{"id":351,"date":"2024-03-23T21:44:51","date_gmt":"2024-03-23T12:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nicksenglish.com\/blog\/?p=351"},"modified":"2024-03-23T21:44:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-23T12:44:52","slug":"english-tea-time-11-practice-or-practise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nicksenglish.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/23\/english-tea-time-11-practice-or-practise\/","title":{"rendered":"English Tea Time #11 – Practice or Practise?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hello there! In today’s newsletter, I’d like to talk about spelling differences between British and American English<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, I would like to say a big THANK YOU<\/em><\/strong> and WELCOME <\/em><\/strong>to all my new blog subscribers<\/em><\/strong> (followers)! The last two weeks have been crazy! Two weeks ago I started a new YouTube channel<\/a> and already so many people have watched my videos, subscribed, and left the kindest comments! I’m really amazed and grateful <\/em><\/strong>(thankful). \ud83d\ude0d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of that, this blog has grown from just 3 followers to nearly 50! I like to think of you as my SUPER FANS because you really are super! Again, thank you so much! \ud83d\ude4f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

English Spelling Confusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I get confused<\/em><\/strong> (can’t think clearly) when it comes to British and American English. Of course, I am British so my native tongue<\/em><\/strong> (language) is British English, but I have been using American English textbooks since 1998! As well as that, all the different brands<\/strong> (kinds) of English get mixed together on the internet and social media. I’ve started to forget which spelling is from which country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, I decided that I would be strict about using British English online. For example, I’ve started using practise with an “s” instead of practice with a “c”, but only for the verb<\/strong> (action) form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it looks weird<\/em><\/strong> (strange). I can’t help it! \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192\u3000I can’t help but think it looks weird! \ud83d\ude1c\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some rules that you can use to switch between American and British English. Here are some of them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-our and -or:<\/strong> In British English, words like “colour” and “honour” have a ‘u’. In American English, the ‘u’ is dropped, making them “color” and “honor”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-ise and -ize:<\/strong> In British English, it\u2019s common to write “organise” and “realise” with ‘s’. However, American English prefers ‘z’, so these become “organize” and “realize”. Both spellings can be seen in British English, but ‘z’ is more typical<\/strong><\/em> (common) in American English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-re and -er:<\/strong> British English spells some words with ‘re’ at the end, like “centre” and “theatre”. In American English, the ‘e’ and ‘r’ switch places, resulting in “center” and “theater”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-ce and -se for nouns and verbs:<\/strong> In British English, some nouns and verbs are spelled differently, like “advice” (noun) and “advise” (verb). In American English, the same spelling is often used for both noun and verb forms, such as “practice”, which can be both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Double ‘l’ and single ‘l’:<\/strong> When adding endings to words that end in ‘l’, British English doubles the ‘l’, as in “travelling” or “cancelled”. American English doesn’t double the ‘l’, so you see “traveling” and “canceled”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the different spellings, you’ve also got different words such as “car park” vs “parking lot” and “pavement” vs “sidewalk”. Finally, to add to my confusion, I also know Japanese English! For example, “salaryman”, “high tension”, “front glass”, “baby car” and “potato fry” ! \ud83d\ude04 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My advic<\/span><\/strong>e? I advis<\/span><\/strong>e you to choose one version and stick to it<\/em><\/strong> (just use that).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Videos and Worksheets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s been a while since the last newsletter, so you might have missed these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Videos:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n