-ise or -ize?

M a r c h 2 8 , 2 0 1 7  H a n n a h J o n e s
https://www.theremedyoferrors.com/blog/2017/3/28/the-remedy-of-errors-ise-or-ize

Each week proofreader Hannah Jones discusses and offers a remedy to common problems we
encounter when writing. Today she explores when to use -ise and -ize endings.

Why does it matt er?

One of the most common errors I come across when proofreading is inconsistency of verbs ending in
-ise or -ize. If a word is spelled with the -ise ending on one line and the -ize ending a few lines later,
this can look very clumsy. Inconsistency in spelling can distract the reader from the text; if they are
doubting how something is written, they may begin to doubt what is written, too.

Which is correct?
In British English either ending, -ise or -ize, is acceptable. It is simply a matter of preference or
referring to a house style. The Oxford Style Guide prefers -ize spellings while many other universities
prefer -ise spellings. Neither ending is more 'correct' than the other; what is important is that,
whichever form you choose, you use it consistently throughout a piece of writing. 

Words that always end -ise

It's important to remember, however, that some verbs always end -ise. This reflects the fact that
these verbs are not formed by adding -ise or -ize to a noun (as in the case of verbs such as
hospital+ise/hospital+ize); rather the -ise forms part of a larger word element such as -cise (meaning
'cutting') in excise and incise, or -vise (meaning 'seeing') in revise and supervise.
Some of the most common words which must always end in -ise, even if the -ize system is being
used, include:
advertise, advise, arise, comprise, compromise, despise, devise, disguise, excise, exercise,
improvise, incise, reprise, revise, supervise, surprise, televise.

-yse or -yze?
While either -ise or -ize is acceptable in British English, -yze is not. So, in British English, words such
as analyse and catalyse cannot be spelled analyze and catalyze.
In American English, however, the -yze ending is preferred. 
The remedy
 In British English, use either -ise or -ize endings consistently
 In American English, use -ize endings
 Remember verbs such as advertise and comprise always end in -ise
 Use -yse in British English and -yze in American English
Most importantly, remember that consistency is key. Writing free from inconsistencies allows the
reader to focus on what you're writing about, not how it is written. If you're finding it hard to keep
track of all your style choices, you may wish to consider hiring a proofreader to help you.

References
Ritter, R.M., 2005. New Hart's Rules: The handbook of style for writers and editors. Oxford University
Press.