Differences between American English and British English

Differences between American English and British English

Main differences between BrE and AmE: • Spelling • Vocabulary • Grammar • Pronunciation

British -re Centre Metre Fibre American -er Center Meter Fiber Spelling

Exception centre and theatre are sometimes used in AmE.

BritishAmerican our or behaviour behavior colour color flavour flavor

Exception: American usage is usually glamour not glamor

BritishAmerican -que -ck cheque check -ogue -og catalogue catalog monologue monolog

British American -ise,-ize -ize apologise, apologize apologize categorise, categorize categorize -yse -ize analyse analize paralyse paralize

BritishAmerican -isation -ization organisation organization rationalisation rationalization

Exception: American usage is advertising not advertizing.

In British English the -l is always doubled after a single vowel when adding a suffix e.g. travel → travelled travel → travelling travel → traveller

In American English the -l is not doubled e.g. travel → traveled travel → traveler travel → traveling

Vocabulary American: • is the most innovative of all Englishes (80% of all new words in British English come from the USA). • is flexible (verbing) and e.g.

American: • constantly creates new words • allows no event, person or personality, idea or concept to pass by without creating a distinct name e.g. “Tarot card killer” “Beltway sniper” and “Psycho sniper” (USA Today 02-10-23)

The major differences between British andAmerican English nouns can be summed up in several groups, e.g. 1. Almost the same word British American bath tub, bathtub traffic light stop light, red light

2. exact equivalent words British American current account checking account zip code post code ring road beltway, loop

4. additional meanings British American caravan caravan ‘group of travellers in the desert’ caravan ‘vehicle towed by a car’ trailer

5. one shared meaning, one non-shared meaning British American duplex duplex ‘double sided print’ semi detached duplex ‘two houses joined together’

7. additional words British American rubbish garbage trash

8. false friends British American entrée/starter starter/first course main course entree ground floor first floor first floorsecond floor

The fear of the number 13 is called: triskaidekaphobia 1 in 10 people in the USA and Europe are affected by this condition. Sufferers avoid #13 and the 13th of each month.

There is NO 13th Floor!!!

Triskaidekaphobia?

8. false friends British American muffins English muffins American muffinsmuffins

11. brand names British American photocopier Xerox photocopy (copy) n Xerox photocopy (copy) v Xerox

12. shared words, more common in one variant British American shop store post mail flat apartment

Br. E. Automn Lorry Sunglasses Lift Petrol Underground Film Pavement Curtains Am. E. Fall Truck Shades Elevator Gas Subway Movie Sidewalk Drapes Differences in vocabulary

One important point: The British tend to use, know or understand a far greater number of American words than the American know or understand British terms. This can be explained by: British exposure to much American TV and many Hollywood movies. Americans see relatively few British films or TV programmes.

Grammar There are two forms of showing possession Have you got a car? Do you have a car? Both are used in British English, although the former is preferred.

He hasn't got any friends.He doesn't have any friends. She's got a beautiful new home. She has a beautiful new home. Americans use the latter almost exclusively.

Past tense The general tendency in American English is to use a simple form Br E I've lost my key. Can you help me… Am E I've lost my key. Can you help me… I lost my key. Can you help me…

Br. E. I've already seen that film Have you finished your homework yet? Am. E. Alternative I already saw that film. Did you finish your homework yet? Br E Have you ever been to Italy? Am E Did you ever go to Italy?

Prepositions Perhaps the greatest difference between the two forms of English is the use (or absence) of prepositions. The preposition to is absent sometimes: Br please write to me soon Am please write me soon

Prepositions are becoming increasingly absent in American English: Br Prepositions are going out of thewindow Am Prepositions are going out thewindow in American English

…or is used differently British English - at the weekend American English - on the weekend

different from in British different than in American Note: the different from is also used in AE wait for in British wait on in American “can’t you just wait on me a little longer”

from when referring to prices is replaced by andup, especially for figures e.g. Br Coats from £14-99

Compare: In Am. E. it sounds: The truck is in back of the house. In Br. E. this would be: The lorry is behind the house.

Br. E. I’ll see you at the weekend Am. E. I’ll see you over weekend Br. E. I haven’t seen her for ages Am. E. I haven’t seen herinages

Singular and plural The British overwhelmingly think of groups as collections of individuals and therefore the subject verb agreement treats them as plural. Americans regard groups as a singular entity and speak and write accordingly e.g. Br. The government are considering a proposal… Am. The government is considering a proposal…

Adverbs There is a trend in all Englishes to leave off the –ly adverbial ending. This is more common in American English e.g. real good rather than really good.

Differences between American English and British English