# Writing: use one spelling system

Both spelling systems are correct. This guide uses standard British spelling, the system most common in East Africa.
Whichever you choose, use it the same way every time: mixing the two in one text looks like a mistake.

## Spelling

| Standard British | American |
| - | - |
| colour | color |
| centre | center |
| analyse | analyze |
| travelled, cancelled | traveled, canceled |
| licence (noun), license (verb) | license (both) |
| practice (noun), practise (verb) | practice (both) |
| training programme, computer program | program (both) |

Use -ise endings: organise, recognise, prioritise. (-ize is also correct in standard British spelling, but never mix the two in one document.)

> **Spell-checker:**
>
> Set your spell-checker to English (UK).

## Dates

Write the month as a word: **4 May 2026**. Written as 04/05/2026, it means 4 May to you but 5 April to an American.

## False friends

These change meaning between the two styles.

| Phrase | American meaning | Meaning in Standard English |
| - | - | - |
| table a proposal | postpone it | put it forward for discussion |
| quite good | very good | fairly good |
| first floor | ground floor | the floor above the ground floor |
| pants | trousers | underwear |
| momentarily | in a moment | for a moment |

## Sports idioms

Recognise them, but use the plain version: many listeners outside the US won't know them.

| American idiom | Plain English |
| - | - |
| ballpark figure | rough estimate |
| touch base | check in |
| step up to the plate | take responsibility |
| out of left field | unexpected |
| slam dunk | certain success |

## Grammar habits

These are not mistakes, just American.

| American | Standard English |
| - | - |
| I've gotten | I've got |
| Did you send it yet? | Have you sent it yet? |
| on the weekend | at the weekend |
| different than | different from |
| Monday through Friday | Monday to Friday |

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From Clear English Rwanda: https://clear-english.rw/writing

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