british vs american english essay

The Ultimate Guide To Writing In British English vs American English

Eloise McInerney

With a PhD in Languages, Literature & Cultural Studies, Eloise has a long background in language teaching which she brings to her work as an editor. When not poring over the words of others, she’s working on her epic fantasy novel, kicking bags at the gym, or roaming the beaches, hills and forests with her dog.

When it comes to British English vs American English, it has been said that we are “two countries divided by a common language.”

If you’re a writer or editor in the increasingly globalized digital market, you’ve probably encountered this divide firsthand in the job hunt. More contracts are certainly available for those who can use both of these common variants of English—but are you confident enough to expand your writing into a less familiar version of English?

Don't worry, it's easier than it seems. Though the differences between American and British English can be finicky, they follow distinct patterns.

In our ultimate guide, we cover spelling, common usage variants, and punctuation differences to help you write fluently in either variant of English and snag those extra contracts.

British vs American English: Historical Origins

English linguistic history goes back to before the 12th century. Back then, residents of what is now the UK used a combination of Germanic languages (which we consider the roots of modern English), early French, and Latin. Spelling and grammar weren’t standardized, and words with similar Latin roots might be spelled either the French way or the Latin way.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, influential dictionaries helped orchestrate the standardization of the English language. In 1755, Samuel Johnson published the first widely used British dictionary. Johnson preferred spellings based on a word’s roots, favoring French spelling , since, as he wrote , “the French generally supplied us.” Standard British spelling still follows this course.

Noah Webster, whose famous dictionary was published in 1828, tended to choose spellings based on common use and pronunciation rather than history, setting the trend for American spellings.

Now that we’ve seen how these regional variants were born, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty differences between American and British English so you can nail those overseas job proposals.

American vs British English: Usage and Vocabulary

It’s been suggested that when you pit British English vs American English, differences in vocabulary are focused around three areas: clothing, food, and transportation. It certainly seems that our terms for these common items are wildly different.

Here’s a quick chart so you don’t get caught out wondering what “boot” means in American English... or vice-versa.

American vs British English: Food

American vs British English: Outdoors

American vs British English: Clothing & fashion

American vs British English: Everyday home items ‍ ‍

Spelling Differences between British and American English

The common spelling differences between British and American English fall into these easy-to-recognize patterns. Still, there are always exceptions (this is English, after all), so keep a dictionary or style guide at hand.

-Or vs -our

American writers have mainly dropped the U in words with this ending. However, both variants may be acceptable on either side of the pond for some words.

• AmE behavior /BrE behaviour
• AmE color /BrE colour ‍
• In words where the ou sound is pronounced differently than an O sound, the ou spelling is standard to both regions: contour , troubadour
• In derivatives and inflected versions of these words in British English (that is, words where letters have been added or changed to denote different attributes or tenses), the U is not always kept: for instance, honour is BrE standard, but honorary drops the U .
• Cardinal numbers four and fourteen are always spelled with U .

-Ize vs -ise

The - ize spelling comes from Greek, while - ise is the French spelling. In American English - ize is the preferred form, while British spelling typically uses - ise , although style guides in Britain have more variance in their preferences. This applies to forms of the word other than the root word also. ‍ ‍

• AmE organize , organizing /BrE organise , organising
• AmE colonize, colonization/BrE colonise, colonisation

Exceptions ‍

• Words that do not come from a Greek root or do not use - ze /- se as a suffix are standard in English everywhere: advertise , seize , guise , capsize , franchise , demise , enterprise

-Yze vs -yse

This one is a bit simpler. In verbs, the British form is - yse while the American form is - yze . The spelling is followed in all forms of the verb. ‍

• AmE analyze , analyzing /BrE analyse , analysing
• AmE paralyze , paralyzed /BrE paralyse , paralysed

If a word ends in - re rather than - er , it’s the British spelling. However, even in British English, many words that end in this sound use - er . Generally - re is only used for the root versions of nouns; when this sound is used as a suffix (nic er , bigg er ) it always gets - er . Consult a dictionary if you’re unsure.

In the US, unless you are quoting the name of a fancy arts venue with an anachronistic spelling, it’s safe to assume - er is correct.

• AmE center /BrE centre
• AmE specter /BrE spectre
• AmE fiber /BrE fibre
• Words borrowed as-is from another language (such as French) retain their - re spelling in both UK and US English: genre , double entendre
• Words with Germanic roots, such as fire , anger , mother , danger , chapter , monster , member , and disaster, are typically consistent in both regions.
• Words made from the Greek suffix “meter” (for a measuring instrument) are always spelled - er : thermometer , barometer

While the British generally prefer the S when it comes to suffixes, for these words, they turn to a C , while Americans use an S.

• AmE defense /BrE defence
• AmE offense /BrE offence
• AmE pretense /BrE pretence
• Derivatives of the above words typically use the S in both regions: defensive , offensive , pretension
• In certain terms, the C denotes a noun form while the S denotes a verb form in both regions: Noun advice /verb advise , Noun device /verb devise ‍
• For other terms, that distinction is kept in British English but not in the US: BrE noun licence /verb license ; AmE license for both, BrE noun practice /verb practise ; AmE practice for both

Adding suffixes after the letter L

When adding one of the suffixes - ing , - ed , - er , - est , or - or , if the letter in front of the suffix is an L , British English typically doubles the L , while American English does not. However, watch out for exceptions.

• travel > BrE travelling /AmE traveling
• counsel > BrE counsellor /AmE counselor
• cruel > BrE cruellest /AmE cruelest
• Controlled and controlling are the same in both variants.

It gets trickier. When adding one of several other suffixes after an L , including - ful , - dom , and - ment , American English doubles the L , while British English does not.

• fulfill > BrE fulfilment /AmE fulfillment
• Words that are standard to both versions include till > until , null > annul
• British English prefers the root words instil , distil , and enrol over the American instill , distill , and enroll .

For other suffixes (e.g. - ous , - ize /- ise ) following an L , there is generally not a one-size-fits-all rule, so don’t close that dictionary!

Adding suffixes to words that end in E

For words that end in E , when adding a suffix such as - ing , -able , or - ism , American English sometimes drops the E as it is not pronounced, whereas British English typically will keep the E as a silent letter.

• Age > BrE ageing /AmE aging
• Like > BrE likeable /AmE likable
• Both sides of the pond typically use lunging , lovable , cringing , curable , and breathable.

Loss of vowel combinations/ligatures

Certain English words with roots from Greek and Latin, often medical terms, have been historically spelled with two vowels together to indicate what used to be a ligature (generally, a typeface that combines the two vowels into one character, e.g. ӕ or œ .) In British English, the combined vowels, either ae or oe , are kept, while in the US, only the E is kept. ‍

• BrE anaemia /AmE anemia
• BrE aeon /AmE eon
• BrE oestrogen /AmE estrogen
• Words that can be spelled both ways in US English: aesthetics/esthetics , archaeology/archeology , amoeba/ameba
• Words that can be spelled both ways in British English: encyclopaedia/encyclopedia , chamaeleon/chameleon , mediaeval/medieval

This is chiefly a word ending you’ll find in British prepositions and adverbs. Of course, Americans may use these terms in informal writing if they enjoy their unmistakable flavor. ‍

• AmE among /BrE amongst
• AmE while /BrE whilst

-T instead of -ed for past tense

For certain verbs, the British use - t to denote the past tense, while Americans typically use - ed . However, in American English, both variants are still often seen.

• leap > BrE leapt /AmE leaped
• burn > BrE burnt ( burned an acceptable variant)/AmE burned
• Among others, sleep > slept and sweep > swept are always standard.

-Og vs -ogue

Once again, the British generally use more letters, using - ogue where Americans use - og .

• AmE catalog /BrE catalogue
• AmE analog /BrE analogue
• While both forms of these words are accepted, dialogue , synagogue , and demagogue are the preferred spellings in the US.

Exceptions to the spelling rules

Of course, it wouldn’t be English without some spellings that don’t seem to follow any specific rule. Here’s a quick chart of some more unusual British and American English spelling differences.

Grammar differences between British and American English

Don’t think it’s all about spelling. Some differences have to do more with punctuation. Our comprehensive guide has you covered.

