WordSubstitution

Most en-US to en-GB translation work involves making simple word substitutions. Below is an attempt to create a comprehensive list of translations. Please use our mailing list to discuss any changes that you wish to make before committing them. The information contained in this table may be used as data for an automated translation tool, such as our Greasemonkey script (available on the front page). In some cases, the spelling or use of particular words depends on context. The Ask? column indicates that the user should be questioned prior to the change being made. If it is empty, that word can be substituted without question. Note that merely making word substitutions is not enough to perform a full translation. Grammar, style and punctuation are just as important, and must be dealt with manually. en-US Spelling acronym adapter adrenalin agenda airplane already aluminum analog analyze analyzed analyzer analyzing anchor anemia anesthesia anesthesiologist anesthetic annex antennas antialiased antialiasing anymore appall archeology armor ass artifact authorization aluminium analogue analyse analysed analyser analysing newsreader anaemia anaesthesia anaesthetist anaesthetic annexe antennae anti-aliased anti-aliasing any more appal archaeology armour arse artefact authorisation English Translation initialism adaptor adrenaline agendum aeroplane Ask? Explanation acronyms are pronounced as words (e.g. NATO); Y initialisms consist of initial letters pronounced separately (e.g. BBC)

Y Y

'agendum' is the singular form; 'agenda' is the plural some en-us speakers nonsensically add 'already' to the end of sentences => remove en_US usage is based on the brand Aluminum, en_GB based on the element

someone who reads the news on television/radio

verb: 'annex'; noun: 'annexe'

'ass' means 'donkey'; 'arse' is a vulgar word for the buttocks

authorizational authorize authorized authorizing automobile ax backward balk barnyard basicly bathroom beet behavior behoove bill binder clip bobsled boogey brace braces braked broil buddy bullhorn burned bum cafe caliber canceled canceling candy candy bar canned capitalization capitalize capitalized capitalizing carburetor cart case insensitive case sensitive caster

authorisational authorise authorised authorising motorcar axe backwards baulk farmyard basically toilet beetroot behaviour behove note bulldog clip bobsleigh bogey curly bracket curly brackets broke grill mate megaphone burnt tramp caf calibre cancelled cancelling sweet chocolate bar tinned capitalisation capitalise capitalised capitalising carburettor trolley case-insensitive case-sensitive castor

use 'backward' only as an adjective

when referring to a WC, not a room with a bath

"a 100 note"

Y Y

'braces' could mean a type of orthodontic treatment

'bum' can also mean 'buttocks'

Y Y Y

"a shopping trolley"

catalog categorization categorize categorized categorizing CCW chapstick centimeter center centered centering centralization centralize centralized centralizing cesium check check checkbox checked checked checker checkerboard checkered chips cipher coffee shop cold color colored colorer colorful coloring colorkey colorspace congress congressman cookie cooperate coordinate corn

catalogue categorisation categorise categorised categorising ACW lip balm centimetre centre centred centring centralisation centralise centralised centralising caesium cheque tick tickbox chequered ticked chequer chequerboard chequered crisps cypher caf neutral

CCW as in Counter-clockwise

Y Y Y Y

"a bank cheque" tick the box "a game of chequers", "a chequered floor" "the box is ticked"

the connection in an electrical circuit that returns current to the source (source)

colour coloured colourer colourful colouring colour-key colour-space parliament Y Member of Parliament, Y MP biscuit Y co-operate co-ordinate maize

could refer to a web/internet cookie

cornsilk cotton candy counterclockwise counter-clockwise coupe coveralls cozy curb curriculums customizable customization customize customized customizing dealed defense delete dialed dialer dialing dialog diaper diarrhea digitization digitize digitized digitizer digitizing dishrag dishtowel disk disorganized distill donut downspout downward Dr. draft

maize silk candy floss anti-clockwise anti-clockwise coup overalls cosy kerb curricula customisable customisation customise customised customising dealt defence Permanently Delete dialled dialler dialling dialogue nappy diarrhoea digitisation digitise digitised digitiser digitising dish cloth tea towel disc disorganised distil doughnut drainpipe downwards Dr draught Y If describing a round object (e.g. a CD or DVD), use 'disc'. Otherwise, use 'disk'. Y make this change if a Delete action will bypass the Rubbish Bin (Trash) Y a kerb is the edge of the pavement, to curb is to limit something

