The English language was introduced to America by the British colonies, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The language also spread to many other parts of the world as a result of British trade and colonialism and the expansion of the former British Empire, which, in 1921, consisted of 470-570 million people, about a quarter of the world’s population. The English-American and American literary forms as found in newspapers and textbooks differ slightly in their essential features, with only occasional differences.

History

The English actually introduced the language to the Americas when they came to these lands by sea between the 16th and 17th centuries. At that time, the spelling was not yet established. The first dictionaries had to be written to indicate the origin of the words. In the UK, the dictionary was compiled by London-based scholars. Meanwhile, in the United States, the lexicographer was a man named Noah Webster. He allegedly changed the spelling to make the American version different from the British as a way of reflecting the cultural autonomy of his country.

In terms of speech, the distinction between American and British English actually took place after the arrival of the first settlers in America. These groups of people spoke using what was called rhotic speech, in which the ‘r’ sounds of the words were pronounced. At the time, the UK higher classes differentiated between the way they spoke and the general public by softening their ‘r’ sound system. Since nobles even then were regarded as fashionable, some people began to copy their speech, until it became a common way of speaking in the south of England.

Grammar Differences

The main difference between British English and American English is pronunciation. Some words are also different for each English language, and there is a slight difference in the way they use the grammar. Here are the five most common grammatical differences between British and American English.

1. Present Perfect and Past Simple

In British English, people use the present perfect to speak about a past action that they consider relevant to the present.

The present perfect can be used in the same way in American English, but people often use the past simple when they consider the action finished. This is especially common with the adverbs already, just and yet.

2. got and gotten

In British English, the past participle of the verb get is got.

In American English, people say gotten.

Note that have got is commonly used in both British and American English to speak about possession or necessity. have gotten is not correct here.

3. Verb forms with collective nouns

In British English, a singular or plural verb can be used with a noun that refers to a group of people or things (a collective noun). We use a plural verb when we think of the group as individuals or a singular verb when we think of the group as a single unit.

In American English, a singular verb is used with collective nouns.

Note that police is always followed by a plural verb.

4. have and take

In British English, the verbs have and take are commonly used with nouns like bath, shower, wash to speak about washing and with nouns like break, holiday, rest to speak about resting.

In American English, only the verb take (and not the verb have) is used this way.

5. shall

In British English, people often use Shall I …? to offer to do something and/or Shall we …? to make a suggestion.

It is very unusual for speakers of American English to use shall. They normally use an alternative like Should/Can I …? or Do you want/Would you like …? or How about …? instead.

Spelling

British and American English have a variety of spelling. The most common are listed below.

9 Spelling Differences Between British and American English

It is sometimes played out that the United Kingdom and the United States are two countries divided into one language. Indeed, although the British and the Americans coexist most of the time, there are still many important differences between English UK and US, which can lead to confusion or ridiculous misunderstandings.

Spelling

On paper, the most obvious difference between British English and American spelling (as you speak, the most obvious difference is pronunciation).

Spelling differences began to emerge because during the British occupation of North America, the English spelling was not yet corrected. The established English spelling came in the 18th century, after the American colonies declared independence.

An additional variation of spelling occurred when Noah Webster (founder of Webster’s Dictionary) attempted to simplify English spelling in America. Many of his suggestions – like plow – stuck and became common American spelling. Some – like tung (for “tongue”) – did not.

Below we have listed the major spelling differences that exist between British and American English

1) -ae- v –e-

Many words that come from Ancient Greek have an –ae– in British English but only –e- in US English. Most of these words are scientific, medical, or technical words.

2)  Doubled consonants

Sometimes British spelling requires a doubled consonant, for example in the past participle of certain verbs, where American spelling omits it. In other places, it is US English that has the doubled consonant; in certain verbal infinitives, or to preserve the root word of certain adjectives.

3)  -ence v –ense

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.

4)  Final –e

On both sides of the Atlantic, English is famous for the “silent” –e at the end of many words. Where both American and British English have this, in words such as name, make, or have, it comes from an Old English inflection. But many final –e spellings come from French loanwords, where often the consonant before the final –e is doubled. American English tends to omit these in accordance with Noah Webster’s spelling reforms.

The words axe (UK) and ax (US) follow this pattern, though the word comes from Germanic (not French) roots. The word judgement (UK) and judgment (US) can also be taken as an example of this if we discard the suffix –ment.

5)  -oe- v –e-

Like –ae- above, British English preserves the –oe- digraph in words derived from the Classical languages, while US English has simplified it to –e-.

6)  -our v –or

This is one of the more famous spelling differences between British and American English, and comes from French influence. Nearly all of these words originally come from Latin, and had the plain –or ending.

7)  -re v –er

Like –our, the –re spelling originally comes from French. In the United States it was replaced with –er to better reflect American pronunciation.

8)-ize v –ise and -yse v –yze

One of the most famous spelling differences isn’t really a difference at all. It’s a common misconception that in the the US you must use spellings like civilize (which is true) but in the UK you must use spellings like civilise (which is not true). In fact, both the –ize and –ise spellings are valid in the UK. Many British people use –ise spellings exclusively, but this is a convention, not a rule. You cannot use –ise spellings in the US.

By contrast, the –yze ending in words like analyze and paralyze is only acceptable in US English. In the UK you must use analyse and paralyse.

9)  Other Simplifications

Many American spellings do owe their existence to Noah Webster’s spelling reforms, which sought to simplify spelling and bring it closer to common American pronunciation.

Vocabulary Differences

While pronunciation, grammar, and spelling are among the many differences between American and British English, perhaps the most difficult to navigate is the difference in American and British vocabulary and word choice.