Single quotation marks vs double quotation marks

In general, while American writers prefer “double quotation marks” for dialogue, quotations, irony, and other purposes in a sentence, British writers use ‘single quotation marks.’

However, some British style guides do use double-quotation marks, so be sure to follow any specific instructions you are given.

If you’ve got quotes within quotes—say, a character quoting another within dialogue—the quotation mark styling for the inner marks is reversed.

British vs American English: Does punctuation go inside or outside the quotation marks?

American English puts two punctuation marks inside the quotation marks at all times: the period (full stop in BrE) and the comma. Colons and semicolons always go outside the quotes.

The em dash, the question mark, the exclamation mark, and the ellipsis typically go outside the quotes, unless they belong specifically to the quoted material.

British grammar is similar to US grammar in that it also puts the colon and the semicolon outside the quotation marks at all times. However, all other punctuation goes outside the quotation marks as well, unless it belongs to the quoted material and not the whole sentence.

In British English, in dialogue (that is, quoting from speech, real or fictional, rather than from another text), periods and commas typically go inside the quotation marks, as they indicate the tone of the speech and therefore belong with it.

Still confused? When it comes down to it, most punctuation marks are actually used the same way. The differences you should watch out for are in commas and periods. When these belong to a quote, as in dialogue or a full sentence from an original text, they’ll be inside the quotation marks in both variants.

When they are added to indicate punctuation in the new sentence, rather than the original quote, differences are as below.

Oxford/serial commas

The Oxford comma, or serial comma, comes after the final item in a list, before the word “and.”

It’s easy to remember which version of English uses the Oxford comma as long as you reverse what you’d expect: the English of Britain, home to Oxford University Press, tends not to use the Oxford comma. Meanwhile, in the US, the Oxford comma is more common.

Plural versus singular for groups

When referring to an entity composed of a number of individuals—such as a company or a band—an American would likely refer to the group as singular, while a British person would probably write about them as plural.

How can I learn to write American English—or vice versa?

Now that we’ve gone through the labyrinth of differences between British and American English, do you feel ready to take on a copywriting job anywhere in the world? If you’re determined to write like you’re on the other side of the pond, here are our five best tips for learning to write British English or American English.

1. Read the style you want to write.

The best tools writers and editors have are often their brains—and lots of repetition. After all, this is how we all learned English in the first place! Find books, magazines, and news media from reputable organizations in the version of English you want to write. Read often about a range of subjects, and you’ll begin to pick up on the variations naturally.

2. Avoid inconsistency!

The most important thing when writing is simply to choose one spelling/usage and stick with it. If you write “theatre” once, then make sure you always write “theatre.” Reader and editor preferences vary, but inconsistency always looks unprofessional.

It may be easiest to choose a major style guide to follow. (E.g., Chicago Manual of Style for American English or Oxford Style for British English.) Buy its official reference book and you’ll have all the info you need, though be warned that these can be quite dense.

Make yourself a style sheet and write down the required or preferred spelling every time you learn a new term. These can get long, so organize (organise) your style sheet so it doesn’t become completely unreadable.

3. Use your spellcheck to its full capacity.

If you’re writing in an unfamiliar dialect, spellcheck is your best friend. But make sure to double-check the language it’s checking—if you’re trying to write in British English and it’s set to American, you will have no end of woes.

Remember that this goes for the default autocorrect settings on your communications platforms and cloud documents, too.

If your word processor of choice doesn’t have a built-in spellcheck, try using an add-on such as Grammarly.

Most spellcheck programs enable you to customize your dictionary, so if you notice a word that you often get incorrect, you can add it to the program’s directories manually and never worry about it again.

4. Just look it up!

If you’re uncertain about a term, don’t guess: look it up!

Editing isn’t just about knowing what’s right; it’s about anticipating what might be wrong. Learn the signs that suggest a term might have an American or British variant—if you see an - ise or - ize spelling, for instance—and look those terms up at first rather than relying on memory.

Once you’ve learned a new term, add it to your style sheet. Choose one dictionary as your reference and stick with it, as there is some variance between dictionaries.

You may have to check often, but with repetition, most of these decisions will become second nature.

5. Ask a native speaker.

Many of us know somebody who either grew up in another country or continent or is living there now. If you have a friend who’s a native speaker of the variant you want to learn, ask them to scan your prose for anything that looks “off.” There’s no better resource than someone who’s been using a dialect their entire life.

If you don’t know anyone who speaks the variant personally, asking language questions on forums like Reddit and StackExchange could be useful. Or, if you can afford it, hire an editor who’s a native speaker. ‍

There you have it—the ultimate guide to the differences between American and British English. There are plenty more details to learn if you’re keen, but this will get you through the day-to-day.

Of course, if you’re still unsure whether you’ll get your target audience’s variant right, or if you don’t want to spend hours programming spellcheck, Eleven’s team of professional copywriters includes native English speakers from both sides of the pond, and we are ready to help.

Happy writing!

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• Knowledge Base
• UK vs. US English

UK vs. US English | Difference, Spelling & Examples

When writing your dissertation , research paper or essay, you will have to consistently follow the conventions of a specific style of English. The most commonly used forms are:

• American English
• British English
• Australian English

Although these dialects follow many of the same rules, they also have some important differences in spelling , punctuation and word choice .

Check US or UK English for free

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Table of contents

Us vs. uk spelling, us vs. uk punctuation, us vs. uk verb conjugation, us vs. uk abbreviations, consistency is key, why is it so complicated.

As the table below shows, the difference between UK and US spelling usually relates to just one or two letters.

The following cheat sheet outlines the preferred spelling of some words that are commonly used in academic writing .

Check US or UK English

Use the best grammar checker available to check that you're writing consistently in one variant of English.

The main punctuation differences relate to single and double quotation marks and where to place other punctuation in relation to quotations.

There are some differences in subject-verb agreement with collective nouns  (nouns referring to a group of individual things as a unified whole) and in past tense verb forms .

There is also disagreement over how to use periods in abbreviations .

Most importantly, each individual word must be spelled the same throughout your document. However, it’s also best to avoid mixing US English and UK English .

• The defense minister first travelled  to China in 2013.
• The defense minister first traveled to China in 2013.
• The defence minister first travelled to China in 2013.

In addition, the same spelling should generally be used for all forms of a word.

• The organization is headquartered in Osaka, but it usually organises workshops in Tokyo.
• The organization is headquartered in Osaka, but it usually organizes workshops in Tokyo.
• The organisation is headquartered in Osaka, but it usually organises workshops in Tokyo.

If you use our proofreading and editing service , you can request a specific style of English (US or UK).

After winning their independence from the British, Americans used language as a way to create their own identity. This led to many variations in spelling and punctuation, among other things. Australia also developed its own written conventions, which lie somewhere between those of the US and the UK (although they tend to be more British).

Of the three, Australian English is generally the most flexible, and US English is the least flexible. Bear in mind that the rules are not always very firm: there are many exceptions, and the preferred conventions are constantly changing.

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To What Extent Is There A Difference Among English Spoken By British People And Americans?

English is a language that has a variety of dialects; particularly, there are three different major English segments. The English language is known in these three segments: English (American), English (Australian), and English (British or UK). The three segments have differences in the way they are written and spoken. This article will compare American English versus British English.

Comparing American and British (UK) English

The two languages are very similar, so much that it is very easy to understand between the two countries. The languages do not need translation due to writing in what is called standard English. Standard English is the written English format used in all three countries making it very versatile and easy to understand. There only a handful of similarities between American English and British English. There are actually more difference than there are similarities.

British English is a very formal form of the English language. The UK practices formal speaking and dictation while the United States of America uses slang and informal English. Our spelling of the same words even differ from each other. In the United States of America we spell words like color and favorite while the UK spells these same words colour and favourite. The formal, or British, version of the word has a u for dictation and pronunciation purposes. America likes to simplify the spelling of some of the traditionally spelled words.

Other ways the languages vary have to do with the meaning of words. Some words do not have the same meanings. Football in the United States of America is a very common sport where teams throw a football to each other trying to score a touchdown. Football in the UK is very different; the word “football” refers to what we call soccer. One controversial difference between UK English and American English is the word “fag”. In America, this is a highly offensive slang word while in the UK the word is very common and refers to a cigarette.