Y Y

use 'downward' only as an adjective Only use a full stop if the final letter of the abbreviation is not the final letter of the word it is abbreviating. So, 'Doctor' = 'Dr' but 'Drive' = 'Dr.'

dreamed drugstore dumpster eastward eggplant e-mails

dreamt pharmacy skip eastwards aubergine e-mail

use 'eastward' only as an adjective

email

e-mail

The e in e-mail is pronounced as a distinct letter rather than as part of the following word. If it were the latter, the pronunciation would be merged with the following letter, in this case the letter m. The first syllable is pronounced ee, not em.

emails encyclopedia endeavor England English English enology equaled equaling equalize equalized equalizer equalizing esophagus esthetics estrogen expressway fag fall familiarization familiarize familiarized familiarizing fanny fanny pack faucet favor favored favoring favorite

e-mail encyclopaedia endeavour Britain British Imperial oenology equalled equalling equalise equalised equaliser equalising oesophagus aesthetics oestrogen motorway homosexual autumn familiarisation familiarise familiarised familiarising buttocks bum bag tap favour favoured favouring favourite Y Y Y a common mistake amongst some Americans is to refer to the whole island as 'England' a common mistake amongst some Americans is to refer to the whole island as 'England' Americans often refer to imperial system of measurements as 'English'

Y Y

'fag' means 'cigarette' in en-GB

'fanny' is a vulgar word

fetus fiber filet fill out flashlight flatware flavor flavored flavoring forever formulas forums forward forward slash fourth freeway french fries freshman fries fueled fueling furor garbage gas gasoline globalization globalizational globalize globalized globalizing globaly glycerin goiter gotten gray graylist graylisted graylisting

foetus fibre fillet fill in torch cutlery flavour flavoured flavouring for ever formulae fora forwards slash quarter motorway hot chips fresher chips fuelled fuelling furore rubbish petrol petrol globalisation globalisational globalise globalised globalising globally glycerine goitre got grey greylist greylisted greylisting Y Use 'got' unless using the humorously-intended phrase 'ill-gotten'. Y In en_GB, 'for ever' means for eternity (or a very long time), as in "I have been waiting for you for ever." 'Forever' means continually, always, as in "They are forever arguing."

use 'forward' only as an adjective redundant: a slash is 'forward' by definition fourths are quarters

French fries

a commonly-used (and imprecise) abbreviation for 'gasoline' is 'gas'

ground

earth

grounded

earthed

grounding

earthing

The term 'ground' and 'grounding' are used in US electrical engineering to represent electrical equipment that is securely bonded to the ground (i.e. that on which we stand) for safety reasons. In the UK the equivalent terms are 'earth' and 'earthing'. (source) The term 'ground' and 'grounding' are used in US electrical engineering to represent electrical equipment that is securely bonded to the ground (i.e. that on which we stand) for safety reasons. In the UK the equivalent terms are 'earth' and 'earthing'. (source) The term 'ground' and 'grounding' are used in US electrical engineering to represent electrical equipment that is securely bonded to the ground (i.e. that on which we stand) for safety reasons. In the UK the equivalent terms are 'earth' and 'earthing'. (source)

guerilla gynecology hanged harbor harbored harboring hemophilia hemophiliac hauler hobo homeopathic homeopathy honor honored honoring hood hot humor humored humoring infeasible initialization initializational initialize initialized initializer initializing

guerrilla gynaecology hung harbour harboured harbouring haemophilia haemophiliac haulier homeless person homoeopathic homoeopathy honour honoured honouring bonnet live, active humour humoured humouring unfeasible initialisation initialisational initialise initialised initialiser initialising

