Organize is the American and Canadian spelling of the verb meaning to put together or to arrange systematically. Organise is the preferred spelling outside North America. Other than the spelling, there is no difference between the words. [Read more...]
Kick off, kickoff, kick-off
In American and Canadian publications, kickoff is a noun and an adjective, and kick off is its corresponding phrasal verb. So, for instance, it is one word in “the kickoff time is noon” and “you missed the kickoff” because it is an adjective in the first example and a noun in the second. And it is two words in “the kicker is ready to kick off” because here it functions as a verb. [Read more...]
Licorice vs. liquorice
For the distinctively flavored Mediterranean plant, its root, and candies and confections made from the root, North American English speakers use licorice. In Ireland and the U.K., liquorice is preferred. We find both spellings used about evenly in Australian and New Zealand publications. Other than the spelling, there is no difference between the words. [Read more...]
Hoover vs. vacuum
We are American, so we use vacuum cleaner, or just vacuum, for the electrical appliance that cleans surfaces through suction, and we use vacuum as the verb. If we understand correctly, Britons use hoover as a verb meaning to clean with a vacuum cleaner. And by metaphorical extension, the word also means to consume completely. For the appliance itself, both hoover and vacuum cleaner are used. [Read more...]
Lasagna vs. lasagne
For the flat, wide pasta and the dish made from such pasta, North American English speakers use lasagna. English speakers from outside North America use lasagne. Other than the spelling, there is no difference between the words in English. [Read more...]
Furor vs. furore
The main definition of furore is public uproar. Furor is the American and Canadian spelling of furore, and the word has additional definitions it does not share with the primarily British furore. These are (1) violent anger, and (2) a state of intense excitement. [Read more...]
Phony vs. phoney
Phony is the American spelling of the word meaning (1) not real, (2) not genuine, and (3) a false or inauthentic person or thing. In British English, Australian English, and other English varieties from outside North America, phoney is the preferred spelling. Canadian writers use both, though phony is more common. [Read more...]
Draft vs. draught
In British English, draught is used primarily for (1) a current of air, (2) an animal that pulls loads, (3) a load pulled by such an animal, (4) a portion of liquid, and (5) the act of drawing liquid into the mouth. And British writers use draft for (1) a written plan or preliminary sketch, (2) an order for a bank to pay money, (3) conscription into the military, and (4) the act of selecting someone for a role. [Read more...]
Curb vs. kerb
In American and Canadian English, the noun meaning the edge of a sidewalk or roadway is spelled curb. In varieties of English from outside North America, the word is spelled kerb. But everyone uses curb for the verb meaning to check or restrain and for the verb’s corresponding noun (e.g., curbs on spending). [Read more...]
Cosy vs. cozy
In American English, cozy is the standard spelling of the word meaning, mainly, (1) comfortable and warm, and (2) to make oneself comfortable and warm.1 Outside North America, the word is spelled cosy. Both spellings are used in Canada, though cozy is more common in current news sources. [Read more...]
Cooperate vs. co-operate
For the verb meaning to work or act together, American writers use the unhyphenated cooperate. Outside the U.S., co-operate is preferred. [Read more...]
Catalog vs. catalogue
Catalog is the American spelling of the word meaning (1) an itemized list of offerings, and (2) to make an itemized list. Catalogue is the preferred spelling outside the U.S. A similar distinction applies to analog/analogue (though these words actually differ slightly in meaning in American English), but other words ending in the silent -ue (dialogue, monologue, epilogue, etc.) have not yet changed. [Read more...]
Crayfish, crawfish, crawdad, etc.
Crayfish, crawfish, and crawdad are interchangeable terms for a large group of freshwater crustaceans (not fish) resembling small lobsters and living in many regions throughout the world. Crayfish and crawfish are renderings of regional pronunciations of the same word, descended from the Middle English crevise (–vise became –fish), which in turn has Old French and Germanic origins. [Read more...]
Ouster
In a recent BBC article, Matthew Engel decried the noun ouster as one of many “ugly and pointless” Americanisms infecting British English. But while it’s true that ouster has been endemic in American publications over the last year or so, the word is actually several centuries old and British in origin. [Read more...]
Counselor vs. counsellor
Counselor is the American spelling of the noun meaning (1) a person who gives counsel, (2) an attorney, and (3) a person who supervises young people at a youth camp. Counsellor is the preferred spelling everywhere outside the U.S. Similar distinctions apply to related words such as counseled/counselled and counseling/counselling. The single-l spellings are American English, and the double-l spellings are preferred outside the U.S. [Read more...]