American English and British English have some similarities but are very different forms of the English language. The UK speaks a very formal version of the English language and the American version of the language is very informal. The dialects of the two versions of the language are also very different. British English annunciates while American English does not.

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American English vs. British English

American English is the form of English used in the United States . It includes all English dialects used within the United States of America. British English is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It includes all English dialects used within the United Kingdom. Differences between American and British English include pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary (lexis), spelling, punctuation , idioms, and formatting of dates and numbers.

Comparison chart

History of British vs. American English

The English language was introduced to America through British colonization in the early 17th century. It also spread to many other parts of the world because of the strength of the British empire. Over the years, English spoken in the United States and in Britain started diverging from each other in various aspects. This led to a new dialects in the form of American English.

American vs. British accent

Prior to the Revolutionary War and American independence from the British in 1776, American and British accents were similar. Both were rhotic i.e. speakers pronounced the letter R in hard . Since 1776, the accents diverged but English accent in America has changed less drastically than accents in Britain.

Towards the end of the 18th century, non-rhotic speech took off in southern England , especially among the upper class; this "prestige" non-rhotic speech was standardized, and has been spreading in Britain ever since.

Most American accents, however, remained rhotic.

There are a few fascinating exceptions: New York and New England accents became non-rhotic, perhaps because of the region's British connections. Irish and Scottish accents, however, remained rhotic.

To be fair, both American and British English have several types of accents and there is no one true American or British accent.

Noah Webster and the Blue-Backed Speller

Even after America gained independence, American schools used textbooks imported from England. Noah Webster , an American lexicographer, nationalist and prolific political writer, found them unsatisfactory. He disliked the influence and control of British aristocracy over the English language and its pedantic rules for spelling and pronunciation.

So in the 1780s Webster wrote and published A Grammatical Institute of the English Language a compendium that consisted of a speller (published in 1783), a grammar (published in 1784), and a reader (published in 1785). The speller became very popular and over time, Webster changed the spellings in the book to be more phonetic (e.g. color instead of colour ; defense instead of defence ). Webster's changes greatly influenced American English because his grammar books were so popular and used in schools throughout the country.

This influence was further solidified by Webster's dictionaries, first published in 1806. Noah Webster was a spelling reformer who believed that the spelling of words should match their pronunciation as much as possible.

Differences in use of tenses

In British English the present perfect is used to express an action that has occurred in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment. For example: I've misplaced my pen. Can you help me find it? In American English, the use of the past tense is also permissible: I misplaced my pen. Can you help me find it? In British English, however, using the past tense in this example would be considered incorrect.

Other differences involving the use of the present perfect in British English and simple past in American English include the words already , just and yet .

British English: I've just had food . Have you finished your homework yet? American English: I just had food. OR I've just had food . I've already seen that film. OR I already saw that film.

Differences in Vocabulary

While some words may mean something in British English, the same word might be something else in American english and vice versa. For example, Athlete in British English is one who participates in track and field events whereas Athlete in American English is one who participates in sports in general.

Rubber in British English: tool to erase pencil markings. Rubber in American English: condom.

There are also some words like AC, Airplane, bro, catsup , cell phone etc. which are common in American English and not used very often in British English. Some words widely used in British English and seldom in American English are advert, anti clockwise, barrister, cat's eye.

Differences in Spelling

There are many words that are spelt differently in both forms of English. Some examples are:

A majority of the spelling differences between American and British English fall into the following categories:

• - our (British) and - or (American). e.g. colour vs color
• - re (British) and - er (American). e.g. centre vs center
• - ce (British) and - se (American). e.g. defence vs defense
• - ise (British) and - ize (American). e.g. centralise vs centralize
• - yse (British) and - yze (American). e.g. analyse vs analyze
• - ogue (British) and - og (American). e.g. dialogue vs dialog
• Simplification of ae and oe in American English. e.g. gynaecology vs gynecology

Differences in the use of Prepositions

There are also a few differences between British and American English in the use of prepositions. For example: While the British would play in a team , Americans would play on a team . Another example: While the British would go out at the weekend , Americans would go out on the weekend .

Differences in Verb usage

American and British English may also use a base verb in different manners. For example: For the verb " to dream", Americans would use the past tense dreamed while the British would use dreamt in past tense. The same applies to "learned" and "learnt". Another example of differing past tense spellings for verbs in American and British English is "forecast". Americans use forecast while the British would say forecasted in simple past tense.

Differences in Pronunciation

Some words that are pronounced differently in American vs British English are controversy, leisure, schedule etc. There are also some words like Ax ( Axe in British) and Defense ( Defence in British) which have the same pronunciation but different spellings in both languages.

Time telling in British vs American English

Both languages have a slightly different structure of telling the time. While the British would say quarter past ten to denote 10:15, it is not uncommon in America to say quarter after or even a quarter after ten.

Thirty minutes after the hour is commonly called half past in both languages. Americans always write digital times with a colon, thus 6:00, whereas Britons often use a point, 6.00.

Differences in Punctuation

While the British would write Mr, Mrs, Dr, the Americans would write Mr., Mrs., Dr.

Video explaining the differences

Here's a funny musical video that outlines the differences in some English and British English language words.

• Books on American English
• Books on British English
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_differences

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Comments: American English vs British English

Anonymous comments (5).

September 23, 2012, 3:43pm i'm american and i prefer dreamt and ageing to dreamed and aging. spell check is doing red dotted underlines on those words! — 65.✗.✗.250

March 16, 2014, 8:57am Thx alot — 41.✗.✗.109

April 20, 2011, 11:47pm Did you know that a phrase in british english is knock-up it means to waken or rouse (in america it means to impregnate) learned it in school which makes school somewhat useful (not that much) crazy brits, be careful what you say around american chicks — 97.✗.✗.97

August 14, 2013, 10:58pm That line starting with "To be fair..." seems tacked on. It pretty well negates what came before it. — 108.✗.✗.242

December 28, 2010, 8:28pm I grew up in the SF Bay Area, and I had a mostly private education, except for State College. It seems I grew up learning a more “British” spelling. It wasn’t until I started using online dictionaries and MS Office, that I realized that there existed another variation. As a child color was colour. I still try to spell fulfill as fulfil. Neither was I aware that ageing should be spellt aging in American English, when were the standards changed? My piers would find that to be incorrect. Who writes dialog? I’ve always said learnt and dreamt, but only write dreamed and learned. Only recently have I heard someone say dreamed, and that person spoke English as a second language. Perhaps, these changes have come about to accommodate nonnative speakers of English? Although, I have heard differences in tense even here in California, I had thought that people speaking that way were undereducated. So while I might say, I just lost my pen, or I’ve just lost my pen, I would more than li — 64.✗.✗.212

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British vs. American English

There are many differences between British and American punctuation, spelling, and grammar. Neither version is more correct than the other; which version you should use just depends on who your primary audience is. Here are some of the most common differences between British and American academic English.

Punctuation

Single vs. double quotation marks.

British English uses single quotation marks to indicate quotations or dialogue.

• The UWSC says, 'This is how British people do it.'

When there is a quotation inside the quotation, British English uses double quotation marks for the nested quotation.

• The UWSC says, 'This is how British people, as they say, "do it".'

American English flips that method, and uses double quotation marks to indicate quotations or dialogue, and single quotation marks for nested quotations.

• The UWSC says, "This is how American people, as they say, 'do it.'"

Commas and Periods Within Quotation Marks

British English puts commas and periods (full stops) outside the quotation marks unless the quotation is also a complete sentence or the punctuation is part of the quotation.

• The UWSC says that British people write it "this way".

American English puts commas and periods inside the quotation marks.

• The UWSC says that American people write it "this way."

When it comes to other punctuation, both versions write it similarly. Colons and semicolons go outside quotation marks, and exclamation points and question marks depend on whether they're part of the quote or the sentence as a whole.

British English writes dates in DD/MM/YY format.

• 10/1/2019 means January 10, 2019.

American English writes dates in MM/DD/YY format.

• 10/1/2019 means October 1, 2019.

Abbreviations

British English typically does not put a period after an abbreviation.

