Which spelling pair is a classic example of Webster's differences?

Which spelling pair is a classic example of Webster's differences?

• A. Colour vs Color
• B. Theatre vs Theater
• C. Centre vs Center
• D. Honor vs Honour

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how American English, as shaped by Noah Webster, often uses simpler spellings than British English. A classic manifestation of this is the -our ending in British English becoming -or in American English, as in colour versus color. This pair epitomizes Webster’s approach: drop the extra letter to make spelling more phonetic and streamlined, a change that applies to many common words (honour, favour, flavour, labour, etc.). That broad, recognizable pattern is why colour vs color is the standout example. Other options show related shifts (theatre vs theater, centre vs center, honour vs honor) but they illustrate different changes; the colour/color pair most clearly captures the typical Websterian simplification.

The idea being tested is how American English, as shaped by Noah Webster, often uses simpler spellings than British English. A classic manifestation of this is the -our ending in British English becoming -or in American English, as in colour versus color. This pair epitomizes Webster’s approach: drop the extra letter to make spelling more phonetic and streamlined, a change that applies to many common words (honour, favour, flavour, labour, etc.). That broad, recognizable pattern is why colour vs color is the standout example. Other options show related shifts (theatre vs theater, centre vs center, honour vs honor) but they illustrate different changes; the colour/color pair most clearly captures the typical Websterian simplification.