Language Portal of Canada Canadian, British and American: It's All English, but the Spelling Is Different
Language Portal of Canada Canadian, British and American: It's All English, but the Spelling Is Different explains how Canadian spelling came to sit between the British and American systems. The post, published on the Government of Canada's Our Languages blog, draws on Oxford's Guide to Canadian English Usage and works through the spelling choices a Canadian writer faces.
100% Free (unlimited): Open to anyone on the Government of Canada's Our Languages blog, with no account and no sign-up. The post, its comments and the rest of the blog are free to read in English and French.
How It Helps Your Business English
The post describes how Canadian English became a variety in its own right, and why Canadians once had to rely on British or American dictionaries that did not reflect their usage. It then goes through the spelling patterns where Canadian practice follows British convention and where it follows American convention, with examples throughout.
You can read this once to understand why Canadian spelling looks inconsistent, which makes the individual rules much easier to remember. Keep the examples in mind when you write: they show the pattern rather than a list to memorise. The post is short, so it works well as a first reading before you turn to a full style guide or dictionary.
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