In the early 1800`s, a man by the name of Noah Webster Americanized the spelling of many words. There are now a number of differences between how Canadians and Americans spell certain words.

It is important to keep these differences in mind when blogging. If you're blogging primarily for Canadians, then use the Canadian spelling. If blogging for Americans, use the U.S. spelling. If you're blogging for both, then keep in mind that the U.S. population is roughly 10 times that of Canada.

The following is a list of common spelling differences between Canadian and American words:

CanadaUnited States
abridgementabridgment
acknowledgementacknowledgment
amoebaameba
analyseanalyze
anaesthesiaanesthesia
arbourarbor
axeax
barrelledbarreled
behaviourbehavior
belabourbelabor
brunettebrunet
calibrecaliber
cataloguecatalog
cancelledcanceled
candourcandor
centrecenter
centimetrecentimeter
chequecheck
colourcolor
counsellor, counselorcounselor
clamourclamor
crystallinecrystaline
cruellercruelest
crystallizecrystalize
defencedefense
dialoguedialog
aeoneon
favourfavor
favouritefavorite
fervourfervor
fibrefiber
flavourflavor
fuelledfueled
fulfilfulfill
funnelledfunneled
gaugegage
goitregoiter
greygray
gruellinggrueling
harbourharbor
honourhonor
humourhumor
jewellerjeweler
instalmentinstallment
imperilledimperiled
kilometrekilometer
labourlabor
labelledlabeled
labourlabor
levelledleveled
licencelicense
litreliter
louvrelouver
lustreluster
macabremacaber
manoeuvremaneuver
marvellousmarvelous
mattematt
medallistmedalist
meagremeager
metremeter
millimetremillimeter
mitremiter
modelledmodeled
mouldmold
moultmolt
moustachemustache
neighbourneighbor
paeanpean
paleolothicpalaeolothic
panelled/panellingpaneled/paneling
parlourparlor
practice (n) practise(v)practice (n/v)
pummelledpummeled
pyjamaspajamas
odourodor
rancourrancor
raquetracket
reconnoitrereconnoiter
saleablesalable
savoursavor
sceptrescepter
smouldersmolder
sombresomber
sulphatesulfate
sulphursulfur
tonneton
totalledtotaled
tranquillizetranquilize
tumourtumor
travellertraveler
tunnelledtunneled
theatretheater
vicevise
valourvalor
vapourvapor
vigourvigor
wilfulwillful
worshippedworshiped
queueingqueuing
* please note: "tonne" is metric = 1,000 kilograms = ~2,200 pounds and "ton" is imperial = 2,000 pounds.

About the Author: Jeff Quipp

I'm President and CEO of Search Engine People Inc. I'm a sports fanatic, particularly hockey, but in reality just about any sport. If Toronto had a dog sled team ... I'd probably try to get season's tickets. Guess I'm fortunate ... I'm very happily married, and am a father of three spirited kids (two girls and a boy). They tend to like sports too ... imagine that. I've got an BA in Economics, and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University ... go Hawks go! I'm a tremendous fan of all things science and the internet, and particularly how the internet is changing our behaviours. I'm always looking to connect with more people interested in the same topics as I am, so I'd encourage you to "Friend me" in all the social media below if that's you too!