British and American English Grammar Present simple tense Past simple tense instead of present tense Verb forms Suggest/insist/etc. Use of the Use of preposition, adverbs, etc. Vocabulary Spelling Correspondence Dates/Salutations/Closings

Grammar Have(present simple tense) AmericanBritish Do you have the Redex file?Have you got the Redex file? Yes, I have it right here.Yes, I ’ ve got it right here. No, I don ’ t have it.No, I haven ’ t got it.

Grammar Past simple tense instead of present perfect tense AmericanBritish I received your letter.I have received your letter. Did you visit the factory?Have you visited the factory? She already called.She ’ s already called. They didn ’ t arrive yet.They haven ’ t arrived yet. Dave already spoke to me.Dave has already spoken to me.

Grammar Verb forms AmericanBritish I haven ’ t gotten the conference room ready yet. I haven ’ t got the conference room ready yet. I ’ ve learned Thai.I ’ ve learnt(or learned) Thai. How is that word spelled?How is that word spelt(or spelled)? He ’ s proven his point.He ’ s proved his point.

Grammar Suggest/insist/etc. AmericanBritish I suggest he buy the TR-500.I suggest that she should buy the TR-500. She insisted I go with her.She insisted that I should go with her. It is important he be informed.It is important that he should be informed.

Grammar Use of the AmericanBritish in/to the hospitalin/to hospital in/to the universityin/to university

Grammar Use of prepositions, adverbs, etc. AmericanBritish On weekends.At weekends. Please fill out/in this form.Please fill in this form. Did you check (out) their prices?Did you check their prices? I ’ ll meet (with)you later to discuss the project. I ’ ll meet you later to discuss the project. Do this report over/again.Do this report again. I ’ m through with the letter.I ’ ve finished the letter.

Vocabulary AmericanBritish CrazyMad EraserRubber FlashlightTorch HighwayMain road IntersectionCrossroads MailPost One-way ticketSingle ticket PantsTrousers Purse or pocketbookHandbag zipperzip

Spelling AmericanBritish AnalyzeAnalyse CheckCheque CurbKerb JailGaol or jail OffenseOffence ProgramProgramme (but computer program) SpecialtySpeciality levelingLevelling TireTyre

Correspondence-Date American tend to put month first: AmericanBritish June 12, June /12/9212/6/92

Correspondence-Salutations Notice the differences below (especially in punctuation): AmericanBritish Dear Sir/Madam:Dear Sir(Madam)(,) Dear Mrs. Brown:Dear Mrs Brown(,) Dear Kevin:Dear Kevin(,)

Correspondence-Closings AmericanBritish If the addressee ’ s name is not known: Sincerely (yours),Yours faithfully, If the addressee ’ s name is known (business style): Sincerely (yours),regards,Yours sincerely, If the addressee ’ s name is known (personal style): Best wishes, yours,Best regards, Yours,

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