• Dr, Mr, Mrs, Ms, and vs are all written without periods after them.

American English puts periods after abbreviations.

• Dr., Mr., Mrs., Ms., and vs. all have periods after them.

There are certain patterns of words that British and American English tend to spell differently.

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns are singular nouns that refer to a group of people, like "group" or "team."

British English tends to default to using the plural verb forms for collective nouns.

• UNR's faculty are here to help you.

American English uses the singular verb form for collective nouns.

• UNR's faculty is here to help you.

Past Tense Forms

British and American English have some differences in how they might spell the past tense forms of some verbs.

British English might use '-t' to end the past tense forms of verbs ending in 'l,' 'm,' or 'n.'

• Burnt, dreamt, learnt, spilt, spoilt

American English will use '-ed' for the past tense of pretty much all regular verbs.

• Burned, dreamed, learned, spilled, spoiled

There are other differences between British and American English, but these are some of the common ones that come up in academic writing.

Oxford International Education Group. (n.d.). The main differences in British and American spelling. Retrieved from https://www.oxfordinternationalenglish.com/differences-in-british-and-american-spelling/

The Punctuation Guide. (n.d.). British versus American style. Retrieved from: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/british-versus-american-style.html

American English vs. British English in Research Manuscripts: A Free Guide

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This free guide provides an overview of the most common spelling differences in research papers when choosing American English or British English.

Updated on December 4, 2012

In a simpler world, English would be written the same way everywhere. However, when Noah Webster set out to create an American English dictionary in the early 1800s, he did more than just add new words to British English: he also revised the spelling of many common words to eliminate what he saw as unnecessary letters. His new spellings were adopted in the US but not the UK, and these spelling differences remain to this day.

The list below is intended to provide an overview of the most common spelling differences between British and American English. The words beginning each list are intended to establish overall patterns, whereas the words in italics towards the end of the lists are examples of deviations from the rule. Remember that you can choose between “English (U.S.)” and “English (U.K.)” in Microsoft Word when setting the language for your document. This change allows the spell check to help catch these differences in spelling.

Click here to download a list of American English and British English spelling differences for future reference.

-ize (-yze)/-ise

American/british.

characterize/characterise

prioritize/prioritise

specialize/specialise

analyze/analyse

catalyze/catalyse

size /s ize

exercise / exercise

The products of the catalyzed reaction were characterized using specialized equipment/The products of the catalysed reaction were characterised using specialised equipment.

behavior/behaviour

color/colour

favor/favour

contour / contour

Because of its decolorization behavior , this material is favored /Because of its decolourisation behaviour , this material is favoured .

center/centre

fiber/fibre

liter/litre

parameter / parameter

Five milliliters of the mixture containing the fibers was pipetted on the center of the slide/Five millilitres of the mixture containing the fibres was pipetted on the centre of the slide.

e/(ae or oe)

ameba/amoeba

anesthesia/anaesthesia

diarrhea/diarrhoea

leukemia/leukaemia

cesium/caesium

The patient with leukemia was given anesthesia before the procedure/The patient with leukaemia was given anaesthesia before the procedure.

defense/defence

practice (noun and verb)/ practice (noun) /practise (verb)

license (noun and verb)/licence (noun)/ license (verb)

defensive / defensive

advice (noun) and advise (verb) / advice (noun) and advise (verb)

The defense attorney had practiced law for over thirty years/The defence attorney had practised law for over thirty years.

-/e, -og/-ogue

aging/ageing

acknowledgment/acknowledgement

judgment/judgement

analog/analogue

dialog/dialogue

dying/dyeing (from die/dye) / dying/dyeing (from die/dye)

The aging analog -to-digital converter is slowly dying/The ageing analogue -to-digital converter is slowly dying.

-l/-ll OR -ll/-l

fulfill/fulfil

enroll/enrol

skill , skillful/ skill , skilful

labeled/labelled

signaling/signalling

propelled / propelled

revealing / revealing

The skillful student noted that the drop in enrollment may be signaling a problem with the study design. The skilful student noted that the drop in enrolment may be signalling a problem with the study design.

This list of differences between American English and British English is by no means exhaustive, but we hope that it helps give you an idea of the distinctions between the two styles of writing. For guaranteed correct word usage, trust one of our editors to edit your manuscript . If you have questions about any particular word, please contact us .

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Distinguishing between american and british english: what you need to know.

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a blank stare when using a word that's perfectly normal in your country but foreign in another? English is spoken by millions of people around the world, and depending on where you're from, the way you speak may differ from others. In this article, we'll delve into the nuances of American and British English and equip you with the knowledge you need to understand both languages in all their glory.

Let’s take a quick trip back in time to understand the origins of these two languages. British English, as the name suggests, originated in the United Kingdom and was brought over to America by British colonizers. However, as the language developed separately in both regions, differences in vocabulary and grammar began to emerge. 

American and British English share many similarities because they both evolved from the same language and have a common linguistic heritage. However, there are also some important differences that can affect communication, especially in terms of vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and spelling.

While both dialects share many similar rules, there are some important differences in spelling, punctuation, and word choice. Let's take a closer look at each one:

Pronunciation Differences

One of the most notable differences between American and British English is the pronunciation. Americans tend to pronounce words with more emphasis on the vowels, while the British accent is characterized by the way they emphasize consonants. British English is often characterized by the way speakers emphasize consonants and the way they pronounce vowels. 

British English tends to use more intonation in speech. For instance, while Americans might say "tomayto," Brits say "tomahto." Americans also tend to stress the first syllable of words, while Brits often stress the second. Confused yet?

Spelling Differences

Another significant difference is the spelling of certain words, such as color instead of colour, or flavor instead of flavour. Additionally, there are a number of words and phrases unique to American English, such as "truck" instead of "lorry" and "apartment" instead of "flat."

Vocabulary Differences

Another area where American and British English diverge is in vocabulary. In America, for example, we call it an "elevator," while in the UK, it's a "lift." Americans go to the "movies," while Brits go to the "cinema." And don't even get us started on "fries" vs. "chips" and "chips" vs. "crisps."

Cultural Differences

It's important to note that the differences between American and British English aren't just linguistic; they're also cultural. Americans, for instance, tend to be more direct and to the point in their communication, while Brits value politeness and diplomacy. Understanding these cultural nuances is crucial to effective cross-cultural communication.

Choosing American Vs British English in Academic Writing

When it comes to academic writing, adhering to a specific style of English is a must. Whether you're working on a dissertation, research paper, or essay, following the conventions of a particular writing style is crucial to ensure that your work is credible, well-structured, and easy to understand.

Choosing the right English writing style is essential for academic success. By following the conventions of a specific style, you can ensure that your work is well-organized, easy to read, and credible. Remember to consult the style guide recommended by your professor or institution, and always double-check your citations and formatting to avoid any mistakes.

Some More Differences Between American and British English:

• American English tends to use a period instead of a comma in numerical dates (i.e., July 4th, 2022, instead of 4th July 2022). On the other hand, British English tends to use a comma instead of a period in numerical dates (i.e., 4th July 2022 instead of July 4th, 2022).
• There are also a few grammatical differences, such as the use of the present perfect tense. In American English, the past simple is often used in place of the present perfect (i.e., "I just ate" instead of "I've just eaten"). In British English, the present perfect is used more frequently than in American English (i.e., "I've just eaten" instead of "I just ate").

In conclusion, navigating the differences between American and British English can be tricky, but it's also incredibly rewarding. By understanding these nuances, we can better appreciate the diversity of languages and cultures around the world. So, whether you prefer "pants" or "trousers," "gas" or "petrol," we hope this comprehensive guide has given you a better understanding of both American and British English.

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Differences Between American and British English

Author: Ann F.

Date: may 21, 2022 | grammar.

The English language includes several varieties, including British, American, Canadian, Australian, etc. However, the most commonly taught in ESL/EFL programs are American and British English. There is no “correct” variety of English, but it’s important to understand the differences between them. Major differences include:

• Pronunciation – differences in both vowel and consonants, as well as stress and intonation
• Vocabulary – differences in nouns and verbs
• Spelling – differences are generally found in certain prefix and suffix forms

Ginger enables you to choose between American and British English when performing an online grammar check. That way, whichever you choose, we have you covered!

