Center vs. Centre
What is difference between Center and Centre? An old joke tells of an American couple who decides to take a trip to England. When they return they tell their friends that they had an excellent trip. The castles, the food and the fields were great. The only thing that could have done better was that the natives spoke English!
Sure, both nations; The United States and England speak English, only with local variations. These variations are spoken and written. Someone from northern Scotland and someone from southern Mississippi would have great problems trying to understand each other. Written language is much easier to understand, but there are certain differences in writing and vocabulary that can make it go through problems if you do not know how to differentiate them. For example, the words center and centre can also cause problems if you are not careful.
Difference between Center and Centre
Definition of Center and Centre
Center is the British word to refer to the middle of something, a place for an appointment or certain sports positions.
Centre is the American word to refer to the middle of something, a place for an appointment or certain sports positions.
Use of Center and Centre
Center is used in the United Kingdom and in countries that have adopted the British system such as Canada and India. It is also used in America for certain names of places or institutions such as Center, Alabama, Center College in Kentucky and the Center Region of Haiti.
Centre is used in America and many popular media regardless of whether the British system is used or not. It is also used for names of places with that specific system such as the Centre of Texas, Wisconsin and Slovenia.
Other notes about Center and Centre
Center is used worldwide to describe sports positions in traditionally American sports, such as football and baseball. Even in England the quarterback would throw the ball to the center and the batter would hit the ball to the center of the field in a baseball game.
Centre is used worldwide to describe sports positions in traditionally British sports such as rugby. Sometimes some American businesses adopted the British system to give their establishments a little more class. There are many “theater centers” (theater centers) in the cities of the United States.
In Summary:
- American and British English differ in vocabulary, pronunciation and writing in many words.
- Center is the writing in British system for the word centre that is used in the United States.
- Both words (center and centre) refer to half of objects, places and certain sports positions.
- Sometimes, depending on the context, you will see that the word centre is used in the United States and centers in parts of England, but these uses are rare and are sometimes considered to affect their countrymen.
