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Differences between American English and British English
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Main differences between BrE and AmE:
Spelling Vocabulary Grammar Pronunciation
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Spelling British American -re -er Centre Center Metre Meter Fibre
Fiber
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Exception centre and theatre are sometimes used in AmE.
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British American our or behaviour behavior colour color flavour flavor
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Exception: American usage is usually glamour not glamor
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British American -que ck cheque check -ogue og catalogue catalog monologue monolog
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British American -ise,-ize -ize apologise, apologize apologize
categorise, categorize categorize -yse ize analyse analize paralyse paralize
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British American -isation ization organisation organization rationalisation rationalization
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Exception: American usage is advertising not advertizing.
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In British English the -l is always doubled after a
single vowel when adding a suffix e.g. travel → travelled travel → travelling travel → traveller
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In American English the -l is not doubled e.g.
travel → traveled travel → traveler travel → traveling
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Vocabulary American: is the most innovative of all Englishes (80% of all new words in British English come from the USA). is flexible (verbing) and e.g.
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American: constantly creates new words allows no event, person or personality, idea or concept to pass by without creating a distinct name e.g. “Tarot card killer” “Beltway sniper” and “Psycho sniper” (USA Today )
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The major differences between British and American English nouns can be summed up in several groups, e.g. 1. Almost the same word British American bath tub, bathtub traffic light stop light, red light
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2. exact equivalent words
British American current account checking account zip code post code ring road beltway, loop
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4. additional meanings British American caravan caravan ‘group of travellers in the desert’ caravan ‘vehicle towed by a car’ trailer
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5. one shared meaning, one non-shared meaning
British American duplex duplex ‘double sided print’ semi detached duplex ‘two houses joined together’
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7. additional words British American rubbish garbage trash
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8. false friends British American entrée/starter starter/first course main course entree ground floor first floor first floor second floor
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The fear of the number 13 is called:
triskaidekaphobia 1 in 10 people in the USA and Europe are affected by this condition. Sufferers avoid #13 and the 13th of each month.
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There is NO 13th Floor!!!
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Triskaidekaphobia?
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8. false friends British American muffins English muffins American muffins muffins
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11. brand names British American photocopier Xerox photocopy (copy) n Xerox photocopy (copy) v Xerox
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12. shared words, more common in one variant
British American shop store post mail flat apartment
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Differences in vocabulary
Br. E. Automn Lorry Sunglasses Lift Petrol Underground Film Pavement Curtains Am. E. Fall Truck Shades Elevator Gas Subway Movie Sidewalk Drapes
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One important point: The British tend to use, know or understand a far greater number of American words than the American know or understand British terms. This can be explained by: British exposure to much American TV and many Hollywood movies. Americans see relatively few British films or TV programmes.
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Grammar There are two forms of showing possession
Have you got a car? Do you have a car? Both are used in British English, although the former is preferred.
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He hasn't got any friends. He doesn't have any friends
He hasn't got any friends. He doesn't have any friends. She's got a beautiful new home. She has a beautiful new home. Americans use the latter almost exclusively.
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Past tense The general tendency in American English is to use a simple form Br E I've lost my key. Can you help me… Am E I've lost my key. Can you help me… I lost my key. Can you help me…
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Br. E. I've already seen that film
Have you finished your homework yet? Am. E. Alternative I already saw that film. Did you finish your homework yet? Br E Have you ever been to Italy? Am E Did you ever go to Italy?
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Prepositions Perhaps the greatest difference between the two
forms of English is the use (or absence) of prepositions. The preposition to is absent sometimes: Br please write to me soon Am please write me soon
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Prepositions are becoming increasingly absent in
American English: Br Prepositions are going out of the window Am Prepositions are going out the window in American English
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…or is used differently
British English - at the weekend American English - on the weekend
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different from in British
different than in American Note: the different from is also used in AE wait for in British wait on in American “can’t you just wait on me a little longer”
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from when referring to prices is replaced by
and up, especially for figures e.g. Br Coats from £14-99
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Compare: In Am. E. it sounds: The truck is in back of the house.
In Br. E. this would be: The lorry is behind the house.
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Br. E. I’ll see you at the weekend
Am. E. I’ll see you over weekend Br. E. I haven’t seen her for ages Am. E. I haven’t seen her in ages
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Singular and plural The British overwhelmingly think of groups as
collections of individuals and therefore the subject verb agreement treats them as plural. Americans regard groups as a singular entity and speak and write accordingly e.g. Br. The government are considering a proposal… Am. The government is considering a proposal…
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Adverbs There is a trend in all Englishes to leave off the –ly
adverbial ending. This is more common in American English e.g. real good rather than really good.
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