Don’t get stuck with writer’s block Ginger creatively suggests alternatives to your sentences with Sentence Rephrase

Spelling is the most noticeable difference between American and British English. Famed American lexicographer, Noah Webster, introduced the American spelling reform in the early 1800’s. Major spelling differences include:

1. -er vs. -re

British spelling uses -re which originally comes from French. In the United States, it was replaced with -er to better reflect American pronunciation.

2. -or vs. -our

One of the more famous spelling differences also comes from French influence.

*Some exception in American usage exist such as the word glamour.

3. -ize vs. -ise / -yze vs. -yse

The -ize spelling is often incorrectly seen as an Americanism in Britain. While British spelling mostly uses the -ise ending as it’s more common, it’s just a convention and not a rule. However, the -ize ending is always used in the United States. However, the -yse ending in the UK is a rule and most be followed unless American printing style is being used.

4. Double consonants

This rule is more tricky as both varieties have different rules regarding doubled consonants. There are specific rules for words ending in L and before the -ment ending.

• Ending in L (derivatives of verbs, nouns and adjectives)

In British English when a words ends in -l, the final -l is often doubled (even when the final syllable is unstressed).

• Before -ment

In the United States, the L is doubled before the -ment ending.

5. -se vs -ce

Many nouns that end in –ence in British English end in –ense in the US. UK English only uses –ense for the corresponding verb. For example, you can  license  someone to do something, after which they hold a  licence  to do it.

6. -og vs -ogue

American English commonly uses the ending -og while UK uses -ogue.

*There are some exceptions such as demagogue, pedagogue, and synagogue are seldom used without  -ue even in American English.

7. Different spellings for different pronunciations

Other spelling reforms were changed to simplify the pronunciation or changed due to pronunciation differences in American English vs. British English.

The list of vocabulary differences between the US and UK is long. However, the main ones include:

Grammar Differences

1. Use of Present Perfect

In British English, the present perfect is used to express an action that has occurred in the recent past. The American standard is to use the simple past.

I’ ve lost my key. Can you help me look for it? (UK)

I lost my key. Can you help me look for it? (US)

In American English, the words already, just and yet can be used with the simple past or present perfect . In British English, only present perfect tense can be use with already, just and yet.

British English:

I’ ve just had lunch.

I’ ve already seen that film.

Have you finished your homework yet ?

American English:

I just had lunch OR I’ ve just had lunch.

I already saw that film OR I’ ve already seen that film

Did you finish your homework yet ? OR Have you finished your homework yet ?

2. Verb Endings

In British English, some verbs form the past tense with the suffix –t, while in American English they have regular past tense forms ending in –ed. Other differences include the extremely popular past particle of the verb get – in US (gotten), in UK (got).

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Americans and Brits Have Been Fighting Over the English Language for Centuries. Here’s How It Started

T he British and Americans have never gotten along very well where the English language is concerned. British mockery and indignation over what Americans were doing with and to the language began long before Independence, but after that it blossomed into a fully-fledged, ill-spirited, relentless attack that is still going on today. The conservative British politician and Brexit supporter Jacob Rees-Mogg, for example, has been defended as “one who dares to eschew the current, Americanized, mode of behaviour, speech, and dress.” In our own time, as has been the case for more than two centuries, fights about nationalism easily turn into skirmishes over language.

British ridicule of American ways of speaking became a vitriolic and crowded sport in the 18th and 19th centuries. New American words were springing up seemingly out of nowhere, and the British had no clue what many of them meant. Although he greatly admired America and Americans, the expatriate Scottish churchman John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and member of Congress, had no taste for the language he heard cropping up in all walks of life in the country. “I have heard in this country,” he wrote in 1781, “in the senate, at the bar, and from the pulpit, and see daily in dissertations from the press, errors in grammar, improprieties and vulgarisms which hardly any person of the same class in point of rank and literature would have fallen into in Great Britain.” Among the Americanisms he said he heard everywhere were the use of “every” instead of “every one” and “mad” for “angry.” He particularly disliked “this here” or “that there.”

The British cringed over new American accents, coinages and vulgarisms. Prophets of doom flourished; the English language in America was going to disappear. “Their language will become as independent of England, as they themselves are,” wrote Jonathan Boucher, an English clergyman living in Maryland. Frances Trollope, mother of the novelist Anthony Trollope, was disgusted by “strange uncouth phrases and pronunciation” when she travelled in America in 1832. “Here then is the ruination of our classic English tongue,” mourned the British engineer, John Mactaggart. Even Thomas Jefferson found himself on the receiving end of an avalanche of British mockery, as The London Magazine in 1787 raged against his propensity to coin Americanisms: “For shame, Mr. Jefferson. Why, after trampling upon the honour of our country, and representing it as little better than a land of barbarism – why, we say, perpetually trample also upon the very grammar of our language? … Freely, good sir, will we forgive all your attacks, impotent as they are illiberal, upon our national character; but for the future, spare – O spare, we beseech you, our mother-tongue!”

But such protests did not stop Americans from telling the British to mind their own business, as they continued to use the language the way they felt they needed to in building their nation.

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Independence, it was felt by many, was a cultural as well as political matter that could never be complete without Americans taking pride in their own language. On the part of the more zealous American patriots like Thomas Jefferson and Noah Webster, the goal was national unity fostered by a conviction that Americans now ought to own and possess their own language. Jefferson led the charge by declaring war against Samuel Johnson’s famous Dictionary of the English Language , which continued to reign supreme for a century after its publication in 1755. Unless Johnson were toppled from his perch as the sage of the English language, he argued, America could remain hostage to British English deep into the 19th century. Webster, the self-styled grammarian who egotistically claimed for himself the role of “prophet of language to the American people,” was by far the most hostile to British interference in the development of the American language. He wrote an essay entitled, “English Corruption of the American Language,” casting Johnson as “the insidious Delilah by which the Samsons of our country are shorn of their locks.”

“Great Britain, whose children we are,” he claimed, “and whose language we speak, should no longer be our standard; for the taste of her writers is already corrupted, and her language on the decline.”

Yet, not all Americans were on board with Webster’s ideas and many Americans fought back, thoroughly and lastingly mocking him for his egregious reforms of the language, especially spelling, as a way of banishing the persistent American subservience to British culture. Pointing to him, one of his many American enemies remarked, “I expect to encounter the displeasure of our American reformers, who think we ought to throw off our native tongue as one of the badges of English servitude, and establish a new tongue for ourselves. … the best scholars in our country treat such a scheme with derision.”

We have to give it to Webster that he did write, as he made a point of putting it in his title, the first comprehensive unabridged “ American ” dictionary of the language. That effort, such as it was, 30 years in the making, brought on the golden age of American dictionaries — that is, those written in the U.S. The great historical irony, in light of decades of British ridicule of what Americans were doing with the language, is that Americans, like Webster’s superior and forgotten lexicographical rival Joseph Emerson Worcester, quickly surpassed British writers of dictionaries and continued to do so for more than half a century, until the birth of the monumental Oxford English Dictionary finally began to replace Johnson’s as Britain’s national dictionary.

Nonetheless, the flow of bad blood shed throughout the tortuous language and dictionary wars in the 19th century continued well into the 20th century, confirming that America and Britain were then and still are, as is often said, two nations “divided by a common language.” Divided, indeed, as with the same language they have always been able to understand their insults of one another.

Peter Martin is the author of the book The Dictionary Wars: The American Fight over the English Language (Princeton University Press 2019). He is also the author of the biographies Samuel Johnson and A Life of James Boswell . He has taught English literature in the United States and England.

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Writing in British English vs. American English

George Bernard Shaw famously said that “England and America are two countries divided by a common language,” and any American who’s ever been asked to write in British English has quickly seen why. The differences in American English vs. British English are many, and while there are a few rules of thumb you can follow when trying to adapt to British spelling, punctuation, and grammar rules, both dialects contain plenty of exceptions, contradictions, and things that just plain don’t make sense.

The differences between American and British English started with the Norman Conquest in 1066, when French started creeping into English, bringing not only new words but new spellings of words we already had. In the following centuries, some of those spellings shifted back to the original British ones, but in the 1700s, the English aristocracy became enamored with the fashionable French, adopting French-influenced spellings once again.

