In American English, a ton is a unit of measurement equaling 2,000 pounds. In non-U.S. measurements, a ton equals 2,240 pounds. A tonne, also known as a metric ton, is a unit of mass equaling 1,000 kilograms. [Read more...]

Rumor is the American English spelling of the noun meaning a piece of unverified information of uncertain origin. Rumour is the preferred spelling in all other major varieties of English.  [Read more...]

Analyze is preferred in American and Canadian English. Analyse is the preferred spelling outside North America. There are no other differences between analyze and analyse. The s/z distinction extends to the participles, analyse/analyze and analysing/analyzing, as well as to other derivatives such as analyser/analyzer and analysable/analyzable. All varieties of English use analysis as the corresponding noun. [Read more...]

For the past participle and gerund corresponding to the verb age, American and Canadian writers use aging. Ageing is the preferred spelling outside North America. The dropping of the e in American and Canadian English does not extend to ageism (meaning discrimination based on age), which is the preferred spelling everywhere. [Read more...]

Apologize is the preferred spelling in American and Canadian English, while apologise is preferred virtually everywhere else. Other than the spelling, there is no difference between the words.  [Read more...]

Pretence and pretense are different spellings of the same word. Pretense is preferred in American English, while pretence is the preferred spelling in most other varieties of English, including British and Australian English. Canadian English generally favors pretence over pretense, but the latter appears about a third of the time.  [Read more...]

Humor and humour are different spellings of the same word. Humor is preferred in American English, and humour is preferred in all other major varieties of English. The distinction extends to derivative participles, including humored/humoured and humoring/humouring. But in all varieties of English, the adjective humorous has no u in the second syllable. [Read more...]

Favorite and favourite are different spellings of the same word. Favorite is the preferred spelling in American English, while favourite is preferred in all the other main varieties of English, including British, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian English.   [Read more...]

Toward and towards are equally acceptable words. The main difference is that, while both of these directional words are used in all varieties of English, toward is preferred in American and Canadian English, while towards is preferred in varieties of English from outside North America. These are not rules, however, and exceptions abound, so you’re safe using the one that sounds better to you.  [Read more...]

Ocher and ochre are different spellings of the same word, meaning (1) any of several earthy mineral oxides of iron occurring in brown, yellow, or red and used as pigments, and (2) a moderate orange yellow. The difference is that ochre is preferred in British, Canadian, and Australian English, while ocher is the standard spelling in American English. However, over the last few years, a growing number of American writers and publications have used ochre. [Read more...]