…or how is a copywriter to handle “American” English, “British” English…
…and even “Australian” English?!?
Had an email from a client recently with a query over the correct spelling of a particular word…
…is it with an “s” or a “z”?
Well, of course, it depends…
There are differences in usage between “American” and “British” english, so both are “correct” depending on which style is being used.
That leads on to the question of which style is appropriate. My suggestions…
1. Stick to the usage that will be most appropriate to your audience. Never use anything that is likely to jar with the reader
2. Be consistent! Pick one style and stick to it. There’s nothing worse than a hodgepodge of styles…looks very unprofessional
On the internet where there is likely to be a global audience, the usual convention is to use the “American” style.
Just to confuse things, in Australia the normal style is “English” but “American” is often used (words like “program” for example) and understood. If in doubt I usually consult my trusty Reader’s Digest Wordpower Dictionary.
Apologies to any Kiwi readers if I’ve overlooked any differences in your local usage.
Also, for further guidance, there’s an excellent post over at Dean Rieck’s blog…
“American English vs. British and Australian English”
…which includes this handy resource…