3. The realize / realise group

3. The realize / realise group

In this group, differences between GB and US spelling are far from systematic. Some verbs, regardless of the country, can only have -ize (capsize, seize) while in others only -ise is possible (advertise, advise, surprise). Dictionaries in both countries prefer the suffix -ize in words such as apologize, legalize and realize. Many Britons, however, (not to mention the spelling checkers of popular word-processing programs) do not agree with the dictionary-makers and in GB these words are still usually written with -ise. To see the full text, click here.

AE	BE
aggrandize	aggrandize, aggrandise
Americanize	Americanise, Americanize
apologize	apologise, apologize
burglarize	burglarise, burglarize
capitalize	capitalise, capitalize
categorize	categorise, categorize
characterize	characterise, characterize
colonize	colonise, colonize
criticize	criticise, criticize
dramatize	dramatise, dramatize
emphasize	emphasize, emphasise
equalize	equalise, equalize
extemporize	extemporise, extemporize
finalize	finalize, finalise
liberalize	liberalize, liberalise
mobilize	mobilise, mobilize
naturalize	naturalise, naturalize
normalize	normalize, normalise
organize	organise, organize
popularize	popularise, popularize
realize	realise, realize
recognize	recognise, recognize
satirize	satirise, satirize
stabilize	stabilize, stabilise
standardize	standardise, standardize
symbolize	symbolise, symbolize
vaporize	vaporise, vaporize