Table of Contents
Why is theatre spelled with an RE instead of an ER?
Theater has roots in both Greek and Latin and came to English through the Old French word theatre. Theatre and similar words ending in -re were sometimes spelled with the -er until the 1660s, when the French-borrowed -re spellings came to be preferred; before that, both spellings were considered equally correct.
Why is Centre pronounced Center?
BizWritingTip response: The word centre comes from the Latin centrum meaning “stationary point.” When it was adopted into English use, centrum was pronounced center but because of the spelling of the original word, the r and e were never turned around.
Why is Colour Spelt differently in America?
Color is the spelling used in the United States. It entered Middle English through the Anglo-Norman colur, which was a version of the Old French colour. The current difference in spelling between the American and British variants is credited to (or occasionally blamed on) Noah Webster, the American lexicographer.
Why do Americans spell things differently than British?
The main difference is that British English keeps the spelling of words it has absorbed from other languages, mainly French and German. Whilst American English spellings are based mostly on how the word sounds when it is spoken.
How is organize Spelt in British English?
The differences in British and American spelling
| BRITISH | US |
|---|---|
| apologize or apologise | Apologize |
| organize or organise | Organize |
| recognize or recognise | Recognize |
Is the center British or American?
Center and centre have the same meaning. Center is the correct spelling in American English, while in British English centre is correct. Notice that center (and centre) can be a noun, adjective, or a verb. Seeing the two words in real-life examples may help you to visualize how to use them.