Download American and British English

American and British English
These two varieties of English are very similar. The differences that exist are gradually disappearing, mainly
because modern British English is heavily influenced by American English. The main differences are in
vocabulary and idiom, but there are also differences in grammar, spelling and pronunciation.
Vocabulary
Sometimes the same word has different meanings (GB mad = ‘crazy’; US mad = ‘angry’). Very often different
words are used for the same idea (GB lorry = US truck). Here are some examples:
American English
airplane
anyplace/anywhere
apartment
area code (phone)
attorney, lawyer
busy (phone)
call collect (phone)
can
candy
check/bill (restaurant)
coin-purse
cookie, cracker
corn
crazy
cuffs (trousers)
diaper
doctor’s office
dumb, stupid
elevator
eraser
fall, autumn
faucet, tap
first floor, second floor
flashlight
flat (tire)
french fries
garbage, trash
garbage can, trashcan
gas(oline)
gear shift (on a car)
highway, freeway
hood (on a car)
intersection
mad
mail
mean
movie, film
movie theater
one-way (ticket)
pants, trousers
British English
aeroplane
anywhere
flat/apartment
dialling code
barrister, solicitor, lawyer
engaged
reverse the charges
tin
sweets
bill
purse
biscuit
sweet corn, maize
mad
turn-ups
nappy
doctor’s surgery
stupid
lift
rubber, eraser
autumn
tap
ground floor, first floor
torch
flat tyre, puncture
chips
rubbish
dustbin, rubbish bin
petrol
gear lever
main road, motorway
bonnet
crossroads
angry
post
nasty
film
cinema
single (ticket)
pants
Expressions with prepositions and particles
American English
British English
different from/than
different from/to
check something out
check something
do something over/again do something again
be good in something
be good at something
fill out a form
fill in a form
American English
pavement
pitcher
purse, handbag
(potato) chips
railroad
raise
rest room
round trip
schedule, timetable
sidewalk
sneakers
spigot, faucet
stand in line
store, shop
subway
truck
trunk
two weeks
vacation
windshield
zee
stroller
shopping cart
cell phone
checking account
turn signal
Add your own examples:
British English
road surface
jug
handbag
crisps
railway
rise (in salary)
public toilet
return (journey/ticket)
timetable
pavement
trainers (= sports shoes)
tap (outdoors)
queue
shop
underground, tube
lorry
boot (of a car)
fortnight, two weeks
holiday(s)
windscreen (of a car)
zed (name of letter ‘z’)
pram, pushchair
shopping trolley
mobile phone
current account
indicator
American English
live on a street
on a team
Monday through Friday
Please write me soon.
British English
live in a street
in a team
Monday to Friday
Please write to me soon.
Grammar
American English
The use of the
He just went home.
(Or: He’s just gone home.)
simple past is more
common in AE.
Did you eat already?
I ate already.
Do you have a problem?
(Or: Have you got a problem?)
I’ve never really gotten to know her.
(on the phone) Hello, is this Susan?
It looks like it’s going to rain.
He looked at me real strange. (very informal)
(Or: He looked at me really strangely.)
He probably has arrived by now.
(Or: He has probably arrived by now.)
British English
He’s just gone home.
Have you eaten yet?
I’ve already eaten.
Have you got a problem?
I’ve never really got to know her.
Hello, is that Susan?
It looks as if/like it’s going to rain.
He looked at me really strangely.
He has probably arrived by now.
Spelling
A number of words end in –or in American English and in –our in British English (e.g. color/colour).
Some words end in –er in American English and in –re in British English (e.g. center/centre).
Many verbs which end in –ize in American English (e.g. realize) can be spelt in British English with –ize or –ise.
Here are some of the commonest words with different forms:
American English
aluminum
analyze
catalog
center
check
color
defense
honor
jewelry
labor
British English
aluminium
analyse
catalogue
centre
cheque
colour
defence
honour
jewellery
labour
American English
pajamas
paralyze
practice, practise
program
organize
theater
tire
gray
whiskey
spelt
British English
pyjamas
paralyse
practise (verb)
programme
organise/organize
theatre
tyre
grey
(Scotch) whisky
spelled
Further points
The trend to eliminate periods (BE:
full stops) is more marked in
American English.
British English can be more
restrained, concise or impersonal.
American English
A.D.
Mrs.
e.g.
This problem is an ongoing
situation.
The project team is violating
accepted norms.
You are not obligated to do this.
You did a fantastic job.
British English
AD
Mrs
eg
This problem continues.
The project team is breaking the
rules.
You are not obliged to do this.
You’ve done rather well.
Which English is spoken where?

British English: The British Commonwealth of Nations, (e.g. Australia, Singapore) and among most English –
speaking Africans, Asians and Europeans. In former British colonies such as India, Pakistan and Nigeria,
British English is a common standard where many languages are spoken. All of these parts of the world, of
course, have their own variety of ‘British English’ (e.g. the ‘Singlese’ of Singapore).

American English: the United States and among most English-speaking Pacific Rim Asians.
For differences in pronunciation, see sources below.
Sources:
Pronunciation: http://www.peak.org/~jeremy/dictionary/pronunciation.html
Vocabulary: http://www.wikipedia.com/wiki/American_and_British_English_Differences
Michael Swan, Practical English Usage (OUP) ISBN 0-19-431197-X
Franklin Covey Style Guide, Franklin Covey Co. ISBN 188321982-5