The decision between UK and U.S. English is not a measure of the merits of the one over the other; it derives for the need for consistency. However, writing should avoid privilege towards any one country, including the UK and the U.S., except when addressing readers in a specific country. Avoid reference to “America”, because Latin Americans also call themselves Americans.

Please note that whether or not your paper or thesis is in UK English or U.S. English, when you use quotations from other authors in the opposite language, we do not change the spelling.

Some UK usage exampleskey “job drivers”

Organisation

Analysing

labour

Some U.S. usage exampleskey “job drivers”

Organization

Analyzing

labor

 

Common exceptions to the ‘ize’ rule

circumcisearise

devise

enfranchise

expertise

merchandise

promise

surmise

advisechastise

disenfranchise

enterprise

franchise

misadvise

reprise

surprise

disguiseexercise

improvise

premise

revise

televise

apprise

advertise

compriseemprise

excise

incise

prise

supervise

treatise

affranchise