British vs. American English: -Ise or -Ize?
The verb endings “-ise” and “-ize” often get confused. Usually, the correct ending depends on which English dialect your client is using. Here’s our guide on using these spellings in British and American English and what you need to consider when proofreading.
British vs. American Spelling
For the most part, American English exclusively uses the spelling “-ize” (rather than “-ise“) on certain words:
She didn’t realize spelling could be so complicated.
He wants to organize the books by color.
I specialize in grooming guinea pigs.
If you’re proofreading a document written in American English and your client uses the “-ise” ending, this will need to be corrected.
British English, on the other hand, usually favors the “-ise” spelling. However, it’s still technically correct to use the spelling “-ize” when writing in British English, as long as this spelling is used consistently:
She didn’t realise/realize spelling could be so complicated.
He wants to organise/organize the books by colour.
I specialise/specialize in grooming guinea pigs.
This can make things a bit tricky since a spellchecker tool won’t flag “-ize“ endings as errors – even if they are used inconsistently in a document. When proofreading, you’ll have to keep a sharp eye out for these endings.
Also, as with most aspects of the English language, though, the rule has exceptions.
Exceptions to the Dialect Rule
Some words are always spelled with one ending, regardless of which dialect is being used. This can be because the term in question is part of a longer word or because the root of the word decides its spelling. Here are some examples of “-ise“ and “-ize“ endings that do not change based on the dialect:
- “Despise” from the Latin words de (“down”) and specere (“look at”)
- “Compromise” from the Latin words com (“together”) and promissus (“promise”)
- “Advertise” from the noun “advertisement“
- “Capsize” from the Spanish word capuzar (“to sink headfirst”)
- “Prize,” which is a noun referring to a reward in a competition (not to be confused with the verb “to prize/prise open”)
You will need to keep an eye out for these and similar words in your client’s writing and be careful not to alter them. Changing “compromise” to “compromize,” for example, would be incorrect in any English dialect!
Tips for Proofreading Word Endings
Now that you know the rules for spelling “-ise” and “-ize” words, here are some tips on how to find and deal with them when proofreading.
1. Set the Proofing Language
When you open a document to start editing, one of the first things you should do is set the proofing language to the correct English dialect, whether that is UK English, US English, or something else.
In Microsoft Word, you can do this by going to the Review tab and selecting Language > Language Preferences > Office authoring languages and proofing or Language > Set Proofing Language.
In Google Docs, go to File > Language and select your preferred dialect.
This will highlight the “-ise” spelling errors in a document set to US English, and it will flag some “-ize” endings in a UK English text. However, be aware that you shouldn’t rely solely on this tool, especially if your client is using a style guide that requests nonstandard spelling.
2. Check the Style Guide
Occasionally, your client may be following a style guide that advocates for an alternative spelling than the one expected for the dialect. If this is the case, you should prioritize the spelling recommended by the style guide.
It also means that you should pay special attention to your client’s “-ise” and “-ize” spellings in case they have missed this requirement.
3. Look Out for Inconsistencies
While British English usually accepts both the “-ise” and “-ize” spellings, a single text needs to be consistent. If, for example, your client has spelled the word “realize” as both “realise” and “realize” in the same document, you’ll need to correct these to either:
- The “-ise” version of the word to keep with standard British English spelling The spelling that occurs most often
- The spelling that occurs most often if there is a clear majority
4. Use the Find Function
You can use the search function in your word processor to locate “-ise” and “-ize” endings.
In Word, go to Home > Find and type in either “is” or “iz” to find the endings you’re looking for. This will help you to locate words that don’t end in “e” but could still be affected by the difference in spelling, such as “realising/realizing.” You will see a lot more results for “is,” since this letter pair appears in many words, so it is an easier task if you’re working in UK English and searching for “iz” endings.
You can use the same tool in Google docs.
Remember, not every word ending in “-ise” or “-ize” will need to be corrected to the alternative spelling.
When you use the Find function, check each instance separately so that you are sure to change only the spellings that are actually incorrect.
5. Leave Your Client a Comment
If you come across multiple misuses of the “-ise” or “-ize” spelling, consider leaving a comment for your client explaining the issue. You should also do this if you have replaced all instances of one spelling with the other to check that this is the author’s preference.
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