{"id":2407,"date":"2021-06-30T14:00:40","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T13:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.englishforums.com\/blog\/?p=2407"},"modified":"2021-06-30T14:00:40","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T13:00:40","slug":"the-key-differences-between-british-and-american-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/the-key-differences-between-british-and-american-english\/","title":{"rendered":"The Key Differences Between British and American English"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are just beginning to learn the English language, you do not need to worry about the differences between American and British English. You only need to focus on learning one or the other. However, as you grow more proficient, you will likely want to know the key differences between the way Brits and Americans use the English language.<\/span><\/p>\n

Different Words<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

One key difference between British and American <\/span>English<\/span><\/a> is the vocabulary and word choice. For example, Brits call the hood of a car the \u201cbonnet\u201d and the trunk of a car the \u201cboot.\u201d Other vocabulary differences include using the word \u201choliday\u201d in Britain instead of the American \u201cvacation,\u201d the word \u201clift\u201d instead of \u201celevator,\u201d and the word \u201cmum\u201d instead of \u201cmom.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>
\nNames for popular brands can be different as well. For instance, the card game blackjack is more commonly known as \u201ctwenty-one\u201d in the United Kingdom (speaking of which, <\/span>check out this live casino<\/span><\/a> to play blackjack with a real dealer in real-time).\u00a0<\/span>
\nGenerally, British people are familiar with American differences in words due to the popularity of American TV shows and movies, whereas Americans are less familiar with British terms. However, most Americans can understand terms unique to British English based on the context.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Different Spellings<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Not only are some different words used in Britain and the States, words can have different spellings too. For instance, British English uses an \u201cs\u201d in many words that are spelled with a \u201cz\u201d in American English, such as \u201cnationalise,\u201d \u201crecognise,\u201d and \u201cfamiliarise.\u201d Also, words ending in \u201cer\u201d in American English and typically spelled as \u201cre\u201d in British English, including \u201ccentre\u201d and \u201cmetre.\u201d Other British spelling variations include placing a \u201cu\u201d after an \u201co,\u201d including the words \u201ccolour,\u201d \u201clabour,\u201d and \u201chonour.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Past Tense Verb Variations<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Some British words differ in their past forms as well, particularly irregular verbs. The <\/span>past tense<\/span><\/a> of the word \u201clearn\u201d is \u201clearned\u201d in the US. However, it can be either \u201clearned\u201d or \u201clearnt\u201d in the UK. The same rule applies to \u201cburnt,\u201d \u201cdreamt,\u201d and \u201cleant.\u201d Also, Americans typically use an \u201cen\u201d ending with words that Brits do not. For instance, Americans would say, \u201cI have never gotten used to it,\u201d whereas Brits would use the word \u201cgot\u201d in place of \u201cgotten.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Punctuation Placement<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The placement of punctuation is sometimes different. For example, commas are placed after a closing quotation mark in British sentences but before the closing quotation mark in American sentences.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nIn the UK, people would write the following:\u00a0<\/span>
\nAmericans use the words \u201cgotten\u201d, \u201cdreamt\u201d, and \u201cburnt\u201d.<\/b>
\nIn the United States, people would write:<\/span>
\nAmericans use the words \u201cgotten,\u201d \u201cdreamt,\u201d and \u201cburnt.\u201d<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>
\nFurthermore, Brits have different words for some punctuation marks. For example, a period is called a \u201cfull stop\u201d in the UK.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Use of Prepositions<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Although there are prepositional differences, both American and British English are becoming intermingled, so the differences in <\/span>prepositions<\/span><\/a> are not as pronounced as they once were. However, some differences in prepositions include the following:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n