1. American and British English
These two varieties of English are very similar. There are a few differences of grammar and spelling, and
rather more differences of vocabulary and idiom. Modern British English is heavily influenced by
American English, so some contrasts are disappearing. Pronunciation is sometimes very different, but
most American and British speakers can understand each other easily.
1. Grammar
Here are examples of the most important differences.
American English
He just went home. (or He’s just gone home.)
I’ve never really gotten to know her.
I (can) see a car coming.
Her feet were sore because her shoes fit/fitted
badly.
It’s important that he be told.
Will you buy it? ~ I may.
The committee meets tomorrow.
(on the phone) Hello, is this Susan?
It looks like it’s going to rain.
He looked at me real strange. (informal)
(or He looked at me really strangely.)
He probably has arrived by now. Or He has
probably arrived by now.
British English
He’s just gone home.
I’ve never really got to know her.
I can see a car coming.
Her feet were sore because her shoes fitted badly.
It’s important that he should be told.
Will you buy it? ~ I may (do).
The committee meet/meets tomorrow.
Hello, is that Susan?
It looks like as if/it’s going to rain.
He looked at me really strangely.
He has probably arrived by now.
2. Vocabulary
American English
Airplane
Anyplace, anywhere
Apartment
Area code (phone)
Attorney, lawyer
Busy (phone)
Can
Candy
Cookie, cracker
Corn
Crib
Crazy
Crosswalk
Diaper
Doctor’s office
British English
Aeroplane
Anywhere
Flat, apartment
Dialing code
Barrister, solicitor, lawyer
Engaged
Tin, can
sweets
biscuit
sweet corn, maize
cot
mad
pedestrian, zebra crossing
nappy
doctor’s surgery

2. Dumb, stupid
Elevator
Eraser
Fall, autumn
Faucet, tap
First floor, second floor etc
Flashlight
Flat (tire)
French fries
Garbage, trash
Gas (gasoline)
Gear shift
Highway, freeway
Intersection
Mad
Mean
Movie, film
One-way (ticket)
Pants, trousers
Parking lot
Pavement
Pitcher
Pocketbook, purse, handbag
(potato) chips
Railroad
Raise
Rest room, bathroom
Resumé
Round trip
Schedule, timetable
Sidewalk
Sneakers
Stand in line
Stingy
Store, shop
Subway
Truck
Two weeks
Vacation
Windshield
Zee
Zipper
stupid
lift
rubber, eraser
autumn
tap (indoors)
ground floor, first floor etc
torch
flat (tyre), puncture
chips
rubbish
petrol
gear lever (on a car)
main road, motorway
crossroads
angry
nasty
film
single (ticket)
trousers
car park
road surface
jug
handbag
crisps
railway
rise (in salary)
(public) toilet
CV
Return (ticket)
Timetable
Pavement
Trainers (sport shoes)
Queue
Mean (opposite of ‘generous’)
Shop
Underground (train)
Van, lorry
Fortnight, two weeks
Holiday(s)
Windscreen (on a car)
Zed (the name of the letter ‘z’)
Zip
Examples
What time do you get up?
- I get up at six thirty.
What do you like to give to your mother?
- I like to give flowers to my mom.
I get up at half past six.
I like to give flowers to my mum.

3. What do you like to eat?
- I like to eat candy and cookies.
Where do you live?
- My apartment is on the sixth floor.
Where do you find your letters and packages?
- Our mailman puts our mail in our mailbox.
What grade are you in?
- I’m in the eighth grade.
I like to eat sweets and biscuits.
My flat is on the fifth floor.
Our postman puts our post in our postbox.
What form are you in?
I’m in the eighth form.
 Expressions with prepositions and articles
American English
Check something (out)
Different from/than
Do something over/again
In a course
Live on X street
Look around the church
Meet somebody (by chance)
Meet with somebody (planned)
Monday through/to Friday
On a team
On the weekend
Ten after/past four (time)
Ten to/of/before/till four
British English
Check something
Different from/to
Do something again
On a course
Live in X street
Look (a)round the church
Meet somebody
Monday to Friday
In a team
At the weekend
Ten past four
Ten to four

4. 3. Spelling
Some of the commonest words with different forms are:
American English
Analyze
Catalog(ue)
Center
Check
Color
Defense
Enroll
Fulfill
Honor
Jewelry
Labor
Liter
Meter (measure)
Neighbor
Organize
Pajamas
Practice, practice
Program
Realize
Skillful
Theater
Tire
Traveler
whiskey
Practical English Usage (Oxford University Press)
By Michael Swan
British English
Analyse
Catalogue
Centre
Cheque (paid by a bank)
Colour
Defence
Enroll
Fulfil
Honour
Jewellery
Labour
Litre
Metre
Neighbour
Organise/organize
Pyjamas
Practise (verb)
Programme
Realize/realize
Skilful
Theatre
Tyre (on a wheel)
Traveller
(Scotch) Whisky, (Irish) whiskey