US versus UK English spelling question?

Question

There are a bunch of words that are spelled differently in the US than they are in the UK. For example, color vs. colour, theater vs. theatre, realize vs. realise, modeling vs. modelling.

Which convention do other English speaking countries (Canada, Australia, South Africa) follow? And are they pretty much exclusively one way or do some of them use a mish mash of both variants? What about in other parts of Europe where English is a 2nd language, which convention do they typically follow?

Also, does anyone know a website that has a comprehensive list of words that are different between the two? (by this I mean different spellings of the same words, not too much interested in where different words are used for the same thing as in Lift vs. Elevator).

Thanks for any help/assistance you can provide on this.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Countries that belong to The British Common Wealth consider the British spelling of words to be correct. Most other countries accept either American or British versions acceptable.

On Vacation · Answer

British commonwealth nations usually use Queen's English. Americans generally do not. Our usage has evolved into our own variations, especially following the War of 1812.

angelita · Answer

Maybe it's seen as warmer sounding or it's how children first learn to say it and it sticks but I really don't know. I am Scottish and refer to my mother and father as mammy and pops :) Mom was even used in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, perhaps because he spent time in America or because the French may have used the term at some time also?

M to the R still in your face · Answer

Commonwealth countries use the correct English spellings, ie Canada and Australia

ll_jenny_ll here AND I&#39;M BAC · Answer

Aussies generally follow UK english ... although Americanisms are creeping in.

I try and make a point of remaining loyal to UK English

US versus UK English spelling question?

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