American and British English

These two varieties of English are very similar. There are a few differences of grammar and spelling, and rather more differences of vocabulary and idiom. Modern British English is heavily influenced by American English, so some of the contrasts are disappearing. Pronunciation is sometimes very different, but most American and British speakers can understand each other without great difficulty.

Grammar

Here are examples of the most important differences. Note that in many cases, two different forms are possible in one variety of English, while only one of the forms is possible or normal in the other variety. For more details, lookup the sections in other parts of the book where these structures are discussed.

AMERICAN ENGLISH	BRITISH ENGLISH
He just went home. or He's just gone home	He's just gone home.
Do you have a problem ?	Have you got a problem?
I've never really gotten to know her.	I've never really got to know her.
I (can) see a car coming	I see a car coming
Her feet were sore because her shoes fit badly	Her feet were sore because her shoes fitted badly
It's important that he be told	It's important that he should be told
Will you buy it?' 'I may'	Will you buy it?' 'I may (do)'
The committee meets tomorrow	The committee meet/meets tomorrow.
(on the phone) Hello, is this Susan?	Hello, is that Susan?
It looks like it's going to rain	It looks as if I like it's going to rain.
He looked at me real strange. (very informal)	He looked at me really strangely
OR He looked at me really strangely
He probably has arrived by now.	He has probably arrived...

Vocabulary
There are very many differences. Sometimes the same word has different meanings (GB mad - 'crazy'; US mad = 'angry'). And very often, different words are used for the same idea (GB lorry = US truck). Here are a few examples, with very brief information about the words and their meanings.

AMERICAN ENGLISH	BRITISH ENGLISH
airplane	aeroplane
anyplace, anywhere	anywhere
apartment	flat/apartment
area code	dialling code (phone)
attorney, lawyer	barrister, solicitor
busy	engaged (phone)
cab/taxi	taxi
call collect	reverse the charges (phone)
can	tin
candy	sweets
check/bill	bill (in a restaurant)
coin-purse	purse
cookie, cracker	biscuit
corn	sweet corn, maize
crib	cot
crazy	mad
cuffs	turn-ups (on pants)
diaper	nappy
doctor's office	doctor's surgery
dumb, stupid	stupid
elevator	lift
eraser	rubber, eraser
fall, autumn	autumn
faucet, tap	tap (indoors)
first floor, second floor, etc	ground floor, first floor, etc
flashlight	torch
flat (tire)	flat tyre, puncture

french fries	chips
garbage, trash	rubbish
garbage can, trashcan	dustbin, rubbish bin
gas(oline)	petrol
gear shift	gear lever (on a car)
highway, freeway	main road, motorway
hood	bonnet (on a car)
intersection	crossroads
mad	angry
mail	post
mean	nasty
movie, film	film
one-way (ticket)	single (ticket)
pants, trousers	trousers
pavement	road surface
pitcher	jug
pocketbook, purse, handbag	handbag
(potato) chips	crisps
railroad	railway
raise	rise (in salary)
rest room	public toilet
round trip	return (journey/ticket)
schedule, timetable	timetable
sidewalk	pavement
sneakers	trainers (= sports shoes)
spigot, faucet	tap (outdoors)
stand in line	queue
stingy	mean (opposite of generous
store, shop	shop
subway	underground
truck	van, lorry
trunk	boot (of a car)
two weeks	fortnight, two weeks
vacation	holiday(s)
windshield	windscreen (on a car)
zee	zed (pronounciation of the letter).
zipper	zip
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
live on "X" street	live in "X" street
on a team	in a team
Monday through/to Friday Monday to Friday

Spelling

A number of words end in -or in American English and -our in British English (e.g. color/colour). Some words end in -er in American English and -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. Some of the most common words with different forms are:

AMERICAN ENGLISH	BRITISH ENGLISH
aluminum	aluminium
analyze	analyse
catalog	catalogue
center	centre
check	cheque (issued by a bank)
color	colour
defense	defence
honor	honour
jewelry	jewellery
labor	labour
pajamas	pyjamas
paralyze	paralyse
practice, practise	practise (verb)
program	programme
realize	realise /realize
theater	theatre
tire	tyre (on a wheel)
traveler	traveller
whiskey	(Scotch) whisky; (Irish) whiskey