Common Differences Between American and British English

There are quite a few noticeable differences between American and British English you should learn.

American English is the form of English used in the United States. It includes all English dialects used within the United States of America.

British English is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It includes all English dialects used within the United Kingdom.

Contents

Differences Between American and British English

The following general categories of difference between standard British English (SBE) and standard American English (SAE)

Spelling
Pronunciation {accent} {affixes} {stress}
Grammar
Vocabulary

American vs. British Spelling

American and British English have some spelling differences. These differences are primarily in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. However, some words have different spellings in American and British English. Here are a few examples:

color vs. colour
center vs. centre
traveling vs. travelling
analyze vs. analyse
check vs. cheque
defense vs. defence
catalog vs. catalogue
theater vs. theatre
traveled vs. travelled
realize vs. realise
fulfill vs. fulfil
defense vs. defence
jewelry vs. jewellery
tire vs. tyre
plow vs. plough

American English uses -or in words like color, honor, and labor. British English uses -our in words like colour, honour, and labour.

American English uses -er in words like center, theater, and meter. British English uses -re in words like centre, theatre, and metre.

American English uses -ize in words like organize, realize, and legalize. British English uses -ise in words like organise, realise, and legalise.

American English uses -ogue in words like dialogue, analogue and catalogue. British English uses -og in words like dialogue, analogue and catalogue.

American English uses -yze as a suffix in words like analyze, while British English uses -yse.

American English uses single L in words like traveled, while British English uses double L in words like travelled.

American English uses -ck in words like checkered, while British English uses -que in words like chequered

American English uses -ll in words like skilful while British English uses -l.

Differences between American and British English – Spelling

American vs. British Grammar

American and British English have some differences in grammar, though the differences are generally not as significant as those in vocabulary and pronunciation. Here are a few examples of grammar differences between American and British English:

American English tends to use the present perfect less frequently than British English. Americans tend to use the past simple in situations where a British person might use the present perfect.
In American English, collective nouns are treated as singular, whereas in British English, collective nouns can be treated as singular or plural depending on the context.
American English uses the subjunctive mood less frequently than British English. The subjunctive is used to express doubt, possibility, or necessity in a sentence and is used more frequently in British English.
In American English, collective nouns such as team, group, staff, are usually treated as singular, and therefore take singular verbs and pronouns. However, in British English, collective nouns take a plural verb when the group is considered as a whole and a singular verb when the group is considered individually.
American English uses the phrase “gotten” to indicate the past participle of “get” while in British English “gotten” is not used and “got” is used for both past and past participle.

Differences between American and British English – Grammar

American vs. British Vocabulary

American and British English have some differences in vocabulary. These differences are primarily in terms of spelling and meaning. Here are a few examples of vocabulary differences between American and British English: