mt training: difference between american and british english

Generally American English -or as a word ending is equivalent to -our in British English, American -er as a word ending is sometimes equivalent to -re in British English. In American English the final e is removed from verbs before adding -ing, in correct British English this is not done giving "routeing" (British) and "routing" (American), however the American practice of dropping the "e" is becoming quite common in British English. If a verb ends in a single 'l' then the American -ing, -ed and -er forms also have a single 'l' whereas the British forms have a double 'll'. For example American English has signaler, signaling and signaled whereas British English has signaller, signalling and signalled. American English tends to prefer -ize and -ization whereas British English prefers -ise and -isation contrary to statements by certain well-known British authorities and much spell checking software.

Canadian spelling seems to be intermediate between the British and American (US) forms but is generally closer to British practice. There are variations from province to province. A quiet half-hour spent perusing the Vancouver Yellow Pages suggested that "aluminium", "gauge", "jewellery" and "mould" are preferred. [OK - I know there are better things to do in Vancouver !]. Some correspondents have suggested that Canadians normally use "aluminum".

There are, of course, exceptions to the above rules. American usage is "glamour" not "glamor" and "advertising" not "advertizing". British usage has "honorary" and "honorific" without the "u". Several correspondents have also noted that the British usages "centre" and "theatre" are displacing the American usages, particularly where the establishment in question wants to suggest that it is of superior quality.

When spelling out words (and 'phone numbers) it is British practice to say things such as "double e" for "ee" and "treble 3" for "333".

Please note that "tonne" is not a British spelling of "ton" but a quite separate metric unit equal to 1000 kg as distinct from the British ton of 2240 lbs (= 1016.96 kg).

As I receive more information from American correspondents it is becoming clearer that there are quite widespread regional variations in both the US and Canada, this looks like an interesting topic for further study.

The second part of the list shows common differences in usage. I.e. those cases where different words are used to describe the same thing. The primary purpose of this list is to indicate American usages that would be unfamiliar to speakers of British English. The following indications appear alongside some of the American and Canadian usages.

* Many American usages are familiar to British English speakers. This asterisk indicates American usages that are comparatively unfamiliar or unknown.
obs These are American usages that are, according to correspondents, obsolete or obsolescent. American English speakers now use the same words as British English speakers.
Can These usages are, I believe, confined to Canada. In general Canadian English is more similar to American English than British English. Where Canadian usage is the same as British usage as distinct from American usage this is indicated.
US These usages are confined to the USA and are not known in Canada or the UK.

? I'm not certain about the meaning of the American usage, further information will be welcome.