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Commonwealth English orthography

Commonwealth English orthography

7.0
The spelling used in the UK and many Commonwealth countries, for example colour and centre
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : ortografía inglesa de la Commonwealth
  • The word 'colour' is spelled with a 'u' in Commonwealth English orthography but not in American spelling.

Examples

  • Some writers prefer to use Commonwealth English orthography when publishing international editions of their books.

  • Teachers in Australia generally teach students to follow Commonwealth English orthography in their writing.

  • In Commonwealth English orthography, words like 'colour' are spelled with a 'u'.

  • Many students learn Commonwealth English orthography in school.

  • Teachers in Australia generally teach students to follow Commonwealth English orthography in their writing.

  • The word 'colour' is spelled with a 'u' in Commonwealth English orthography but not in American spelling.

  • In Commonwealth English orthography, words like 'colour' are spelled with a 'u'.

Synonyms

British spelling
vsCommonwealth English orthography
  • UK
1 3.2

The way English words are written in the United Kingdom and other countries, often different from American spelling

names the same conventions but emphasizes a wider international group
British English orthography
vsCommonwealth English orthography
  • UK
5.3

The usual spelling and rules used in the UK and many Commonwealth countries, different from American spelling

is used more widely across many member countries rather than mainly one country
Commonwealth English spelling
vsCommonwealth English orthography
  • UK
6.5

Way of writing English words used in the UK, Ireland and many Commonwealth countries, different from American English

is the more country-focused label rather than the single-country term
Commonwealth spelling
vsCommonwealth English orthography
  • UK
7.0

English spelling used in the UK, Ireland and many other countries, different from American spelling

is the formal system name that covers the same conventions more widely
British English spelling
vsCommonwealth English orthography
  • UK
3.5

The way words are spelled in the United Kingdom, for example colour and theatre

refers to the same conventions but with a name for a broader group

Surface Forms

Morphology

commonwealth + English + orthography

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Commonwealth' (a group of countries) + 'English' (the language) + 'orthography' (spelling system) together yield the spelling conventions used in Commonwealth varieties of English. This is a literal descriptive noun phrase rather than an idiom, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Commonwealth English orthography is the spelling style used in Britain and many countries of the Commonwealth, where writers kept older spellings. That's why it uses forms like 'colour' and 'centre', so the phrase means the shared 'spelling' used in those countries.