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You are here: Home / BAIPA News / British Versus American English, Part 1

British Versus American English, Part 1

March 9, 2020 by Arlene Miller

Image by ErikaWittlieb from Pixabay

It’s all the same language, but it’s different – American versus British English. And the British did have it first. The differences between American and British English are pretty minor, though. An American can understand someone speaking British English – except maybe for the accent!

The differences between American English and British English show up in three ways: 1. Some words are spelled differently. 2. There are a few punctuation and grammar rules that differ. 3. Some words are different between American English and British English, but they mean the same thing. Most words, however, are spelled the same in both British and American English. And most grammar and punctuation rules are the same. And most of the words are the same.

Next week we will concentrate on the minor spelling, grammar, and punctuation differences. But today we will talk about the vocabulary. When a British person talks about putting on trainers, we would put on sneakers. Here are just a few of the words that differ between British and American vocabulary:

British – American

agony aunt  –    advice columnist

anticlockwise  –  counterclockwise

aubergine –   eggplant (not sure if this is just the color or the vegetable)

biscuit  – cookie

bonnet –  hood (of a car)

boot  –  trunk (of a car)

braces –  suspenders

candy floss  – cotton candy (don’t floss your teeth with it!)

chips –  french fries

court card –  face card

crisps –   potato chips

drawing room – living room

film –  movie

flat  – apartment

football –   soccer

fortnight  –  two weeks

hairslide  – barrette

handbag  –  purse or pocketbook

hen night  – bachelorette party

holiday –    vacation

hoover –  vacuum cleaner

ice lolly – Popsicle

jacket potato  – baked potato

jumper – pullover sweater

lift – elevator

loo   –  restroom, bathroom

lorry –  truck

maths  –   math (I have no idea why)

mobile phone  –   cell phone

nappy –    diaper

peckish – hungry

post  –   mail

pram – baby carriage

pushchair  –  baby stroller

queue  –   line

rubber – eraser (please don’t use this one incorrectly!)

underground – subway

zed – zee

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Filed Under: BAIPA News, writing Tagged With: language

← Can I Use Other Author’s Fictional Characters in My Book?
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About Arlene Miller

Arlene Miller, also known as The Grammar Diva, is an author, grammarian, teacher, speaker, and blogger. She offers grammar workshops, classes, and entertaining presentations; and writes and publishes grammar books. She also writes the weekly Grammar Diva Blog. The Grammar Diva lives in Wimauma, Florida (formerly Petaluma, CA) with her faithful chihuahua. Her two grown children are her everything -- and she also enjoys coffee, chocolate, reading, and trying to play the piano.

Becky Parker Geist of Pro Audio Voices

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