American Spellings

Guidelines for handling American spellings in UK transcriptions.

American Spellings

Don't 'Americanize' spellings – use British English throughout.

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Common Corrections

  • Ok should be Okay
  • Realize should be Realise
  • Organize should be Organise
  • Program should be Programme
  • Color should be Colour
  • Center should be Centre

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General Principles

  • -ize endings become -ise (realise, organise, recognise)
  • -or endings become -our (colour, honour, favour)
  • -er endings become -re (centre, theatre, metre)
  • Program becomes Programme (except for computer programs)

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Examples

American → British:

  • Analyze → Analyse
  • Emphasize → Emphasise
  • Labor → Labour
  • Flavor → Flavour
  • Theater → Theatre
  • Liter → Litre

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Consistency

Maintain British spelling consistently throughout the transcript, regardless of how the speaker pronounces the words.

Other Language Guidelines