but retain the original spelling in the references. For example, the text of an article might read "Thomas Ady attacked the Demonology of King James..." while the citation should read Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogie, Diuided into three Bookes. By James Rx, 1597....". Adding a  may help prevent well-meaning editors from correcting the spelling "mistakes".

As per WP:Manual of Style § Quotations, archaic glyphs should be modernized, including within quotations and titles (e.g., æ→ae, œ→oe, ſ→s, and y^e→the). Archaic spellings (including capitalization, punctuation, and emphasis that would be non-standard today) are retained in quotations, and we rarely need to provide any translations into Modern English if the source material is Elizabethan or later. For Middle English, treat it on a case-by-case basis, but always provide translation for Old English.

Different spellings, different meanings[edit]

Several words change their meaning when spelt differently.

cheque – check: to check is to ensure; outside the US, a bill of exchange drawn on a bank payable on demand is a cheque.
kerb – curb: In British English, kerb is the edge of the road or pavement (UK) where kerbstones can be found. In the US, it is spelled curb, and may be attached to a sidewalk. To curb is to limit or control in either dialect.
disc – disk: Outside of computing, in British English the usual spelling is disc (meaning a thin flat circular object); in American English disk and disc are normally interchangeable. However, in computing (in both British & American English), disk usually refers to magnetic disks, as in hard disk drives, dating back to the first magnetic disks used by US-developed mainframe computers. Disc usually refers to optical discs, beginning with the Compact Disc (developed outside the US) and continuing with DVD (the last "D" of the acronym usually meaning disc regardless of its uncertain etymology), Blu-ray Disc, and even defunct formats such as HD DVD.
draught – draft: In the UK draft is a preliminary version of a document, while draught is a drink or a current of air; all are usually spelled draft in the US, but draught has been making a comeback in reference to beverages.
enquiry – inquiry: for most British writers, an enquiry is a request for information, but an inquiry is a formal investigation.
ensure – insure: To ensure is to make sure. In British English, to insure is to take out an insurance policy. In American English, to insure is sometimes used instead of to ensure.^[12]^[13]
judgement – judgment: In Australian and British 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.
metre – meter: in most countries other than the US, metre is the metric unit of length, and meter is a measuring device; in these dialects metre is also the rhythm of a line of verse, but the word as part of the technical name of a given metre (pentameter, hexameter, etc.) is spelled -meter.
programme – program: In British English, the spelling program can be used for computer program. In all other cases, programme is invariably used.
storey – story: a story is a tale; outside of the US, upper floors of buildings are spelt storey.^[14]
theatre – theater: Many uses of either spelling can be found in American English. Both theater and theatre are commonly used among theatre professionals. The spelling theatre can be seen in names like the Kodak Theatre and AMC Theatres. However, the spelling theater is used for the various venues at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and all major American newspapers, such as The New York Times's theater section^[15] to refer to both the dramatic arts as well as to the buildings where performances take place. The Columbia University Guide to Standard American English states that theater is used except in proper names.^[16]
tyre – tire: In American and Canadian English, tire is used to refer to fatigue and the inflated rim of a wheel. In British and other forms of English, tire means "to fatigue" and tyre is the inflated rim of a wheel.

International organizations[edit]

There are three major English spelling standards used by international organizations and publishers:

British English with "-ise"[edit]

Shortcut

WP:ISE

Spellings: centre, programme, labour, defence, organisation; recognise, advise, devise, advertise, and analyse
Language tag (a code identifying the language used): en-GB.

Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: European Union (EU), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Commonwealth Secretariat (Commonwealth of Nations), African Union (AU), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), International Olympic Committee (IOC), UK Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The UK government does not seem to have an official position on spelling, though it often uses this variant in communications.

Major publications: The Economist, The Times, Financial Times, New Scientist, The Lancet, BBC, The Guardian.

British English with "-ize" (Oxford spelling)[edit]

Shortcut

MOS:IZE

Spellings: centre, programme, labour, defence, organization; recognize, but: advise, devise, advertise, and analyse
Language tag: en-GB-oxendict

Oxford spelling is based on the Oxford English Dictionary,^[17] and followed by Collins^[18] and Cassell's^[19] dictionaries, whereas Chambers lists both ‑ize and ‑ise for British English.^[20] The Concise Oxford English Dictionary notes that "the form ize has been in use in English since the 16th century. The alternative spelling ise (reflecting a French influence) is in common use, especially in British English".^[21]

Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: United Nations organizations (UN, WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, ITU, ILO, etc.), World Trade Organization (WTO), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), 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 Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Amnesty International, World Economic Forum, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Major publications: Nature, The Times Literary Supplement, Encyclopædia Britannica (despite being an American publication since 1911).

American English[edit]

Spellings: center, program, labor, defense, organization; recognize, but: advise, devise, advertise, and analyze
Language tag: en-US

Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Organization of American States, NAFTA Secretariat.

Major publications: International New York Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, Science, Scientific American.

