Pretence Or pretence – British vs. American English

06.05.24 British English vs. American English Time to read: 6min

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The global proliferation of the English language has led to the creation of an array of dialects, each characterized by its own set of pronunciation and spelling variations. In the realm of academic writing, striving for linguistic consistency is crucial to maintaining coherence and adhering to the principles of academic integrity. Among the various distinctions of British English vs. American English, spelling differences stand out significantly, like in the case of “pretence” and “pretence.”

“Pretence” or “pretence”

“Pretence” and “pretence” are two variants of the same word and function as nouns in a sentence. Despite the spelling “pretence” only being accepted among Brits and the spelling “pretence” among Americans, both words have the same definition. “Pretence/pretence” describes an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true. It can refer to a façade or act put on to deceive others, or to a false claim or assertion made without basis in reality or supportive facts.

The word can also describe a false display of feelings intentions, or attitudes. The only existing spelling variation in British vs. American English is the “c” or “s” as the second last letter.

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British English

pretence

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American English

pretence

Both spellings of the word “pretence/pretence” are correct; however, they are only accepted in their respective dialects. While “pretence” with a “c” at the end is the conventional spelling in British English, “pretence” with an “s” at the end is the conventional spelling in American English. It is crucial to keep uniformity in your paper, sticking to your chosen writing style. This also includes following only one dialect to maintain academic integrity and credibility.

Examples of using “pretence” and “pretence” as a noun

The word “pretence” or “pretence” merely functions as a noun in a sentence structure. The examples below illustrate their usage in the different English variants.

  • British English: “Pretence”
  • American English: “pretence”
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  • Under the pretence of needing advice, she visited the professor.
  • The charity was a pretence used by the organisation to steal funds.
  • He dropped the pretence of being interested and openly yawned.
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  • Under the pretence of needing advice, she visited the professor.
  • The charity was a pretence used by the organisation to steal funds.
  • He dropped the pretence of being interested and openly yawned.

A related noun of “pretence” or “pretence” is “pretentiousness,” which refers to the state of being pretentious. It describes a behaviour or attitude characterized by an attempt to seem more important, worthy of admiration, or cultured than is actually the case. This typically involves displaying exaggerated talent, knowledge, or importance that a person does not truly possess. “Pretentiousness” has generally a negative connotation, suggesting insincerity and a lack of authenticity in one’s presentation. There is no differentiation between the British and American spelling, as shown in the following examples.

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  • He disliked the pretentiousness of being wealthy.
  • Her essay was marked down for its pretentiousness.
  • The pretentiousness of the gala was obvious.
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“Pretence” or “pretence” as a verb

The verb form of the noun “pretence/pretence” is “to pretend” in both British and American English. There is no variation in spelling for this verb between the two variants of English, making it consistent across both dialects. The following examples show how to apply “to pretend” correctly in sentences.

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  • The children pretend to be explorers.
  • She pretends to be asleep at night.
  • He pretends not to notice the surprise.
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“Pretence” or “pretence” in the “-ing” form

When the verb “to pretend” is inflected in its “-ing” form, it becomes “pretending” and implies a present participle or gerund in a sentence structure. The following sentences outline examples of using “pretending” in British and American English.

Present participle

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  • She was pretending to follow the lecture.
  • He was caught pretending to be a celebrity.
  • They were pretending to be busy on the phone.
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Gerund

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  • It was all just pretending.
  • Their pretending was too obvious.
  • There were consequences for pretending
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“Pretence” or “pretence” in the “-ed” form

The verb “to pretend” in the “-ed” form is “pretended” and refers to the past tense or past participle of the word. There is no variation in British and American English, and the word is applied in sentences as follows.

Past participle

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  • The children had pretended to be asleep.
  • He had pretended to like the gift.
  • She had pretended to be a famous actress.
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Past tense

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  • They pretended they hadn’t heard the news.
  • She pretended to understand the lecture.
  • He pretended to be a famous actor.
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“Pretence” or “pretence” as an adjective

The adjective for “pretence/pretence” is “pretentious” and there is no spelling distinction between British and American English. The word “pretentious” describes something or somaeone attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, culture, status, or talent than is actually possessed.

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  • He found the art exhibition pretentious.
  • The pretentious speech was nerve-wracking.
  • She made the pretentious claim of being an expert.
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“Pretence” or “pretence” as an adverb

As an adverb, the word becomes “pretentiously,” modifying an adjective, verb, or another adverb. The following sentences show examples of using “pretentiously” correctly in sentences.

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  • The menu was written pretentiously.
  • He spoke pretentiously about his art.
  • She laughed pretentiously at the jokes.
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FAQs

“Pretence” or “pretence” is a noun and can be applied as in the following example:

British English:

Under the pretence of needing help with her homework, she visited her friend’s house to spend time with him.

American English:

Under the pretence of needing help with her homework, she visited her friend’s house to spend time with him.

“Pretence” in British English and “pretence” in American English is the act of making an appearance of something that is not true. It involves giving a false impression or putting on a facade, often to deceive others or to create a particular image.

The phrase “keep pretence” refers to the act of continuing to maintain a facade, even in the face of evidence to the contrary or as situations change. It involves persisting in giving a false impression or acting as if something is true when it is not, usually to deceive others or to uphold a particular image for oneself or a situation.

Here is a list of 10 synonyms for the word “pretence” or “pretence”:

  1. Act
  2. Charade
  3. Facade
  4. Feigning
  5. Front
  6. Guise
  7. Masquerade
  8. Pose
  9. Show
  10. Simulation
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From

Salome Stolle

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Salome Stolle works as the brand manager for the English market at BachelorPrint. Throughout her 12-year residency in Denmark, she completed her International baccalaureate and Master’s in Culture, Communication, and Globalization with a specialization in media and market consumption. Through this experience, she has gained advanced competencies in academic writing and a high proficiency level in the English language. With her passion for writing, she does not only deliver well-written content but also strives to adjust to the students’ demands.

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