Like realize or hypnotize, many others.
2007-06-05 06:59:08 · 12 answers · asked by bc80619 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Blame it on Noah Webster. In creating the first American dictionary in 1828 he made a deliberate effort to change what he considered archaic or inaccurate spelling to make the language more "American". This included dropping the superfluous "u" in such words as "honour", "harbour", "colour", etc., and changing "-ise" to the more as-spoken "-ize".
2007-06-05 08:14:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The z has simply gone out of fashion in UK English. The Press dictates many facets of spelling and whereas with many words either a z or an s was acceptable and it was simply a matter of personal choice, gradually the z is being phased out. Another influence is continental Europe and the many Euro-organisations, where everyone is expected to stick to the s spelling wherever possible. I think that this has been a major influence generally -- I know it has in my case.
2007-06-05 07:35:28 · answer #2 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because American English and UK English are two different languages.
Even the same expression in both languages can convey different meanings. A lot of 'same' words have very different meanings.
English is in no way a 'pure' language. Its made up of any number of (generally) European language sources. It is changing all the time.
2007-06-05 07:06:10 · answer #3 · answered by philip_jones2003 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the -ise spelling preceded the -ize spelling commonly used in the USA. When Merriam Webster was writing his dictionary, he decided to streamline the language and to spell most words as they sound. This included changing favour to favor and -ise to -ize.
2007-06-05 07:03:12 · answer #4 · answered by Joy M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is because the english can spell correctly while the americans have done horrible things to a perfectly nice language.
2007-06-05 07:02:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
funny you think the americans are the dumb ones lol..i was talking to a british guy online and he thought "nor't" was a word. he pronounced it the way it looks ... "nor" "tee" together.. he didn't know how to say or spell naughty. he kept arguing saying " no its nor't" what a joke. he said he has never heard of "naughty" in his life
2007-06-05 07:10:51 · answer #6 · answered by mommy_to_mason2006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ha ha you just answered a question to a girl who spelled realize like that, and you had to correct her. I gave you a thumbs down for that.
2007-06-05 07:02:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
because we spell words properly, you americans have decided to change the words to make them into your own.
like you add -ization onto lots of things just to make up random words.
2007-06-05 07:02:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
bcuz american english is a jackd up version of british english. ^.^
2007-06-05 07:02:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Joy M has it.
2007-06-05 07:10:07 · answer #10 · answered by pithecanthropus0202 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