User:SpNeo/How to write international English

1. Choose a spelling system, American spelling or British spelling or any other variety.


 * If you want to use British spelling: Consider using -ize instead of -ise (Oxford spelling). Both are correct in British English. The suffix -ize is more international, where -ise is more British. Consider dropping the letter 'e' is some words: judgment instead of judgement, aging instead of ageing.


 * If you want to use American spelling: Consider using double l's in words like traveller, labelled, cancelled. Consider using theatre, glamour and grey instead of theater, glamor and gray.

2. Use abbreviations to avoid the need of choosing spelling alternatives: 14 km instead of 14 kilometers/kilometres, 25.4% instead of 25.4 percent/per cent.

3. Replace foreign words and technical terms with common English words if possible.

4. Use sulfur instead of sulphur, aluminium instead of aluminum, and fetus instead of foetus.

5. If different words exist for the the same thing, use the one that you think will be most clearly understood by most readers or a different neutral term.
 * Examples:
 * lift - elevator: Use elevator.
 * toilet - restroom: Use toilet or lavatory
 * number plate - license plate: Use vehicle registration plate
 * flat - apartment: Use apartment
 * full stop - period: Use full stop
 * pavement - sidewalk: Use sidewalk
 * autumn - fall: Use autumn
 * petrol station - gas station: Use filling station