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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.peakorg/~jeremy/dictionary/pronunciationhtml Vocabulary: http://www.wikipediacom/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