2. Comparison
British English (BrE)… American English (AmE) …
… is the form of English used
in the United Kingdom, and
includes all English dialects
used within the United
Kingdom.
… is the form of English used
in the United States, and
includes all English dialects
used within the United States.
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3. General information
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British and American English are the reference norms for English as
spoken, written, and taught in the rest of the world.
The English-speaking members of the Commonwealth often closely
follow British English forms while many new American English
forms quickly become familiar outside of the United States.
Although most dialects of English used in the former British Empire
outside of North America are, to various extents, based on British
English, most of the countries concerned have developed their own
unique dialects, particularly with respect to pronunciation, idioms
and vocabulary. Chief among other English dialects are Canadian
English, based on the English of United Empire Loyalists who left
the 13 Colonies, and Australian English, which rank third and fourth
in number of native speakers.
4. Be consistent in your usage!
Generally, it is agreed that no one version is “correct”. However,
there are certainly preferences in use. The most important rule is
to try to be consistent in your usage.
If you decide that you want to use American English spellings
then be consistent in your spelling
i.e. The color of the orange is also its flavour.
color is American spelling and flavour is British
The following guide is meant to point out the principal differences
between these two varieties of English.
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5. Use of the Present Perfect
In BrE the present perfect is used to express an action that has occurred in
the recent past and that has an effect on the present moment.
I've lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
In AmE the following is also possible:
I lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
In BrE the above would be considered incorrect. However,
both forms are generally accepted in standard AmE.
Other differences involving the use of the present perfect in BrE
and simple past in AmE include already, just and yet.
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6. Use of the Present Perfect
BrE:
I've just had lunch.
I've already seen that film.
Have you finished your homework yet?
AmE:
I just had lunch OR I've just had lunch
I've already seen that film OR I already saw that film.
Have your finished your homework yet? OR Did you
finish your homework yet?
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7. Possession
There are two forms to express possession in English: Have or Have got
Do you have a car?
Have you got a car?
He hasn't got any friends.
He doesn't have any friends.
She has a beautiful new home.
She's got a beautiful new home.
While both forms are correct and accepted in both BrE and AmE,
have got (have you got, he hasn't got) is the preferred form in BrE, while
most speakers of AmE employ the have (do you have, he doesn't have).
The past participle of the verb get is gotten in American English:
He's gotten much better at playing tennis.
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8. Vocabulary
The major differences between BrE and AmE lie in the choice of
vocabulary. Some words mean different things in the two varieties:
Mean: BrE - not generous, tight fisted; AmE - angry, bad humored.
Rubber: BrE - tool used to erase pencil markings; AmE – condom.
Many vocabulary items are also used in one form and not in the other.
One of the best examples of this is the terminology used for automobiles:
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BrE AmE
bonnet hood
boot trunk
lorry truck
handbag purse/pocketbook
holiday vacation
9. Vocabulary
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BrE AmE
anti-clockwise counter-clockwise
articulated lorry trailer truck
Autumn Autumn, fall
barrister attorney
bill (restaurant) bill, check
biscuit cookie
block of flats apartment building
bonnet (clothing) hat
bumper (car) bumper, fender
caravan trailer
car park parking lot
10. Vocabulary
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BrE AmE
chemist's shop drugstore, pharmacy
chest of drawers dresser, chest of drawers
chips fries, French fries
the cinema the movies
coffin coffin, casket
crossroads intersection; crossroads
cupboard
cupboard (in kitchen)
closet (for clothes etc)
driving licence driver's license
dummy (for baby) pacifier
dustbin garbage can, trash can
11. Vocabulary
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BrE AmE
dustman garbage collector
estate agent real estate agent
engine engine, motor
ground floor ground/first floor
gearbox (car) transmission
gear-lever gearshift
Girl Guide Girl Scout
jam jam, preserves
jug jug, pitcher
lift elevator
13. Vocabulary
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BrE AmE
pocket money allowance
post mail
postbox mailbox
postcode zip code
postman
mailman, mail carrier, letter
carrier
pub bar
public toilet rest room, public bathroom
railway railroad
return (ticket) round-trip
14. Vocabulary
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BrE AmE
reverse charge collect call
ring road
beltway, freeway/highway
loop
road surface pavement, blacktop
roundabout traffic circle, roundabout
rubber eraser
saloon (car) sedan
shop shop, store
single (ticket) one-way
solicitor lawyer, attorney
15. Vocabulary
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BrE AmE
sweets candy
taxi taxi, taxi cab
tea towel dish towel
telly (informal), TV television, TV
timetable schedule
tin can
toll motorway toll road, turnpike
torch flashlight
trousers pants, trousers
tube (train) subway
16. Vocabulary
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BrE AmE
underground (train) subway
vest undershirt
waistcoat vest
wallet wallet, billfold
wellington boots rubber boots, rain boots
whisky whiskey, scotch
windscreen windshield
zip zipper
17. Prepositions
There are also a few differences in preposition use including the following:
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BrE AmE
at the weekend on the weekend
in a team on a team
please write to me soon please write me soon
18. Past Simple/Past Participles
The following verbs have two acceptable forms of the past simple/past
participle in both AmE and BrE. However, the irregular form is generally
more common in BrE and the regular form is more common to AmE.
Burn: burnt or burned
Dream: dreamt or dreamed
Lean: leant or leaned
Learn: learnt or learned
Smell: smelt or smelled
Spell: spelt or spelled
Spill: spilt or spilled
Spoil: spoilt or spoiled
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19. Spelling
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Words ending in -our
(British)
Words ending in -or
(American)
colour color
humour humor
flavour flavor
Words ending in -ise
(British)
Words ending in -ize
(American)
recognise Recognize
patronise patronize
realise realize
21. The Pronoun 'one' / Numbers
Americans do not often use 'one' to mean "people in general",
nor do they use 'one's' or 'oneself'.
BrE: One should look after one's health.
AmE: You should look after your health.
People should look after their health.
The British use 'and' between hundred and the rest of the number.
The Americans leave it out.
BrE: Two hundred and twenty.
AmE: Two hundred twenty.
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22. Dates
There are differences in the way dates are said and written.
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British American
4th July - the fourth of July July 4 - July four - July fourth
6/12/99 means the 6th of
December 1999
6/12/99 means the 12th of June
1999
