orthography - The use of -ize and -ise in the UK?



I got a translation assignment where I am to use UK English but with -ize spelling.


The European Union switched from -ize to -ise some years ago in its English language publications, meaning that -ize spellings are found in older legislative acts and -ise spellings in more recent ones.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences#-ise.2C_-ize_.28-isation.2C_-ization.29


The wikipedia link is interesting.


Apparently -ize used in British English is used in Oxford publications (which refuse -ise) even though -ise seems to be preferred in Australia and New Zealand and UK itself (3:2 ratio).


What are your thoughts on this. Is using UK English with -ize spelling the right or wrong way to approach it?


And is -ize prevalent in US English?


P.S.: I'm not a native speaker, these things are not obvious to me.




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