The difference between “theatre” and “theater” is mainly a spelling preference between British and American English. The words are sometimes used interchangeably in America, but some theater community groups distinguish between live performances and films. Linguists point to the differences in spelling to illustrate the changes in the English language. Former British colonies tend to retain the British spelling. Ultimately, the choice between spellings is up to the individual writer.
The difference between theater and theater is mainly a semantics of spelling. British English speakers are taught to use “theatre”, while American English speakers usually use “theatre”. The difference between “-re” and “-er” is common to many other words in British and American English, such as saber/saber, center/center and so on. Like many words that are spelled differently in British and American English, the words are sometimes used interchangeably, especially in America; the spelling “theater” is more common in the American Northeast.
In some theater community groups in the United States, people distinguish between live performances in a theater and films shown in a movie theater. Others choose to use “theatre” to refer to performance art, while a building is a “theatre”. However, these distinctions are not made by all writers, and there is no consistent rule for such usage. Usually people pick one spelling and stick with it.
Linguists often point to the intricate differences between spellings and usages to illustrate the changes the English language has undergone over the centuries. Studies of the historical use of English in America and Britain seem to suggest that spoken American English is actually closer to the “King’s English” spoken when America was first colonized, according to Bill Bryson in Made In America, a comprehensive survey of American English published in 1994. The “-re” and “-er” is just one of many subtle differences between written English in Britain and the United States.
Many former British colonies retain the British spelling for words, so people are more likely to see “theatre” than “theatre” outside of the United States. American English can be so starkly different because of America’s relatively early independence, historically. Countries that remained under British control longer than the United States would naturally have continued to use British English and their use of the language would have evolved with the British English-speaking community due to cultural exchange and formal written communications from the mother country .
Some people suggest that the difference between drama and theater in the United States is one of affectation, suggesting that people who use the “-re” spelling are snobs. Many of the judges of American English seem to prefer the use of “theatre”. The New York Times, for example, has a “theater section,” and many national theater organizations refer to themselves as “theater,” not “theater.” Ultimately, the choice between spellings is up to the individual writer; they both sound the same, so unless it is necessary to adhere to a specific set of style guidelines, a writer can usually choose whichever version he or she prefers.
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