Differences Between American and British English

( With more examples and execises with answers)

While there are certainly many more varieties of English, American and
British English are the two varieties that are taught in most ESL/EFL
programs. Generally, it is agreed that no one version is "correct" however,
there are certainly preferences in use. The most important rule of thumb 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), this is of course not always easy - or possible. The
following guide is meant to point out the principal differences between these
two varieties of English.

Use of the Present Perfect

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 lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
In American English the following is also possible:
I lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
In British English the above would be considered incorrect. However, both
forms are generally accepted in standard American English. Other
differences involving the use of the present perfect in British English and
simple past in American English include already, just and yet.
British English:
I've just had lunch
I've already seen that film
Have you finished your homework yet?

varieties for example:
Mean: (American English - angry, bad humored, British English - not
generous, tight fisted)
Rubber: (American English - condom, British English - tool used to erase
pencil markings)
There are many more examples (too many for me to list here). If there is a
difference in usage, your dictionary will note the different meanings in its
definition of the term. 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. American English - hood British English - bonnet
American English - trunk British English - boot
American English - truck British English - lorry

Once again, your dictionary should list whether the term is used in British
English or American English.
For a more complete list of the vocabulary differences between British and
American English use this

Prepositions

There are also a few differences in preposition use including the following:
American English - on the
weekend
British English - at the weekend
American English - on a team British English - in a team
American English - please write
me soon

course) and choose which variety of English you would like. As you can see,
there are really very few differences between standard British English and
standard American English. However, the largest difference is probably that
of the choice of vocabulary and pronunciation. For further information
concerning these areas please refer to the following

more examples

1) English is my favourite subject at school. British English
2) Have you seen Dick's new truck? American English
3) The park is in the center of our town. American English
4) Mr Barnes, our caretaker, found my key. British English
5) I like French fries, they're very crispy. American English
6) Have you seen the latest movie? American English
7) I've passed this test. So I'll get my driving licence very soon. British
English
8) The accident happened because the blue car didn't stop at the traffic
lights. British English
9) Tom told me to get off the Underground at Tower Hill. British
English
10) They have moved into a semi-detached house. British English

more examples

American British
apartment flat
argument row
baby carriage pram
band-aid plaster
bathroom loo or WC

pharmacist chemist
potato chips crisps
rent hire
sausage banger
sidewalk pavement
soccer football
sweater jumper
trash can bin
truck lorry
trunk (car) boot
vacation holiday
vest waistcoat
windshield (car) windscreen
zip code postal code

Exercises

Exercise 1

How many differences between British and American English can you find
from reading these two short texts?

Mark (Hampshire, England)
‘I’m going to rake up the leaves in the garden, then get a DVD for tonight
from the shop on the High Street, unless you’d rather go to the cinema.
There’s no point cleaning the house now because Simon’s got his mates
coming round to watch the football, and the last time they came they left
crisps all over the carpet!’

Mark (New Hampshire, United States)

5. ground floor

f _ _ _ _
floor
15. bill (e.g. in
a restaurant)
ch _ _ k
6. c _ retaker janitor
16. boot (of a
car)
tr _ nk
7. t _ n can 17. cook _ _ stove
8. zip zipp _ _
18. return
(ticket)
r _ _ nd trip
9. windscr _ _
n
windshield
19. single
(ticket)
o _ e-w _ y
10.
underground
(train system)
subw _ _ 20. p _ _ tbox mailbox

Answers: 1. cookie 2. lorry 3. flat 4. trash can 5. first 6. caretaker 7.
tin
8. zipper 9. windscreen 10. subway 11. flashlight 12. payrise 13.

14. I need to get this bag repaired because the zip’s broken.
15. It’s about twenty minutes on the subway.
16. I’d like a new cooker, but we can’t really afford it.
17. I hate my job – my boss is an idiot and I haven’t had a raise for four
years.
18. Their new carpet’s a weird colour and it doesn’t match the drapes at all.
19. I’m sure I had a twenty-dollar bill in this pocket, so where is it now?
20. Honey, can you go and put this in the mailbox for me?

Answers:

1. B: Did you get a single (one way) or a return (round trip)?
2. A: It’s a really busy, noisy road – there are trucks (lorries) going past all
the time.
3. A: She lives on the first (ground) floor, so you won’t have to go up any
stairs.
4. A: Shall I just put this stuff in the trash can (rubbish bin)?
5. B: I got a puncture (flat) when I was cycling to work yesterday.
6. A: My dad works as a janitor (caretaker) at the local school.
7. B: I went to the shop (store) to buy five tins (cans) of peaches and some
biscuits (cookies).
8. AB
9. A: Excuse me, could we have the check (bill) please?
10. AB
11. B: It’s dark out there, so take a torch (flashlight).
12. A: I’m going to have to clean this windshield (windscreen) – I can
hardly see out of it. If you could just bring me some water, I’ll use the cloth
I’ve got in the trunk (boot).
13. AB
14. B: I need to get this bag repaired because the zip’s (zipper’s) broken.