Academic Writing for International Students of Science - Jane Bottomley 2015

9.8 UK versus US spelling
9 Academic and scientific conventions

There are a number of spelling differences between UK and US English.

Explorative Task

Add the title UK or US to these lists.

A _________

B _________

colour, behaviour, labour

color, behavior, labor

centre, metre

center, meter

travelling

traveling

prioritise, stabilise

prioritize, stabilize

offence, defence, practice (noun)/practise (verb)

offense, defense, practice (noun and verb)

Which US spelling is also now commonly used in the UK?

It is probably best to use the spelling system used in your country of study. Certain publications may require UK or US spelling. However, the most important thing is to be consistent, and not mix the two.