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.
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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. |
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Nouns which refer to a group of people take a singular verb.
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A noun which refers to a group of people can use either a singular or a plural verb.
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For recent actions the use of past simple or present perfect is possible when using adverbs of time such as yet, just, already.
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For recent actions the present perfect tense is used when using adverbs of time such as yet, just, already.
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See also: “Do and have (got) in questions and negatives”
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Shall is not normally used for the first person singular (I) or the first person plural (we) in the future.
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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.
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Use to be or like after these verbs: appear, feel, look, seem, sound
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These verbs can be followed by a noun: appear, feel, look, seem, sound
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Should is usually used.
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Shall is usually used.
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Do is usually used for questions. The answer should also use do in the negative.
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Have got is usually used for questions. The answer should also use have.
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The interrogative syntax is often replaced by a rising tone at the end of a statement sentence:
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Interrogative syntax is usually used, using have and got:
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When refering to musical instrument, the definite article the is not usually used.
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When refering to musical instrument, the article the is always used.
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When refering to numbers, the conjunction and is not used.
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When refering to numbers, the conjunction and is always used.
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The format month/day/year is used:
In speaking, we say "March twenty-fourth" for March 24. |
The format day/month/year is used:
In speaking, we say "The twenty-fourth of March" for 24 March. |
See also: Prepositions of time
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Compare these examples (American English often uses the British versions too):
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Compare these examples (American English versions are never used):
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The preposition through is used in the following examples:
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The preposition to/till/until are often used with from in the following examples:
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See also: Date formats
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The conjunction and is not used in these constructions:
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The conjunction and is always used in these constructions:
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The true subjunctive tense is used in these examples:
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Usually the present simple tense is used, or a construction using should.
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These words are more often used than the British equivalents:
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These words are more often used than the American equivalents:
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