Y Y

The lid of the engine compartment of a car. Phase ('active') electrical connection (source)

inquire

enquire

inquiry insure internet

enquiry ensure Internet

Y Y Y

enquire is to be used for general senses of 'ask', while inquire is reserved for uses meaning 'make a formal investigation'. enquire is to be used for general senses of 'ask', while inquire is reserved for uses meaning 'make a formal investigation'. use 'ensure' unless talking about insurance internet with a small i refers to an internetwork, a connection of two or more distinct computer networks. The Internet with a capital I is the largest such internetwork.

internationalization internationalisation internationalizational internationalisational internationalize internationalise internationalized internationalised internationalizing internationalising jail gaol jello jelly jell-o jelly jelly jam jeweled jewelled jeweler jeweller jewelery jewellery journaling journalling judgment judgement kilometer kilometre kiwi kiwifruit kneeled knelt labeled labelled labeler labeller labeling labelling labor labour labored laboured laboring labouring ladybug ladybird last name surname leaned leant leaped lept learned learnt leukemia leukaemia license licence license plate number plate licorice liquorice lighted lit

in en_US, 'jelly' can mean 'jam'

'kiwi' is a bird, not a fruit

'license' is a verb, 'licence' is a noun

line liter localization localizational localize localized localizing mail mailbox mailman mail slot math medieval meter micrometer milliliter millimeter minimize minimized minimizing misspelled modeled modeler modeling mold molt mom momma mommy mom-and-pop most movie movies movies Mr. Mrs.

mains litre localisation localisational localise localised localising post letterbox postman letterbox maths mediaeval metre micrometre millilitre millimetre minimise minimised minimising misspelt modelled modeller modelling mould moult mum mumma mummy mum-and-dad almost film cinema films Mr Mrs

mains power - the primary electrical power supply wires entering a building, connected to the Main fuses or breakers ; or mains lead - the flexible electric cable from plug to appliance (source)

Y Y

are we referring to the measurement unit or a measuring device? micrometre is a measurement, micrometer is a measuring device

Y Y Y Y Y

some en-us speakers erroneously use 'most' to mean 'almost'

Only use a full stop if the final letter of the abbreviation is not the final letter of the word it is abbreviating. So, 'Mister' = 'Mr'. Only use a full stop if the final letter of the

Ms. mustache nanometer neighbor neighboring neuron newsdealer normalcy normalization normalize normalized normalizing northward offense off of oftentimes onward optimization optimizational optimize optimized optimizing organization organizational organize organized organizer organizing ornery orthopedic ouster pacifier pajamas paneled paneling pants pantyhose paren parentheses parenthesis parenthesized

Ms moustache nanometre neighbour neighbouring neurone newsagent normality normalisation normalise normalised normalising northwards offence off often onwards optimisation optimisational optimise optimised optimising organisation organisational organise organised organiser organising irritable orthopaedic ousting dummy pyjamas panelled panelling trousers tights bracket brackets bracket bracketed

abbreviation is not the final letter of the word it is abbreviating. So, 'Missus' = 'Mrs'. The title, "Ms", is not an abbreviation.

use 'northward' only as an adjective

use 'onward' only as an adjective

'pants' are an undergarment

parking lot pediatric period persnickety picometer plow pop popsicle porch postpend pound sign power cord practice premiere prepend prioritization prioritize prioritized prioritizing program prong proved pry quint railroad randomization randomize randomized randomizing rappel realator realization realize realized realizing recognizable recognize

car park paediatric full stop pernickety picometre plough dad ice lolly veranda suffix hash flex/mains lead, mains wire/wiring (source) practise premire prefix prioritisation prioritise prioritised prioritising programme pin proven prise quin railway randomisation randomise randomised randomising abseil real estate agent realisation realise realised realising recognisable recognise

Y Y a 'porch' is a covered structure in front of the entrance to a building, but not a veranda are we referring to the symbol for pound stering, or a number sign?

