Pretence Or Pretense – British vs. American English

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 “pretense.”

“Pretence” or “pretense”

“Pretence” and “pretense” 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 “pretense” among Americans, both words have the same definition. “Pretence/pretense” 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.

Both spellings of the word “pretence/pretense” 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, “pretense” 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 “pretense” as a noun

The word “pretence” or “pretense” 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: “Pretense”

A related noun of “pretence” or “pretense” is “pretentiousness,” which refers to the state of being pretentious. It describes a behavior 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.

“Pretence” or “pretense” as a verb

The verb form of the noun “pretence/pretense” 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.

“Pretence” or “pretense” 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.

“Pretence” or “pretense” 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.

“Pretence” or “pretense” as an adjective

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

“Pretence” or “pretense” 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.