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Brooke Fraser



Last Updated: 11/23/2009

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Tuesday, June 02, 2009 
A comment I received on one of my pictures made me realise (there's one of the trigger words) that all you Americans probably think I'm a horrible speller.

In actuality, I'm a brilliant speller, and thought you might enjoy some trivia about the differences between the American and British spellings of the English language.

America and once-American colonies are the only places that spell the way you do.  The rest of the English speaking world, including NZ and Australia, where I hail from, use British English.

I sourced the following clarifications from AskOxford.  Hope you find it interesting and enlightening!

The main differences between American and British English spellings are given below:

British English words that end in -re (e.g. centre, fibre, theatre) often end in -er in American English (center, fiber, theater).


British English words that end in -our (e.g. colour, humour) usually end with -or in American English (color, humor).


Verbs in British English that can be spelled with either -ize or -ise at the end (e.g. recognize/recognise) are always spelled with -ize in American English.


Verbs in British English that end in -yse (e.g. analyse) are always spelled -yze in American English (analyze).


In British spelling, verbs ending in a vowel plus l double the l when adding endings that begin with a vowel (e.g. travel, travelled, traveller). In American English the l is not doubled (travel, traveled, traveler).


British English words that are spelled with the double vowels ae or oe (e.g. archaeology, manoeuvre) are just spelled with an e in American English (archeology, maneuver).


Some nouns that end with -ence in British English (e.g. licence, defence) are spelled -ense in American English (license, defense).


Some nouns that end with -ogue in British English (e.g. dialogue) end with -og in American English (dialog).

And that concludes the lesson for today.

Now.  I have no idea why I'm on the computer when I'm in North Carolina and I need to get outside and be creative and artisty.  Taking off the geek hat now.  (Well, let's be honest, that never comes off.)
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Anita
Anabella Carbonel

 
Hahahaha!! Thanks for the lessons!! I have noticed some of them ... I'm from Argentina and i use to use the USA form (i don't like to say America, because i'm from América too *SouthAmerica*).
I'm waiting for the new CD!! ... and you have to come to Argentina!!!
Besos y Abrazos!!!

 
Posted by Anita on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:49 PM
[Reply to this
angie

 
Interesting lesson! I was wondering, how have you been spending your time in North Carolina? Just curious... :)
 
Posted by angie on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:49 PM
[Reply to this
Tabol

 
right on! now whenevre i spaell anything wrong i'll just taell paeople i was typing in british english.

 
Posted by Tabol on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:49 PM
[Reply to this
Olivi[ah]

 
i like your way much better. silly america.
 
Posted by Olivi[ah] on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:49 PM
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nathan lewellyn.
Nathan Lewellyn

 
mmmmm...............

 
Posted by nathan lewellyn. on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:49 PM
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kessiacaroline
kessia caroline

 
haha true.. once a geek, always a geek..
i did found it interesting.. didn't know about the differences =)

 
Posted by kessiacaroline on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:49 PM
[Reply to this
DaKNEE
Danny murzea

 
Hah, I'm glad we have it all cleared up now Brooke, I was worried for a moment.  Hah jk.

Hope you're having an amazing time on tour!

Come to Portland, OR we miss you!

danny.

 
Posted by DaKNEE on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:49 PM
[Reply to this
The OFFICIAL Abel Isaac Ledezma Myspace

 
Sexiest blog ever!
 
Posted by The OFFICIAL Abel Isaac Ledezma Myspace on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:50 PM
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Pablito
Pablo Peña

 
I have truly been enlightened!. I always have trouble with my english because I'm constantly found in this dilemma of how to correctly spell something when I'm writing! You see, english is my secondary language (spanish is my main language) and when I see these words you just posted in this blog I realize that I've been right all along! wether its "defence or defense!". Thanks for the info.

BTW. scientists say everytime you learn something new your brain gains a wrinkle, therefore i can honestly say today my brain has gained quite an amount of wrinkles!

 
Posted by Pablito on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:50 PM
[Reply to this
James Childs

 
you should come hang in raleigh, it's a pretty amazing city.

 
Posted by James Childs on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:50 PM
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sab.dia.sep.

 
i always found the differences between british & american spelling interesting. i would spend hours looking up the spelling/definition of words whenever i bumped into something spelled in the british sense here in america!

 
Posted by sab.dia.sep. on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:50 PM
[Reply to this
QiL
Nur Aqilah Ismail

 
Also, doughnut (British) > donut (American)

 
Posted by QiL on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:50 PM
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stephaniie

 
that's actually really interesting, thanks for sharing !

 
Posted by stephaniie on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:50 PM
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(Deleted)
Rinnah Larrauri

 
I've always wondered why we think British people have accents and why British people think we have accents. I just think its weird that we speak the same language but it sounds different. You would think since we speak the same language it would sound the same coming out of our mouths.I don't know its just a thought!

 
Posted by (Deleted) on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:50 PM
[Reply to this
William Fitzsimmons

 
so, if i understand you correctly, it would
be spelled "Brooke Frayszier" in proper British
English?

please let me know if that's right. 

 
Posted by William Fitzsimmons on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:51 PM
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B-Rian [[OH_DoWd]]

 
I love you, William Fitzsimmons. Especially for comments like this.

CLASSIC Fitzsimmons humor...love it.

 
Posted by B-Rian [[OH_DoWd]] on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:30 PM
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Airam

 
Thank You Brooke for "spelling lesson"!...You are very creative.;)...

 
Posted by Airam on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:51 PM
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Yeshua

 
Thank God for you brooke!! I'm Canadian and I work for an American company, and i hate it when they think i've spelled something incorrectly becuase "the American way is correct", but I love the British English that I grew up spelling and speaking!!
 
Posted by Yeshua on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:51 PM
[Reply to this
MDC 2009

 
Wow. That was interesting.. Whats more interesting is that your North Carolina!! Where in NC are you???? i would love to see you in person! How long you gonna be here? sorry... I get a little excited...lol. but for real, you gonna be doing any shows here?

 
Posted by MDC 2009 on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:51 PM
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*anti~addie*

 
I spell in British English sometimes. It is so much fun and more creative. =]

I LOVE YOU, BROOKE!
 
Posted by *anti~addie* on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:52 PM
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Sonia

 
haha. I don't know why I had a big smile on my face as I read this. I did enjoy reading this alot. It clarified some things that I'd always get mixed up about. You see, I knew I wasn't a bad speller. It just turns out my "subconscience" was writing using British English spelling.

British and American Literature tend to confuse which way I should be spelling. lol.
Love Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. 

 
Posted by Sonia on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:53 PM
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tonice

 
this blog is fantastic! ...I never thought you were a horrible speller, I assumed it was the difference between brit english and US english... it was interesting to read about the differences and I never would have without this blog. :)

I love you, Brooke. you and your geek hat (that never comes off). :)

 
Posted by tonice on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:54 PM
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| ) /-\ \/\/ |\|
Dan Lopez

 
SiK!!!
I'm a veeeeery good speller too... but didn't know those facts... sometimes I mix all of them hehe don't mean they're wrong... they're right somewhere!!!

 
Posted by | ) /-\ \/\/ |\| on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:04 AM
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Hazel
Hazel Lim

 
tat was very interesting.. cleared my confusion!!

love you. God bless...

 
Posted by Hazel on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:28 PM
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서린 - Sharon . † . <
Sharon Schilperoord

 
That was quite helpful actually because I am determined to speak and spell British English and it is hard because American English is used everywhere.
Thanks!

 
Posted by 서린 - Sharon . † . < on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:28 PM
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Elisha
Elisha cua

 
nice.. you really researched..^_^

 
Posted by Elisha on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:28 PM
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roxy

 
that's enlightening... i must've had a higher grade in senior high if only my teacher knew about this. hahahahaha!!!!
 
Posted by roxy on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:28 PM
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Susan
Susan Atkinson

 
American people just think I'm weird when I try to explain this to them...
They've said that their way is "right" and mine is "wrong"... when infact British spelling came first.

 
Posted by Susan on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:28 PM
[Reply to this
Susan
Susan Atkinson

 
American people just think I'm weird when I try to explain this to them...
They've said that their way is "right" and mine is "wrong"... when infact British spelling came first.

 
Posted by Susan on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:28 PM
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Laura
Laura Sell

 
Best blog ever! Thank you for clearing that up, Americans always tell me I spell colour worng, I say that Americans are wrong and the rest of the world is right. GO THE NEW ZEALANDERS!
 
Posted by Laura on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:29 PM
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DANIELA
Danielle Lor

 
SIGH sorry to say this because I am very sure you know it but not all U.S. Americanos are ignorant of the British English you're using. ;) I really enjoy it--not just British English, but more of your own personal narrative.

Anyhoo enjoy NC!

 
Posted by DANIELA on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:29 PM
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Sarah
Sarah Spafford

 
HAHA I wonder why American English has done this

 
Posted by Sarah on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:29 PM
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Blæc
Blake Coletti

 
You never hear anyone say it but British English and the english spoken on the east coast isn't the proper way of speaking.  They don't pronounce their "R's".  Any dictionary you look at will show that it is improper.  The midwestern accent is becoming the dominant form.

 
Posted by Blæc on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:30 PM
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Gabi
Gabriela Ribeiro

 
Brooke Thank you so much
for teaching us , It'll be really useful in my life
hahahaha
Te Amo [I love You]!

 
Posted by Gabi on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:30 PM
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natamalie
Natalie Green

 
YES! someone spoke for the aussies! :-p haha the usa spelling is almost lazy..?? :-p
x

 
Posted by natamalie on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:30 PM
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A. Michael Genzink
Adam Genzink

 
Many people think that the US American way of spelling was a natural evolution of written language, similar to the formation of accents and even dialects. In fact, most of the spelling differences occurred as the direct result of Noah Webster's belief that a country should have it's own language, grammar, and spelling. He also believed that British English was formulated by the aristocracy and wanted to democratize the language. He spent his life reforming the educational system in the US and as a part of that, wrote textbooks that included his new spellings. Eventually, he published Webster's Dictionary, and that is how we get the variations in spelling from that of British English.
 
Posted by A. Michael Genzink on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:31 PM
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Adriana♥
Adriana Morales

 
Wow.. I'm Glad I learned something new today.. Thanks Brooke. Sooo Interesting! Blessings!

 
Posted by Adriana♥ on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 2:43 PM
[Reply to this
Alice song
Hyejin Song

 
how brilliant! :)
I'm from Korea and I love your songs.

I've been in NZ I bought your CDs when I came back!
Your songs remind me beautiful scenery of NZ.
Thank you so much >_<
come to Korea!
 
Posted by Alice song on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 11:36 PM
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Jocelyn Kelly

 
So Interesting!
Thank you BF ;)

 
Posted by Jocelyn Kelly on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 11:36 PM
[Reply to this
hmm...

 
lol.. someone corrected you... nice!

 
Posted by hmm... on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 11:37 PM
[Reply to this
add www.myspace.com/giannajoyyy

 
I definitely like the British English spellings better. They just look so elegant compared to the lame American English spellings... Lame.
 
Posted by add www.myspace.com/giannajoyyy on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 11:38 PM
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Dodger
Roger Smith

 
Amaricans think Canadians can't spell - We spell Saviour with a U... and Colour to...

 
Posted by Dodger on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 11:38 PM
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ASHA K

 
Brooke im So glad you cleared that up!!! I have lived here just over a year and STILL get confused as to how to write a cheque/check etc etc aarrggg!!
:)

 
Posted by ASHA K on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 11:39 PM
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Hannah

 
i learned something today...thanks to you Brooke!

Americans think that their way is correct while they are the only one who is spells differently, Canadians, British, Aussies and NZ are all using the British english.

have a wonderful day Brooke and God Bless you... 

 
Posted by Hannah on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 11:39 PM
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David
David Parrott

 
got it. If it's a complete sentence the full stop is inside the brackets. Don't know where I was when they were teaching punctuation (I hate punctuation). Well done Brooke, I sure am learning a lot around you, seriously.

P.S For a second there I thought Brooke Fraser had made a mistake. How could I think such a thing.

David

 
Posted by David on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 11:40 PM
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Marissa
Marissa Mueller

 
Thanks for clarifying, Brooke!  Good luck being creative and artisty :)
 
Posted by Marissa on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 8:45 PM
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t

 
Wow... this post has opened my eyes to what a mongrel my spelling has turned out to be... a poor half-American kid growing up in Britain for 15 years... and where should I start with pronunciation? I still remember the blank stares from my cousins when I said 'vitamins' in a way that rhymed with 'bit a mint' instead of 'bite a mint'. 
 
Posted by t on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 8:46 PM
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Kimberly
Kimberly De aguiar Anastácio

 
Thanks for the lesson!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azi_nWQZ45g--> I found this video and it is really cuuute!  A baby singing Shadowfeet. ^^

Hope u come to Brazil.

 
Posted by Kimberly on Monday, June 08, 2009 - 6:29 PM
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Earnestly His
Shalamar Petty

 
(haha) YES!!!! THANKGOD!!!!! I was reading this and I had a break through! I regularly use th british spelling of words only to be found dumb by my spell check! I have not been so backwards afterall!
I am very pleased with this blog but my husband had to bring me back to earth with the reminder that I live, and have always lived in America!

 
Posted by Earnestly His on Monday, June 08, 2009 - 6:31 PM
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¡mi§hy! ©

 
hahha woot for commonwealth countries XD

 
Posted by ¡mi§hy! © on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 - 11:22 PM
[Reply to this
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