Y Y Y

'practise' is a verb, 'practice' is a noun

Contextual: use 'program' in computing contexts, and 'programme' everywhere else (e.g. a computer program, a television programme)

Y Y To open/lift something. 'Pry' means to ask questions.

recognized recognizing reinitialize reinitialized reinitializing resume rsum route row house rumor rumored saber sailboat sanitarium Santa Claus scalawag scepter

recognised recognising reinitialise reinitialised reinitialising CV CV round terraced house rumour rumoured sabre sailing boat sanatorium Father Christmas scallywag sceptre

Y Y Y

common misspelling of rsum => curriculum vitae curriculum vitae a set of regular visits that you make to a number of places or people, especially in order to deliver products as part of your job

schedule

timetable

season serialization serializational serialize serialized serializing shivaree sidewalk signaled signaling simultanous skeptic skeptical skepticism sled sneakers snicker

series serialisation serialisational serialise serialised serialising charivari pavement signalled signalling simultaneous sceptic sceptical scepticism sleigh trainers snigger

schedule: a list of planned activities or things to be done showing the times or dates when they are intended to happen or be done ; timetable: a list of the times when events are planned to happen, especially the times when buses, trains and planes leave and arrive a set of television or radio broadcasts on the same subject or using the same characters but in different situations

soapbox soccer soda solitaire southward specialization specializational specialize specialized specializing specialty specter spelled spider spilled spiraled spiraling spoiled St St. standardize stickshift story stories streetcar stroller sulfur sulfurous summarization summarizational summarize summarized summarizing sweater symbolization symbolizational symbolize symbolized symbolizing synchronization synchronizational synchronize

podium football soft drink patience southwards specialisation specialisational specialise specialised specialising speciality spectre spelt spyder spilt spiralled spiralling spoilt St. St standardise gear stick storey storeys tram pram sulphur sulphurous summarisation summarisational summarise summarised summarising jumper symbolisation symbolisational symbolise symbolised symbolising synchronisation synchronisational synchronise

Y Y Y

the card game use 'southward' only as an adjective

For a two-seat convertible car.

Y Y

'St' = 'Saint' and 'St.' = 'Street' 'St' = 'Saint' and 'St.' = 'Street'

Y Y

Level of a building. Levels of a building.

synchronized synchronizing synthesize taffy tailpipe taliban teleprompter templatization templatizational templatize templatized templatizing theater thumbtack tic-tac-toe tidbit tire totaled totaler totaling toward trackless trolley transportation trapezium trapezoid trash truck trunk turnpike turtleneck tuxedo uncategorized undershirt unauthorized uninitialization uninitializational uninitialize uninitialized uninitializing

synchronised synchronising synthesise toffee exhaust pipe taleban autocue templatisation templatisational templatise templatised templatising theatre drawing pin noughts and crosses titbit tyre totalled totaller totalling towards trolleybus transport trapezoid trapezium rubbish, Rubbish Bin lorry boot toll road polo neck dinner jacket uncategorised singlet unauthorised uninitialisation uninitialisational uninitialise uninitialised uninitialising

latinisation used by the UK press

Rubber part of a wheel.

use 'toward' only as an adjective

Y Y Y Y Y Y

A quadrilateral with no two sides parallel and no equal sides. A quadrilateral with two non-adjacent parallel sides. When referring to generic waste, use 'rubbish'. When referring to the place where deleted files go, use 'Rubbish Bin' The luggage compartment of a car. A type of neck on a sweater.

unorganized unrecognizable unrecognized upcoming upscale upward useable utilization utilize utilized utilizing vacation vacationer vapor vectorization vectorizational vectorize vectorized vectorizer vectorizing virtualization virtualize virtualized virtualizing vise visualization visualize visualized visualizing vs. web westward windshield yogurt zee ZIP code zucchini

unorganised unrecognisable unrecognised forthcoming upmarket upwards usable utilisation utilise utilised utilising holiday holidaymaker vapour vectorisation vectorisational vectorise vectorised vectoriser vectorising virtualisation virtualise virtualised virtualising vice visualisation visualise visualised visualising vs Web westwards windscreen yoghurt zed postcode courgette

use 'upward' only as an adjective

Y Y Y

abbreviation of versus Capitalised when referring to the World Wide Web (e.g. a Web browser). use 'westward' only as an adjective

Y Y

Phonetic spelling of the 26th letter of the English alphabet.