Do you know that the Nigerian English is based on the Standard British English? If 'no' is your answer, I'm telling you that the Nigerian English is based on the Standard British English, but in recent years, due to the influence from the United States of America, some words of American English origin have made it into the Nigerian English. Undoubtedly, this has also affected the way Nigerians spell the English words as they sometimes, use the American spelling and other times, use the British spelling.
Since the Nigerian English is based on the Standard British English, our spellings at any given time should correspond with the British spelling. However, there is no penalty for using the American English(even in WAEC) but the question is, 'how consistent are you?' Can you use the American spelling all through or do you mix the American Spelling with the British Spelling? There is only a problem when you mix the American spelling with the British spelling.
In order to avoid this, here are common words in which the American spelling differ from the British spelling:
As a general rule, all nouns which end in 'our' in British English, end in 'or' in American English. For example, 'labour and behaviour' in the above list.
British. American.
1. Behaviour. Behavior
2. Cancelled. Canceled
3. Calibre. Caliber
4. Catalogue. Catalog.
5. Axe. Ax
6. Analyse. Analyze
7. Socialise. Socialize
8. Centre. Center.
9. Sulphur. Sulfur
10. Pretence. Pretense
11. Manoeuvre. Maneuver
12. Mediaeval. Medieval.
13. Grey. Gray
14. Goodbye. Good-by
15. Tyre. Tire
16. Foetus. Fetus
17. Storey. Story
18. Defence. Defense
19. Enrol. Enroll
20. Theatre. Theater
21. Vice. Vise
22. Disc. Disk
23. Haemoglobin. Hemoglobin
24. Sombre. Somber.
25. Pyjamas. Pajamas.
26. Labour. Labor
However, the following words are the same in American English and British English: glamorous, meter(instrument) and laborious.
Thanks for reading. I will be showing you more words in part 2.
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