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American and British English

There are quite a few important differences between American English and British English which can confuse non-native speakers who are not familiar with both. Many words are spelled/spellt differently; there are some differences in vocabulary for some common things, particularly concerning automobiles, time and date; and there are a few differences in grammar and idiomatic expressions. American and British styles should not be mixed in one document.

In the Ultralingua dictionaries, both American and British spellings are shown and where definitions are different in American and British English, both translations are given. Several irregular verbs have alternative words or spellings for the past tense (preterit) and past participle. These are shown in the Ultralingua dictionaries together with an indication of which version is preferred in American or British English.

As a general rule, British English is used mainly in Western Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India, Central and South East Asia and British dominions and protectorates. American English is used in Canada, South America, Japan, Philipines and US protectorates. In Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Russia and China the use of both American and British English is evenly distributed.

Spelling

American British

Z is used in words like:

harmonize, criticize, formalize, etc.

Only one L is used in words like:

traveling

There is no U in words like:

color, candor, demeanor, etc.

S is used in words like:

harmonise, criticise, formalise, etc.

Two Ls are used in words like:

travelling

There is a U in words like:

colour, candour, demeanour, etc.

Collective nouns

American British

Nouns which refer to a group of people take a singular verb.

  • The police is looking for the bank robber.
  • At the football game, the crowd was very excited.

A noun which refers to a group of people can use either a singular or a plural verb.

  • The police is/are looking for the bank robber.
  • At the football game, the crowd was/were very excited.

Tenses: Past simple and present perfect

American British

For recent actions the use of past simple or present perfect is possible when using adverbs of time such as yet, just, already.

  • We just took off or We have just taken off.
  • Ex: Somchai never ate French fries before or Somchai has never eaten French fries before.

For recent actions the present perfect tense is used when using adverbs of time such as yet, just, already.

  • Ex: We have just taken off.
  • Somchai has never eaten chips before.

See also: “Do and have (got) in questions and negatives”

Tenses: Using will and shall in the future

American British

Shall is not normally used for the first person singular (I) or the first person plural (we) in the future.

  • I will leave at ten o’clock.
  • I will open the door.
  • We will look at this later.

In modern English it is more usual to use will, although shall can be used in formal language for the first person singular (I) or the first person plural (we) in the future.

  • I shall leave at ten o’clock. (formal)
  • We will have a late lunch. (usual)

Expressions with seem, look, etc.

American British

Use to be or like after these verbs:

appear, feel, look, seem, sound

  • He appeared to be a good teacher.
  • She seemed like a clever artist.

These verbs can be followed by a noun:

appear, feel, look, seem, sound

  • He seemed a good teacher
  • It looks a sight better than it did yesterday.

Making interrogative suggestions with shall, should or would

American British

Should is usually used.

  • Should I take an umbrella to England?
  • Should we offer a gift to the king?
  • Would you like to eat at McDonald’s?

Shall is usually used.

  • Shall I take an umbrella to England?
  • Shall we offer a gift to the king?
  • Shall we go and eat at McDonald’s?

Do and have (got) in questions and negatives

American British

Do is usually used for questions. The answer should also use do in the negative.

  • "Do you have a job?" "No, I don’t."
  • "Do we have time?" "Yes, we do."

Have got is usually used for questions. The answer should also use have.

  • "Have you got a job?" "No, I haven’t."
  • "Have we got time?" "Yes, we have."

Interrogative forms (questions)

American British

The interrogative syntax is often replaced by a rising tone at the end of a statement sentence:

  • You have a car? (The tone rises on car.)

Interrogative syntax is usually used, using have and got:

  • Have you got a car?

Definite article: The

American British

When refering to musical instrument, the definite article the is not usually used.

  • Supaporn plays harp really well.

When refering to musical instrument, the article the is always used.

  • I can play the piano.

Numbers: And

American British

When refering to numbers, the conjunction and is not used.

  • four hundred twenty-five (425).

When refering to numbers, the conjunction and is always used.

  • four hundred and twenty-five (425).

Date formats

American British

The format month/day/year is used:

  • 07/11/08 = July 11, 2008

In speaking, we say "March twenty-fourth" for March 24.

The format day/month/year is used:

  • 07/11/08 = 7 November, 2008

In speaking, we say "The twenty-fourth of March" for 24 March.

See also: Prepositions of time

Prepositions

American British

Compare these examples (American English often uses the British versions too):

  • meet with a person
  • write me
  • twenty minutes after four
  • staying home
  • on Pinklao Avenue
  • chat/talk with a person
  • twenty of eight
  • on the weekend

Compare these examples (American English versions are never used):

  • meet a person
  • write to me
  • twenty minutes past four
  • staying at home
  • in Pinklao Avenue
  • chat/talk to a person
  • twenty to eight
  • at the weekend

Prepositions of time

American British

The preposition through is used in the following examples:

  • The store is open Monday through Friday
  • He works from 9 am through 5 pm.
  • Next semester is May through September.

The preposition to/till/until are often used with from in the following examples:

  • The store is open from Monday to Friday
  • He works from 9 am till 5 pm.
  • Next semester is from May until September.

See also: Date formats

Go vs. Go and

American British

The conjunction and is not used in these constructions:

  • Go buy some meat.
  • Go find a seat.

The conjunction and is always used in these constructions:

  • Go and buy some meat.
  • Go and find a seat.

Subjunctive

American British

The true subjunctive tense is used in these examples:

  • I suggested that she buy a house.
  • The doctor suggested he have a checkup.

Usually the present simple tense is used, or a construction using should.

  • I suggested that she buys a house.
  • The doctor suggested that he should have a checkup.

Somewhere vs. someplace

American British

These words are more often used than the British equivalents:

  • someplace
  • anyplace
  • noplace

These words are more often used than the American equivalents:

  • somewhere
  • anywhere