In the IELTS speaking test sometimes candidates try to mimic an accent. But it is always a wise idea to use your natural tone and neutral accent. You won’t get a good score if you try to mimic a British accent but can’t show the fluency.
IELTS Candidates often get confused whether to use the American spelling or British spelling, especially in the writing test. But you should not worry about it. Either spelling and words are accepted. But maintaining a consistency is better according to some teachers.
Following is a list of word differences that we observe in British and American English:
American British
- Cell Phone Mobile Phone
- Math Maths
- City hall Town hall
- Sidewalk Pavement
- Movie/ Film Film
- Pharmacy Chemist
- Parking garage/ lot Car park
- Movie theater Cinema
- Antenna Aeriel
- Airplane Aero-plane
- Counter-clockwise Anti-clockwise
- Fall Autumn
- Cookie Biscuit
- Hood Bonet
- Trunk Boot
- Automobile Car
- Janitor Care taker
- Potato Chips Crisps
- Intersection Crossroads
- Closet Cupboard
- Trashcan Dustbin
- Term paper Essay
- Apartment Flat
- Overpass Flyover
- Yard Garden
- Purse Handbag
- Vacation Holiday
- Assignment Homework
- Jelly Jam
- Pitcher Jug
- Attorney Lawyer
- Elevator Lift
- Truck Lorry
- Diaper Nappy
- Bulletin Board Notice Board
- Mail Post
- Zip Code Post Code
- Bar Pub
- Dessert Pudding
- Line Queue
- Railroad Railway
- Call Ring
- Eraser Rubber
- Couch Sofa
- Underpass Subway
- Candy Sweet
- Cab Taxi
- Check Tick
- Schedule Timetable
- Can Tin
- Flashlight Torch
- Vest Waistcoat
- Windshield Windscreen
Apart from the above word differences, British and American English have some spelling differences as well. Since IELTS test is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment, many teachers advise candidates to follow the British spelling. However, you won’t be negatively scored if you use American English.
Here are some spelling differences between British and American English, which we presume are already known to you.
Some US words take -er while it is -re in British English.
US British
- center centre
- fiber fibre
- liter litre
- theater theatre
Some verbs in US English that end in -yze while it is -yse in British English.
US British
- analyze analyse
- paralyze paralyse
- catalyze catalyse
A very common spelling difference between American and British English is using -or in American spelling and -our in British spelling. Here are such few commonly used words.
US British
- labor labour
- flavor flavour
- color colour
- humor humour
- neighbor neighbour
- candor candour
- clamor clamoour
- demeanor demeanour
- armor armour
- behavior behaviour
Some verbs in American English always take -ize while in British English both -ise and -ize are acceptable.
US British
- apologize apologize or apologise
- agonize agonize or agonise
- organize organize or organise
- authorize authorize or authorise
- recognize recognize or recognise
Some verbs with a preceding vowel end with ‘l’ in American spelling but take double l (‘ll’) in the past and ‘ing’ form.
US British
- fuel fuel
- fueled fuelled
- fueling fuelling
- travel travel
- traveled travelled
- traveling travelling
- traveler traveller
Some nouns that end with -og in American spelling but takes -ogue in British spelling.
US British
- analog analogue
- catalog catalogue
- dialog dialogue
Some nouns are spelled using -ense in American English but they end with -ence in British English.
US British
- license licence
- defence defense
- pretence pretense
- offence offense
Some words only take e in American English but have oe (double vowel) in British English.
US British
- maneuver manoeuvre
- leukemia leukaemia
- pediatric paediatric
- estrogen oestrogen
You can find a comprehensive list of spelling differences between American and British English at www.tysto.com/uk-us-spelling-list.html
I spelled garrage instead of garage. These type of minor mistakes should be avoided in IELTS.