Analyze or Analyse | Definition, Spelling & Examples
Analyze is a regular verb, meaning “examine carefully and infer meaning.” Knowing how it is spelled can cause some confusion, as you will see both analyze and analyse. However, there is no need to be confused, because in American English, analyze is the correct spelling, and in British English, analyse is preferred (although analyze is permissible).
This was Sean’s favorite/favourite part, when they got to analyze/analyse the data in detail.
Learning to analyze/analyse a poem was one of the trickiest skills the students had to learn.
The OUP bases its decisions on etymology rather than usage, and this explains its choice of analyse rather than analyze.
Analyze or analyse
If you are writing for an audience that uses American English, then the correct spelling is analyze. For British English, analyse is the preferred spelling. In British English, you can use either, but it is always important to remain consistent; choose one spelling and stick to it.
As the election day progressed, teams of pollsters set out to analyze/analyse the returns from the exit polls.
Teachers have to be careful not to analyze/analyse the poems to death.
Main differences between American and British English
American and British English are very similar, but there are a few main differences in spelling. Five important differences are:
| Difference | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -or vs -our | In American English, many Latin-derived words end in -or. | Behavior or behaviour Labor or labour Favor or favour Favorite or favourite Color or colour Honor or honour |
| In British English, these same words end in -our. | ||
| -er vs -re | In American English, some French, Latin, or Greek words end in -er. | Theater or theatre Center or centre Meter or metre Liter or litre Saber or sabre Fiber or fibre |
| In British English, these same words end in -re. | ||
| -ize vs -ise | In American English, many Greek-derived words end in -yze or -ize. | Realize or realise Recognize or recognise Analyze or analyse Organize or organise Minimize or minimise Finalize or finalise |
| In British English, these words end in -yse or -ise. | ||
| -ed vs -t | In American English, most verbs are regular and form their past tense with the suffix -ed. | Learned or learnt Burned or burnt Kneeled or knelt Dreamed or dreamt Smelled or smelt Spelled or spelt |
| In British English, some of these verbs are irregular and form their past tense with the suffix -t. | ||
| Single vs double consonant | In American English, many words are spelled with a single consonant. | Modeling or modelling Traveling or travelling Canceled or cancelled Labeled or labelled Buses or busses Focused or focussed |
| In British English, these same words are spelled with a double consonant. |
Frequently asked questions about analyze or analyse
- Is it analyzing or analysing?
-
The answer is that it depends on where your audience is. In American English, analyzing is the correct form (along with the infinitive analyze). In British English, the word is spelled analyse.
In British English you are free to use either spelling, as neither is considered wrong. But it is important to remain consistent, not just with the spelling of analyze/analyse but in your whole document.
In American English, analyse would be considered a misspelling.
You can ensure you have the correct spelling of analyzing or analysing with the QuillBot Grammar Checker.
- How do you spell analyze in the UK?
-
In the UK, the preferred spelling is analyse. In British English, it can be spelled either way, but the preferred way is analyse. In American English, analyze is the only correct spelling.
It is important to remember to remain consistent. Only use one spelling of analyze/analyse, and use either American English spellings or British English spellings throughout your document.
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you choose the correct spelling of analyze.