Tools and reference articles[edit]

User:Ohconfucius/EngvarB – Script to convert the entire contents of a page from American spelling to British spelling (with an option for using Oxford spelling – the default operation being non-Oxford British English)
Comparison of American and British English
American and British English spelling differences
See Category:Varieties of English templates to explicitly identify a national style of spelling.
{{Engvar}} built inside a template: allows an editor to set the variant by |engvar=, then the prepared template can adjust its spellings.

Notes[edit]

^ Chambers 2003; There are two British English spelling standards, with different requirements for -ise and -ize suffixes; see International organizations above.
^ South African Concise Oxford Dictionary. Cape Town: Oxford University Press Southern Africa. 2002. ISBN 0195718046.
^ The New Zealand Oxford Paperback Dictionary. Auckland, N.Z: Oxford University Press. 1998. ISBN 0195584104.
^ Yallop, C., ed. (2005). Macquarie Dictionary (4th ed.). North Ryde, N.S.W: Macquarie University. ISBN 1-876429-14-3.
^ Barber, Katherine, ed. (2004). Canadian Oxford Dictionary (2nd ed.). Don Mills, Ont: Oxford University Press. p. xiii. ISBN 0-19-541816-6. The main headword represents the most common form in Canadian usage.
^ Chambers 1998, p. xx.
^ Merriam–Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.). Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster, Inc. 2003. ISBN 0-87779-809-5.
^ Except in the name Australian Labor Party.
^ Chambers 1998, p. 13; Oxford Advanced 1974, p. 8; while Collins 1997, p. 898 lists 'acknowledgement' as the only entry.
^ Chambers 1998, p. 445.
^ Chambers 1998, p. 255.
^ Learning English | BBC World Service
^ Peters, p. 285: But in North American English insure covers both meanings, and ensure is simply a variant spelling. (Emphasis as original.)
^ Peters, Pam (2004). "storey or story". The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 517. ISBN 0-521-62181-X.
^ "Theater section". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
^ Wilson, Kenneth G. (1993). "theater, theatre". The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 435.
^ Oxford Advanced 1974, pp. viii, 29, 228, 477, 602, 678, 715; and Oxford Illustrated 1976.
^ Collins 1997.
^ Cassell 1985.
^ Chambers 1998, p. xx.
^ Allen, Robert, ed. (1990). "Definition of -ize". The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English (8th ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-861243-5.

References[edit]

The Chambers Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers. 2000 [1998]. ISBN 0-550-14000-X.
The Chambers Dictionary (9th ed.). Edinburgh: Chambers. 2003. ISBN 0-550-10013-X.
Hornby, Albert S.; Cowie, Anthony P.; Lewis, Jack W., eds. (1974). Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-431102-3.
Rébora, Piero; Guercio, Francis M.; Hayward, Arthur L., eds. (1985) [1967]. Cassell's Italian-English, English-Italian Dictionary: Dizionario Italiano-Inglese, Inglese-Italiano (7th ed.). London: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-52253-8.
The Oxford Illustrated Dictionary. Great Britain: Oxford University Press. 1976 [1975].
Terrell, Peter (1997). Collins German-English, English-German Dictionary (3rd ed.). Glasgow: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-470580-7.

External links[edit]

"British Spelling standards". Ars Semantica. 12 August 2006.
"Dave VE7CNV's Truly Canadian Dictionary of Canadian Spelling". Dave VE7CNV. 2007.

[1] Chambers 2003; There are two British English spelling standards, with different requirements for -ise and -ize suffixes; see International organizations above.

[2] South African Concise Oxford Dictionary. Cape Town: Oxford University Press Southern Africa. 2002. ISBN 0195718046.

[3] The New Zealand Oxford Paperback Dictionary. Auckland, N.Z: Oxford University Press. 1998. ISBN 0195584104.

[4] Yallop, C., ed. (2005). Macquarie Dictionary (4th ed.). North Ryde, N.S.W: Macquarie University. ISBN 1-876429-14-3.

[5] Barber, Katherine, ed. (2004). Canadian Oxford Dictionary (2nd ed.). Don Mills, Ont: Oxford University Press. p. xiii. ISBN 0-19-541816-6. The main headword represents the most common form in Canadian usage.

[6] Chambers 1998, p. xx.

[7] Merriam–Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.). Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster, Inc. 2003. ISBN 0-87779-809-5.

[8] Except in the name Australian Labor Party.

[9] Chambers 1998, p. 13; Oxford Advanced 1974, p. 8; while Collins 1997, p. 898 lists 'acknowledgement' as the only entry.

[10] Chambers 1998, p. 445.

[11] Chambers 1998, p. 255.

[12] Learning English | BBC World Service

[13] Peters, p. 285: But in North American English insure covers both meanings, and ensure is simply a variant spelling. (Emphasis as original.)

[14] Peters, Pam (2004). "storey or story". The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 517. ISBN 0-521-62181-X.

[15] "Theater section". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2010.

[16] Wilson, Kenneth G. (1993). "theater, theatre". The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 435.

[17] Oxford Advanced 1974, pp. viii, 29, 228, 477, 602, 678, 715; and Oxford Illustrated 1976.

[18] Collins 1997.

[19] Cassell 1985.

[20] Chambers 1998, p. xx.

[21] Allen, Robert, ed. (1990). "Definition of -ize". The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English (8th ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-861243-5.

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