Armour Or armoured – British vs. American English

The widespread global dispersion of the English language has, over time, created distinct varieties of pronouncing and spelling. Especially in academic writing, it is pivotal to maintain linguistic consistency and ensure a seamless flow to keep academic integrity. British English vs. American English poses a particularly prominent case, with a distinct differentiation in spelling. This article delves into the specific case of “armour” or “armoured,” touching upon common patterns in these dialects.

“Armour” or “armoured”

“Armour” and “armoured” can both be nouns or verbs, spelled in different English variations. It refers to a type of protective clothing, typically, made from material that is designed to prevent somaeone from getting injured, often in the context of warfare or combat. When “armour/armoured” is used as a verbal expression, it describes the act of equipping somaeone/something with armoured or protective covering. While the British English version follows the common spelling convention, involving the letter combination “ou” instead of just “o,” the American English version sticks to the spelling reform of just using an “o” and omitting the letter “u.”

Both “armour” and “armoured” are spelled correctly, however, refer to different English variations such as British English and American English. “Armour” spelled with “ou” is the British version, whereas “armoured” without the “u” represents the American version. Depending on what dialect you choose for your academic work, it is crucial to keep consistency in your spelling to avoid affecting academic integrity and credibility.

Examples of using “armour” and “armoured” as a noun

The examples below provide a clear understanding of the different spelling variations of the word “armour/armoured” in British and American English and how to use them in sentences as a noun.

• British English: “Armour”
• American English: “armoured”

Examples of using “armour” and “armoured” as a verb

The following shows how to use the British and American variants of the verb “to armour” or “to armoured” in sentence structures.

• British English: “To armour”
• American English: “To armoured”

“Armour” or “armoured” in the “-ing” form

When the verb “to armour/armoured” is inflected in the “-ing” form, it implies the present participle or a gerund. Following the respective spelling conventions of British English and American English, the different variants are outlined below.

• British English: “Armouring”
• American English: “armoureding”

“Armour” or “armoured” in the “-ed” form

The “-ed” inflection of the verb “to armour/armoured” indicates the past tense or past participle of the word. The following examples will give proper insight into how to use both the British and American variant correctly.

• British English: “Armoured”
• American English: “armoureded”