Here, then, for American writers who find themselves asked to write in British, are some of the major differences between British and American English.

Guidelines for British Spellings

Many common words that end in -or end in -our across the pond, so we disagree with the British on how to spell “favorite,” “color,” and “neighbor.” They say “favourite,” “colour,” and “neighbour.”

-ize/-ise, -yze/-yse

What do the Brits have against Z (or “zed,” as they call it)? You might start to wonder when you see words like “civilise.” If it ends in -ize or -yze here, it probably ends in -ise or -yse there, so whether it’s “realise” or “realize,” “analyse” or “analyze” depends on what country you’re in.

How do you spell “theater”? If you’re in New York, you might enjoy a night out at a Broadway theater, but if you’re going to the West End for a show, you’re headed to the “theatre.” Similarly, you’ll see “centre” for “center” and “metre” for “meter.”

If a word ends in -og here, it likely ends in -ogue there. The most common example of this British English spelling convention is “catalogue.”

For a noun ending in -ce , the verb form will generally end in -se : They say “practice” as a noun but “practise” as a verb, for instance. American English usually picks one form and sticks with it, such as “license” and “practice,” which are both nouns and verbs here.

Adding -s or -st

The British spellings of some prepositions add an extra -s or -st , such as in “towards” or “amongst.”

Retained ligatures

As English lost the ligatures æ and œ , the British converted them to digraphs, such as in “orthopaedic,” “encyclopaedia,” and “manoeuvre.” Meanwhile, Webster stripped them down to single vowels, so we save a little ink when we spell “orthopedic,” “encyclopedia,” and “maneuver.”

Doubled consonants

Verbs ending in a vowel followed by L often double the L when you add a suffix that starts with a vowel, such as in “traveller” or “cancelling” instead of the American “traveler” and “canceling.” But this is a pretty tricky area because the British aren’t consistent about it, and neither are we: We use “excelling,” for example, but they use “fooling.”

Other oddities of British English spelling

Here are a few other differences in British vs. American spelling that don’t seem to fall under any specific rule of thumb but might be helpful to know:

British Punctuation and Grammar

No oxford commas.

You might think that the country where Oxford commas came from would use them, but no. The truth is that the only place in Britain that uses the serial comma is, well, the Oxford University Press. While a lot of Americans like it, they’ll find very little company: The Brits don’t use it, the Canadians don’t use it, and neither do the world’s English-speaking journalists.

Single-quotes first

While we use double quotation marks (“”) to enclose a quote, in Britain, they prefer single ones instead (‘’).

Punctuation after quotes

In the U.S., if we’re writing a sentence that’s a quote, we’ll usually put the period or comma at the end before the closing quotation mark. But in the U.K., they usually close the quotation marks first, then write the period or comma.

Dropped periods after titles

If an abbreviation of an English courtesy title includes the first and last letters of a word, it doesn’t need a period after it in British English, so they’d write “Mr John Smith” or “Dr Mary Jones” without punctuation.

Pluralizing collective nouns

In America, we often treat a company, brand, or other group as a singular collective noun taking a singular verb. But the British often treat these as plurals, taking plural forms of verbs, so they might say things like “IBM issued their earnings report” or “the team have won three games in a row.”

More use of “got”

The British seem to like the word “got” a whole lot. For one, they don’t use the word “gotten”: While we’d say that “it’s gotten windy out there,” they’d just say that “it’s got windy out there.” Also, where we use “have,” the Brits tend to use “have got.” While we say “they have three apples,” they’d say “they’ve got three apples,” and if I want to say that “I have to go home early” and I’m writing for a British audience, I’d say that “I’ve got to go home early.”

“In hospital”

Here’s one specific quirk that has come up a lot in past projects: In British English, if you’re in the hospital, you’re merely “in hospital.” They draw a very fine distinction between being “in hospital,” meaning that you’re a patient being treated there, and being “in the hospital,” which to them often means only that you’re physically inside of a hospital building. It can also mean that someone is a patient at a specific hospital that’s already been referred to by name.

Mindy Young, an editor for Online Writing Jobs, got her start as a newspaper copy editor after earning her B.A. from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY. She spent nearly 13 years editing stories, writing headlines, and putting together pages for daily newspapers, and along the way, she also had the opportunity to write food columns and restaurant reviews. After earning a pair of Associated Press awards and a Suburban Newspaper Association award, she left journalism for the world of content marketing, where she puts her skills to work every day for OWJ clients and writers.

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The differences between American and British English Essay

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The English language spoken in the United States of America is what is referred to us as American English. The Americans born in this environment are considered the native speakers of this language.

On the other hand, the English language being spoken by the people living in the British Commonwealth countries is what is referred to us as British English. Although the English language may seem as just English to some people who are not native speakers, the American English differs considerably from the British variant in spelling, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.

The first instance of differences in American and British English occurs in spelling. This is well portrayed in the way different forms of stressed and unstressed syllables are written.

For instance, in British English, the stressed form of the word ‘travel’ has a double ‘l’ syllables and is thus written as ‘travelled’, while in American English, the word ‘travel’ has a single ‘l’ in its stressed form and is thus written as ‘traveled’ in the stressed form (Hargis 64).

Grammatically, American and British variants differ in several ways. The differences normally come out in many ways; however, one in which these differences are the most evident is in the way collective nouns are applied in a sentence.

Collective noun being the general name for a group of people or things is normally followed by a singular or plural form of a verb, depending on the way the group is conceptualized by an individual. In British English, the collective noun can agree either with plural form of the verb or with a singular one.

However, in American English, the collective noun is always followed by a verb in a singular form. For example, in American English, one can only say “which squad is loosing?” while in British English, one says “which squad is loosing?” or “which squad are loosing?” (Bragg 2).

Additionally, American and British variants differ in pronunciations to a certain extent. The way certain words are articulated in British dialect is not the same as they are articulated in American one. The way American English sounds is called general American pronunciation; such as that heard over the radio (Bragg 1).

The British equivalent pronunciation is termed as the Received Pronunciation, such as that heard over the radio. One point in which the British and American pronunciation differs is the way ‘r’ is pronounced in words.

In the general American pronunciation, the letter ‘r’ is always pronounced and termed as rhetoric, while in the British Received Pronunciation, the letter ‘r’ is always silent and termed as ‘non-rhetoric’. Thus, in American English, the letter ‘r’ in the word ‘car’ will be loud and sound as ‘ kar ’, but in British English, the letter ‘r’ in the same word will be silent and thus pronounced as ‘ kah ’.

There is also a considerable lexical difference between American and British English. Some vocabulary use in the American context may differ in pronunciation, spelling and meaning. For instance, in the vocabulary used in transport industry, the use of some terminologies differs.

In the United Kingdom, the part of the road used by people is termed as a pavement, while in America; it is called a sidewalk (Blunt 59). Generally, there are some considerable differences in English spoken by Americans. These differences are associated with culture and environment that exist in Britain and the USA. However, despite the differences, English spoken by the two regions is generally understood by all.

Works Cited

Blunt, Jerry. Special English words with American equivalents . New York: Stage Dialects Dramatic Publishing Company, 1994. Print.

Bragg, Rebecca. “The grammatical differences between American & British English “. Ehow. 2012. Web.

Hargis, Summers. Rules Britannia: An insider’s guide to life in the United Kingdom . New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2006. Print.

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The Differences Between British English vs. American English

• Vocabulary And Slang
• Pronunciation

English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and you’ll find its more than 1 billion speakers just about everywhere. (It’s fun to note that scientists have even taken the English language to Antarctica!)

But there are two particular groups of English speakers we’ll focus on in this article—and they are the ones who live on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, or what the Brits like to call “the pond.” If you’ve enjoyed some British football , puzzled over a British  biscuit , or just watched a little “Peppa Pig” with your kids recently, we probably won’t surprise you when we say there are some key and noteworthy differences in how English functions in the United States versus the United Kingdom.

Let’s take a quick look at some fun and noteworthy examples of how English vocabulary, slang, spelling and pronunciation can vary depending on your location.

