H.L. Mencken (1880–1956). The American Language. 1921. Page 222 2. The reduction of duplicate consonants to single consonants:
American English councilor councillor counselor counsellor fagot faggot jewelry jewellery net (adj.) nett traveler traveller wagon waggon woolen woollen
3. The omission of a redundant e:
annex (noun) annexe asphalt asphalte ax axe form (printer’s) forme good-by goodbye intern (noun) interne peas (plu. of pea) pease story (of a house) storey
4. The change of terminal -re into -er:
caliber calibre center centre fiber fibre liter litre meter metre saltpeter saltpetre theater theatre
5. The omission of unaccented foreign terminations:
catalog catalogue envelop 1 envelope epaulet epaulette gram gramme program programme prolog prologue toilet toilette veranda verandah
6. The omission of u when combined with a or o:
balk (verb) baulk font (printer’s) fount gantlet (to run the—) gauntlet mold mould molt moult mustache moustache stanch staunch
Note 1. to envelop, and the noun, envelope. This distinction seems to be disappearing in the United States. [back ]
