The English language is the most spoken language in the world with speakers amounting up to 1,132 million, and English is the official language of around 55 countries around the world. English is the main language for global communication and the most popular language among foreign-language learners.
However, there is an old saying that America and Britain are “two nations divided by a common language.” Like any language, English has many varieties. The best-known varieties are British and American English.
Is American and British English the same?
These two English varieties aren’t too different, but they are definitely not the same either. This is important to know if you’re not a native English speaker and find yourself afraid that changing a few words would render you to change in meaning. While this almost never happens, these two varieties do sometimes differ in spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary, or even grammatical structures. However, globalization and the Internet have caused these differences to shrink.
What are the Differences Between British And American English? (Accent, Spelling, Vocabulary, Grammar)
Accent
It’s difficult to make clear distinctions between U.S.A and U.K. accents when there is such a wide variety of accents within both the U.S.A and the U.K. However, some very general distinctions can be made. Americans usually pronounce every “r” in a word, while the British tend to only pronounce the “r” when it’s the first letter of a word.
The accent represents the most noticeable difference between British and American English, there are also words that differ completely depending on whether you are in Europe or across the America. For example, what Americans call a “sweater” is known as “jumper” or “pullover” in the United Kingdom. In the same fashion, what is known as football across the European continent, Americans call soccer.
There are differences between American and British English in the areas of spelling, vocabulary and grammar. Some of the examples are.
Spelling
There are tens and hundreds of minor spelling differences between British and American English. When it comes to spelling, American English uses a simplified version. The explanation goes back to 1828 when Noah Webster wrote the first American dictionary – An American Dictionary of the English Language. For Instance, “Colour” is the British spelling and “color” is the American spelling. The most common spelling differences between American and British English:
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| Colour | color |
| Behaviour | behavior |
| Theatre | theater |
| Metre | meter |
| Organise | organize |
| Travelled | traveled |
| Tyre | tire |
| Grey | gray |
| Grey | analyze |
| Centre | cener |
Vocabulary
In Vocabulary also we can see most noticeable difference between American and British English. There are hundreds of everyday words that are different. For example, Britishers call the front of a car - the bonnet, while Americans call it the hood.
Americans go on vacation, while Britishers go on holidays.
New Yorkers live in apartments, London live in flats.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| trainers | sneakers |
| trousers | pants |
| flat | apartment |
| jumper/pullover | sweater |
| braces | suspenders |
| holiday | vacation |
| crisps | chips |
| chips | (french) fries |
| the cinema | the movies |
| soft drink / fizzy drink | soda / pop / coke / soft drink |
Grammar
The differences between British and American English grammar are slightly more complicated. The differences are small, but they are significant.
Verb to have, for instance. To talk about possession, British English uses the verb to have got (I have got a book.), whereas American English uses to have (I have a book.). An important note: the verb have got is also used in American English, but mostly to indicate obligation (I have got to go).
The present perfect tense usage differs as well. The Britishiers normally use the verb to have (I have just arrived.) in this tense, whereas the Americans usually omit this verb. As a result, the sentences sound simpler: (I just arrived).
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| I talked to Jay | I talked with Jay |
| Monday to Sunday | Monday through Sunday |
| At the weekend | On the weekend |
| I haven’t seen him for weeks | I haven’t seen him in weeks |
Other differences usage are:
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| I’ve eaten too much. | I ate too much. |
| I’ve been to the shop. | I went to the store. |
| Have you got the newspaper? | Did you get the newspaper? |
The grammatical differences also include irregular verbs, for example:
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| spill, spilt, spilt | spill, spilled, spilled |
| dive, dived, dived | dive, dove, dived |
| get, got, gotten | get, got, got |
Other grammar differences
Generally, the British are more likely to use formal speech, whereas Americans will rather go with informal expressions. For instance, Brits will use “shall” where Americans use “will” or “should”.
Additionally, In Britain, you are likely to hear “needn’t” a lot and in the US “not at all”. In its place, Americans use “don’t need to”.
Which one should you learn? British vs American:
Generally, It doesn’t matter whether you learn British English or American English. Learn whichever you feel and like. Of course, if you intend to move to the North America or Canada, it is best to study and get used to the American accent and vice versa.
The most important thing you should remember is to be consistent. Once you’ll decide to go with British English, go with British all the way through. Remember: Avoid mixing them up.
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