American and British Vocabulary and Word Choice

Many readers are confused about the differences between words in American and British English. In general, it is true that most Americans will understand British English speakers and vice versa despite many differences. As your English improves, however, it is very important to decide which type of English you prefer. Once you have decided, try to stick to one form or another in all aspects that include variations in pronunciation: General American or Accepted Pronunciation. This harmony is the key to clearing the English connection.

The following table provides general English-American vocabulary and word choice and their English English alphabetical order. What words are already familiar to you?

American English	British English
antenna	aerial
mad	angry
anyplace	anywhere
fall	autumn
bill	banknote
attorney	barrister, solicitor
cookie	biscuit
hood	bonnet
trunk	boot
suspenders	braces
janitor	caretaker
drug store	chemist’s
french fries	chips
the movies	the cinema
rubber	condom
patrolman	constable
stove	cooker
wheat	corn, wheat
crib	cot
thread	cotton
wreck	crash
intersection	crossroads
drapes	curtains
checkers	draughts
thumbtack	drawing pin
divided highway	dual carriageway
pacifier	dummy
trashcan	dustbin, rubbish-bin
garbage can	dustbin, rubbish-bin
garbage collector	dustman
generator	dynamo
motor	engine
engineer	engine driver
movie	film
apartment	flat
overpass	flyover
yard	garden
gear-shift	gear-lever
alumnus	graduate
boiler	grill
first floor	ground floor
rubbers	gumshoes, wellington boots
sneakers	gym shoes, tennis-shoes
purse	handbag
billboard	hoarding
vacation	holiday
vacuum cleaner	hoover
sick	ill
intermission	interval
sweater	jersey, jumper, pullover, sweater
pitcher	jug
elevator	lift
truck	lorry
baggage	luggage
raincoat	mackintosh, raincoat
crazy	mad
highway	main road
corn	maize
math	maths
stingy	mean
freeway	motorway
diaper	nappy
vicious, mean	nasty
noplace	nowhere
private hospital	nursing home
optometrist	optician
liquor store	off-license
kerosene	paraffin
sidewalk	pavement
peek	peep
gasoline	petrol
mail	post
mailbox	postbox
mailman, mail carrier	postman
potato chips	potato crisps
baby carriage	pram
bar	pub
restroom	public toilet
blow-out	puncture
stroller	push-chair
line	queue
railroad	railway
railway car	railway carriage
spool of thread	reel of cotton
round trip	return (ticket)
call collect	reverse charges
raise	rise (in salary)
pavement	road surface
traffic circle	roundabout
eraser	rubber
garbage, trash	rubbish
sedan	saloon (car)
Scotch tape	sellotape
store	shop
muffler	silencer
one-way	single (ticket)
someplace	somewhere
wrench	spanner
faculty	staff (of a university)
oil pan	sump
dessert	sweet
candy	sweets
faucet	tap
spigot	tap (outdoors)
cab	taxi
dish-towel	tea-towel
semester	term
pantyhose	tights
schedule	timetable
can	tin
turnpike	toll motorway
flashlight	torch
hobo	tramp
pants	trousers
cuffs	turn-ups
subway	underground railway
shorts	underpants
shoulder (of road)	verge (of road)
vest	waistcoat
closet	wardrobe
wash up	wash your hands
windshield	windscreen
fender	wing
zipper	zip

Now, test your knowledge with the two quizzes below.

American to British English Vocabulary Quiz

Replace the American English word in italics with a British English word.

1. I’d like to hang the drapes tonight. Do you have time?
2. We took the elevator to the 10th floor.
3. Would you like to see a movie tonight?
4. Have you seen Tim’s new apartment yet? It’s very nice.
5. Run down to the drug store and buy some aspirin, please.
6. Let’s go to the bar and get a drink.
7. I’ll take the garbage out before I leave tomorrow morning.
8. Take the second exit at the traffic circle.
9. Let’s get have some potato chips with lunch.
10. Could you hand me the flashlight so I can take a look in the closet?
11. Peter wore a pair of slim fitting pants to the party.
12. She opened the tap and watered the garden.
13. Have you ever worn a vest with a suit?
14. I’ll pick up the mail on the way home from work.
15. Could you buy me a pair of pantyhose at the mall?

Answers

1. curtains
2. lift
3. film
4. flat
5. chemist’s
6. pub
7. rubbish
8. roundabout
9. crisps
10. torch
11. trousers
12. spigot
13. waistcoat
14. post
15. tights

British to American English Vocabulary Quiz

Replace the British word in italics with an American English word.

1. We need to find a public toilet soon.
2. Let’s get the pram and take a walk with Jennifer.
3. I’m afraid I had a puncture and had to get it fixed.
4. Could you bring in that tin of tuna over there?
5. He puts his trousers on like any other person.
6. She’s very mean with her money. Don’t ask her for any help.
7. I generally don’t wear a suit with a waistcoat.
8. We should ask a constable for help.
9. Let’s go to the off-license and get some whiskey.
10. Get on queue and I’ll get us something to eat.
11. Grab a tea-towel and clean that up.
12. Look at the schedule and see when the train leaves.
13. The car has a dent in the wing.
14. Choose a sweater from the wardrobe and let’s get going.
15. The lights have gone out, and we’ll need a torch.

Answers

1. restroom
2. baby carriage
3. blow-out
4. can
5. pants
6. stingy
7. vest
8. patrolman
9. liquor store
10. line
11. dish-towel
12. time table
13. fender
14. closet
15. flashlight