CANADIAN SPELLING
Learning Goal: In today's lesson you will learn about the differences in Canadian, British, and American spelling. You will also learn some rules governing Canadian spelling.
Look at the word pairs below and pick out the correct spelling for each.
1. traveller traveler
2. colour color
3. recognise recognize
4. theatre theater
5. cancellation cancelation
6. paediatrician pediatrician
7. spelt spelled
8. aluminium aluminum
9. hallelujah alleluia
10. learnt learned
Each of the 20 words above is spelled correctly. The words in the left hand
column are acceptable British spelling, and the words in the right hand column are
acceptable American spellings. Most good dictionaries will present both spellings,
but the word printed first is the spelling preferred by the dictionary’s editors. The
Oxford Dictionary is a dictionary of British English, and the Webster’s Dictionary is
a dictionary of American English. Canadian spelling lies somewhere in the middle.
When you have a choice between two different spellings, be consistent in your selection. You should pick one spelling and stick with it. If you consult a dictionary, the spelling listed in a Canadian dictionary is the preferred spelling.
Remember when you attend a Canadian university, they will expect you to use Canadian spelling.