Confusing Words: Analyse (verb) and Analyze (verb)
Meaning: examine (something) methodically and in detail, typically in order to explain and interpret it.
Analyse vs Analyze Clarification: The two words carry the same meaning. The difference lies in American English and British English adoption.
Analyse vs. Analyze – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?
English, as a language, has some standards like American English, British English, Canadian English etc. Out of all standards, American and British are the preferable styles. Furthermore, there are some differences in accents and spellings of some words.
Sometimes it happens that a word which is considered to be an appropriate word in American English while it is considered a mistake in British. Today, we have a case of analyse vs. analyze. One is applicable in British English while the other one is applicable in American English.
Analyse and analyze, both words are correct to use.
For this reason both of these words are used as verbs within sentences. Furthermore, the problem is with people that causes differences. In this particular case, the problem is between American English and British English.
The meaning for these words is ‘to study, inspect or examine’. For example, my supervisor is about to analyse/analyze my research project.
Check Out: Difference Between Analysis and Analyses.
When to Use Analyse and Analyze?
According to my research, there are some boundaries for the usage of the above each word. Analyse and analyze are two words that are similar in meanings and they have same function to use within a sentence.
Actually, the problem is with the two standards of English i.e. American English vs. British English. The word ‘analyse’ is more preferable word in British English. The word ‘analyze’, on the other hand, is the preferred spelling for American English.
According to the history of English language, both of these words have same origin. These words were originated in the late 16th century. Spellings differ but the meaning is, no doubt, same. People using British English adopted ‘analyse’ while the people with American English were influenced by the word ‘analyse’.
1. My friend is excited to analyse the workings of a great poet. (British)
2. I have to join an academy to learn how to analyze a scientific data. (American)
3. My mother was trying to analyse the horrible situation of our room. (British)
4. We were analyzing the current situation of our country. (American)
I hope that from the above discussion, the confusion between two words is now clear. There is no strict rule to follow these words. It is your choice which word you want to choose for your writing. Just remember one thing that American English prefers the spelling ‘analyze’ whereas British English tends to follow ‘analyse’.
What Did You Learn?
It is concluded that analyse and analyze are two words with different spellings but in fact, analyse and analyze are two spellings of the same word. Analyse is the preferred spelling for British English and analyze is for American English. The origin is same, the meaning is same and the usage is also same. The problem is only with the boundary between British and American.