British vs. American words: Vocabulary and slang

In general, most words mean the same thing in British and American English. For example, the words apple and chair refer to the same objects in both versions of English. For the most part, speakers of American English and British English won’t have much trouble at all understanding one another when it comes to vocabulary.

However, there are many examples of the same thing being referred to by different words depending on if you are using American or British English. For a well-known example, British English uses the word football to refer to the sport that Americans know as soccer . For the sport that Americans know as football , Brits use the term … American football .

This is far from the only example, though. Here are just a few more examples of two different words being used to refer to the same thing:

• French fries /fries (American) vs. chips (British)
• cotton candy (American) vs. candyfloss (British)
• apartment (American) vs. flat (British)
• garbage (American) vs. rubbish (British)
• cookie (American) vs. biscuit (British)
• green thumb (American) vs. green fingers (British)
• parking lot (American) vs. car park (British)
• pants (American) vs. trousers (British)
• windshield (American) vs. windscreen (British)

We can find similar examples when we look at slang words. Sometimes, different slang words are used in American and British English to refer to the same things.

• A wad of mucus: booger (American) vs. bogey (British)
• A man: dude (American) vs. bloke (British)
• Very good: awesome (American) vs. ace (British)
• To chat: shoot the breeze (American) vs. chinwag (British)
• An infantry soldier: grunt (American) vs. squaddie (British)
• A toilet: john (American) vs. loo (British)
• An anonymous man: John Doe (American) vs. John Smith (British)
• To waste time: lollygag (American) vs. faff about (British)

Finally, both American and British English have words that are used exclusively. For example, American English has words like bayou and cleats for which there is no British equivalent. On the other side, British English uses terms like bunce , niff , and jiggery pokery that don’t really have American equivalents.

Read about other British slang that may have flummoxed you.

British vs. American spelling

Generally speaking, most English words are spelled the same in American and British English. However, there are some notable spelling patterns that are preferred depending on which form of English is used.

Listed below are just some examples of spelling differences you may encounter:

-our (British) vs. -or (American) 

• Examples: colour vs. color, armour vs. armor, flavour vs. flavor

-ise or -ize (British) vs. only -ize (American)

• Examples: apologise vs. apologize, fantasise vs. fantasize, idolise vs. idolize

-yse (British) vs. – yze (American)

• Examples: analyse vs. analyze, paralyse vs. paralyze

Doubling the L in a verb conjugation (British) vs. keeping the single L (American)

• Examples: travelled vs. traveled, labelling vs. labeling

AE (British) vs. E (American)

• Examples: leukaemia vs. leukemia, paediatrics vs. pediatrics

-ence (British) vs. -ense (American)

• Examples:  defence vs. defense

only -ogue (British) vs. -og or -ogue (American)

• Examples: catalogue vs. catalog, dialogue vs. dialog

-re (British) vs. -er (American)

• Examples: metre vs. meter, lustre vs. luster

In addition to these common patterns, some specific words are spelled differently in American and British English. Some examples include airplane (the first in each pair is the common American term) and aeroplane , gray and grey , tire and tyre , and mold and mould .

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British vs. American pronunciation

Before we dive into pronunciation differences, we need to address the elephant in the room. Yes, we know both the United States and the United Kingdom have many, many different accents and dialects that are spoken in their respective country. In particular, most (but not all) American accents are rhotic whereas most (but not all) British accents are nonrhotic . This means that most Americans will pronounce the R in certain syllables while most Brits will not, as in the word number (pronounced as “numbuh” by a nonrhotic speaker).

Additionally, even Americans and Brits with the same accent or dialect may pronounce a word differently. Ask some of your friends how they pronounce “New Orleans” and you’ll probably get a quick example of this.

All of that being said, there are many words that, in general, are often pronounced differently by many speakers of British English and American English.

Some of these different pronunciations are less dramatic. Here are some examples of words that have relatively minor pronunciation differences:

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• American: [ ad-ver- tahyz -m uh nt ]
• British: [ ad- vur -tis-m uh nt ]
• American: [ mawl ]
• British: [ mal ]
• American: [ mis – uh l ]
• British: [ mis -ahyl ]
• American: [ dahy -n uh -stee ]
• British: [ din – uh -stee ]
• American: [ ba- boon ]
• British: [ b uh – boon ]

Learn the difference between different British monetary terms with this look at  quid vs. pound.

Other words have much more dramatic pronunciation differences. Some examples include:

• American: [ zee -br uh ]
• British: [ zeb -r uh ]
• American: [ fig -yer ]
• British: [ fig -er ]
• American: [ slawth ]
• British: [ slohth ]
• American: [ skej -ool or skej -oo- uh l ]
• British: [ shed -yool or shej -ool ]

And we’ll finish with an especially strange one:

• American: [ loo- ten – uh nt ]
• British: [ lef- ten – uh nt ]

As you can see, English can change quite a bit when going from Big Ben to the Big Apple. We merely scratched the surface, and there are tons more differences to be found, but you can test yourself on the nuances you’ve learned here with this quiz . You may want to keep an eye out the next time you check out a word or phrase in our dictionary because you might just discover a new difference in American and British English you didn’t even know about!

Learn about what "consort" and other terms related specifically to British royal traditions here.

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British English vs. American English – Learn the Differences

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Britain introduced the English language to the Americas during the 16th century. Over time, the American version of English changed significantly. In the United Kingdom, London-based scholars compiled a dictionary. The United States was not left out either. As a way of expressing cultural differences from her mother country, Noah Webster, a lexicographer changed how the words were spelt in the USA.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 British English vs. American English – In a Nutshell
• 2 British English vs American English: Definition
• 3 Overview of British English vs. American English articles
• 4 The reason why BE and AE differ
• 5 Differences British English vs American English
• 6 What’s important to consider
• 7 British English vs American English - FAQ

British English vs. American English – In a Nutshell

You will find many similarities when comparing British English vs. American English. However, the two have a wide array of differences. This means that using one pronunciation instead in place of the other will guarantee a miscommunication. That said, Brits and Americans communicate and share media without many issues.

British English vs American English: Definition

When differentiating British English vs American English, even Brits are caught out occasionally. The main difference between American and British English is that American spellings are mainly based on how the word is pronounced. On the other hand, British English maintains spelling of words as absorbed from other languages for instance Germany and English.

Overview of British English vs. American English articles

aeon or eon aesthetic or esthetic aluminium or aluminum anaemia or anemia anaesthesia or anesthesia annexe or annex apologise or apologize appal or appall armour or armor behaviour or behavior burned or burnt canceled or cancelled catalogue or catalog center or centre color or colour counsellor or counselor defence or defense demeanour or demeanor dialogue or dialog distil or distill

dreamed or dreamt endeavour or endeavor enrol or enroll favor or favour favourite or favorite flavour or flavor fuelled or fueled fulfil or fulfill glycerine or glycerin gramme or gram gray or grey grille or grill honor or honour humour or humor instalment or installment instil or instill judgment or judgement kneeled or knelt labelled or labeled labor or labour

learned or learnt liter or litre manoeuvre or maneuver maximize or maximise meter or metre modelling or modeling offence or offense organisation or organization pretence or pretense programme or program realize or realise recognise or recognize skilful or skillful smelled or smelt spelt or spelled theatre or theater tonne or ton traveling or travelling tyre or tire

The reason why BE and AE differ

English learners in New York might find their accent different from other learners in London. Wondering why? Read on!

Difference in American spelling came as form of protest

The American dictionary differs from the British dictionary because they were written by different authors with diverse perspectives on language. The UK dictionary was compiled by learners whose goal was to gather all known English words. On the other hand, the main aim of the author of the American dictionary was to show American independence from British rule.

American English drops words completely

Another difference between American and British English is in the way Americans drop words from sentences. For instance, an American will say “I’ll write them” when saying they will write a letter to someone. Similarly, when asked to go for shopping, they are likely to say, “I will”. This is contrary to a Brit, as they would include all the essential words. For example, “I’ll write to you” or “I will go”.

Both borrowed words from different languages

The difference between American and British English also results from the adoption of words from different languages. For example, the British derive the word ‘coriander’ from the French language while American derived the word ‘cilantro’ from the Spanish language. As a leaner of British English and American English, the important thing is to remember the country you are studying in and know the origin of their words.

British English can be closely compared to french

France invaded British in the 11th century and made the French language mandatory in universities, schools, courts and even upper classes. After the invasion, the language did not stick around but instead changed into Middle English. Meanwhile Americans had settled across the Atlantic and hence, didn’t take part in the evolvement. As a result, British English has extra linguistic similarities to French in comparison to the American English.

Differences British English vs American English

British english vs american english spelling.

British English and American English have some differences in spelling that learners should be keen on. Here are some common examples:

Most learners are aware of the grammar and spelling differences when comparing British English vs American English. But are you aware of the punctuation difference between American and British English? Let’s take a look.

Quotation Marks

One key difference between British English and American English is in relation to quotations. It covers two separate issues:

• Whether to favor ‘single’ or “double” quotation marks
• Whether to punctuate outside or inside quotation marks

In American English, you should use double quotation marks on the main quote. Subsequently, you should use single quote marks for a quote found within a quote. It’s the exact opposite in British language.

“heard him shout ‘Duck’ loudly”

‘heard him shout “Duck” loudly’

Additionally, American English has punctuation rules that require all periods and commas to be given inside quotation marks. BE however, places punctuation marks within the quotation marks only if it’s part of the original text.

“He suffered headaches,”

‘He suffered headaches’,

The Oxford/Serial Comma

Another difference between British English vs American English is in the use of commas. The Oxford comma is placed afore the last item in a list consisting of three or more things. In American English the oxford comma is used as standard.

• In American English, you would punctuate a sentence as follows:

Mother bought cups, plates, and spoons.

• In British English, you omit the final comma. In an example:

Mother bought cups, plates and spoons.

British English vs American English periods after titles

In American English, you place a period after titles which British English doesn’t require. Examples:

Mr. Hughes walked home.

Mr Hughes walked home.

Verb conjunction in British English vs American English

Verb conjunction denotes how verb changes to show a dissimilar tense, mood, number or person.

Abbreviations

There is also contrast in British English vs American English when it comes to how to use periods in abbreviations .

What’s important to consider

When comparing British English vs American English, you will get different grammar and spelling rules, vocabularies and accents. The important thing is to ensure that you can communicate adequately. Who is your audience? What version of English do they speak? These are two vital questions to consider when making official communication. But in the long run, all English speakers understand each other. Both Americans and Brits work together, read each other news, and even watch the same movies.

British English vs American English - FAQ

What are the main differences between british english vs american english.

The main difference between American and British English is in spelling. The accent is also different and will even vary across the USA. Another key difference between the two versions of English is in the punctuation. For example, in American English, you don’t have to place commas after the second-last item in a list. In American English, you would be required to place the Oxford comma at the end of the second-last item of the list.

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Why are there differences?

Differences between British English and American English came as a result of American protest to show independence from the British rule. When the USA gained independence, they wanted to feel like they were separated from Britain, and this led to the creation of new spellings and other differences in language. As the years passed the two countries adapted different cultural influences and hence, evolved some words. US English has mostly been influenced by Spanish, while American English has been influenced by French.

Who introduced English to the other? British English vs American English?

Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas in the 15th century. Later in the 16th century, British people would settle in the present-day USA region, and they ended up introducing their language to the place. Since then, the language has evolved significantly and has become quite different from British English.

Which is the easiest language to study? British English vs American English?

British English and American English are extremely similar and hence they are both equally simple to study. When learning American or British English, your teacher is likely to point out differences between the two versions of the language. You can also use tools like Grammarly or Microsoft Word to determine whether you are using the right version of English.

Can a student in London communicate with a student in New York?

As noted above, the difference between American and British English is not significant, and hence an American can comfortably communicate with a Brit. Written English is especially easy to understand, regardless of the version the students use. With spoken English, the students may need time to adapt to the different accents.

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British English vs. American English

Playwright George Bernard Shaw once claimed, England and America are two countries divided by a common language. Since the Americas were colonized over 400 years ago, the form of English used in the United States has deviated from that used in the United Kingdom. Therefore, the form of English used in the United Kingdom is called British English, and the form of English used in the United States is called American English.

During the course of writing, you may be asked to write in your non-native format. For example, some academic journals require articles to be formatted in a particular style. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the ways in which the two forms differ. It is also important to point out that the differences in style extend beyond what your spell check may highlight. This article will address the differences between the two forms, including spelling, punctuation, grammar, vocabulary, idioms, and formatting of dates and numbers.

For spelling issues, the safest option is to consult a dictionary. Use the Oxford Dictionary for British English and the Merriam Webster Dictionary for American English. A few common differences are listed below.

• American English "or" vs. British English "our": Examples include color/colour and favorite/favourite .
• American English "ze" vs. British English "se": Examples include analyze/analyse and criticize/criticise .
• American English "ll" vs. British English "l": Examples include enrollment/enrolment and skillful/skillful .
• American English "er" vs. British English "re": Examples include center/centre and meter/metre .
• American English "e" vs. British English "oe" or "ae": Examples include encyclopedia/encyclopaedia and maneuver/manoeuvre .

Punctuation

The most important difference involves the use of quotation marks. Double quotation marks are used as primary quotes in American English, whereas single quotation marks are used in British English.

For quotes within quotes, single quotation marks are used in American English, and double quotations marks are used in British English.

To add to the confusion, periods and commas are generally placed inside closing quotes in American English and placed outside closing quotes in British English. In both styles, question marks and exclamation points are placed inside the quotation marks if they belong to the quotation and outside otherwise.

The following sentences highlight the key differences.

My father always said, "Be careful what you wish for." (American English) My father always said, 'Be careful what you wish for'. (British English)

Another difference appears in letter writing. In American English, a comma follows the salutation in an informal letter (Dear John,), and a colon follows the salutation in a business letter (Dear John:). In British English, a comma follows the salutation in all letters.

Writers should also be careful when using the term "i.e." as the punctuation that follows also differs. In American English, a comma follows "i.e." or "e.g." No comma is used in British English.

Abbreviations may also be expressed differently. In American English, a period is typically used with abbreviations (Ph.D and Mr.), but in British English, no period is used (PhD and Mr).

Finally, it is also worthwhile to note that "( )" marks are referred to as brackets in British English. In American English, "( )" marks are referred to as parentheses (singular parenthesis), whereas "[ ]" are called brackets.

In British English, it is fairly common to use shall with the first person to talk about the future. Americans rarely use shall.

I will never forget this favour. (American English) I shall/will never forget this favour. (British English)

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns like "jury," "team," "family," and "government" can take both singular and plural verbs in British English. In American English, they normally take a singular verb.

The committee meets tomorrow. (American English) The committee meets/meet tomorrow. (British English)

The greatest difference between the two forms may be in vocabulary. Some differences in usage and/or meaning can cause confusion or embarrassment:

Apartment vs. Flat Area code vs. Dialing code ATM vs. Cashpoint Baby carriage vs. Pram Bathroom vs. Loo/water closet Cookie vs. Biscuit Elevator vs. Life Period vs. Full stop

There are also a few differences in preposition use, including the following:

American English "on the weekend" vs. British English "at the weekend" American English "on a team" vs. British English "in a team"

There are a number of English idioms that have essentially the same meaning but show lexical differences between the American and British version, for instance:

Knock on wood vs. Touch wood A drop in the bucket vs. A drop in the ocean Beating a dead horse vs. Flogging a dead horse Lay of the land vs. Lie of the land

Dates and numbers

In American English, the date is expressed as "April 17, 1978." Conversely, in British English, the date is expressed as "17 April 1978."

The time may also be expressed differently in British English since the 24-hour clock (18:00 or 1800) is routinely used in the UK and Europe in applications including air, rail, and bus timetables; however, it is largely unused in the US outside of military, police, and medical applications.

Finally, in most cases, British English and American English can be used interchangeably. However, in formal writing, it is important to know the distinctions and apply them appropriately.

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British English vs. American English ESL Games and Worksheets

• Pre-intermediate ( A2 )

British or American?

Esl british vs. american english games - vocabulary: categorising, matching - pair work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 25 minutes.

British vs. American English

Esl british vs. american english worksheet - vocabulary exercises: gap-fill, word search, matching, binary choice - pre-intermediate (a2) - 25 minutes.

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