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Why American? Why American English? Why words and things? Why spellings like: color, center, orthopedics, organization, and defense?

A big part of the answer is Noah Webster, an American dictionary writer and educator from the early United States. He wanted American English to stand a little more on its own instead of always following British spelling habits.

Webster favored spellings that looked more regular or more natural to American readers. Over time, some of those forms became standard in the United States.

Examples

• color instead of colour
• center instead of centre
• defense instead of defence

What was going on underneath

This was not just about making words shorter. It was also about building a distinct American standard for schools, books, newspapers, and public life. In plain language, Webster was helping say: “American English is allowed to have its own conventions.”

Important nuance

Webster did not successfully change every spelling he wanted. Some of his ideas stuck, and some did not. So the spelling differences we see today are partly the result of Webster’s influence and partly the result of long-term usage habits.

Quick mental model

Think of it this way: British English kept more older spellings, while American English accepted some streamlined forms that Webster promoted.

Related words

• orthography — a language’s spelling system
• lexicographer — a dictionary writer
• standardization — the process of settling on common forms
• dialect — a regional or social variety of language

Sources

The same American English spelling standard applies throughout my responses here. This point of contact uses American spelling by default unless a source, title, quotation, or proper name intentionally uses a different form.

• Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). An American Dictionary of the English Language. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/An-American-Dictionary-of-the-English-Language
• Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Dictionary: Features and problems. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/dictionary/Features-and-problems
• Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Noah Webster. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Noah-Webster-American-lexicographer
• Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Spelling. Britannica Kids. https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/spelling/277170
• Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Noah Webster and America’s first dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/about-us/americas-first-dictionary
• Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Noah Webster’s spelling wins and fails. https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/noah-websters-spelling-wins-and-fails
• Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). American Revolution. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution