differences between British and American English

British English in American

The English language as spoken and written in England and as distinguished esp. from American English….

British English

pronunciation help

British English is a kind of the English language which is used in Great Britain. It is one of the two most popular kinds of English in the world (the other one is American English).

The biggest difference between British English and American English is in pronunciation. Differences in vocabulary and grammar are quite small. People who speak British and American English can easily understand each other.

British English consists of many regional kinds of English. For example, people in London, Newcastle, Glasgow, and Manchester speak English in different ways.

When people talk about teaching or learning British English, they usually think of a standard form of British English called the Queen’s English. The pronunciation (accent) of the Queen’s English is called Received Pronunciation (RP). Received Pronunciation is the pronunciation of the British upper class. RP is the pronunciation model taught to foreigners, described in English dictionaries, and used at the oldest universities (such as Oxford and Cambridge).

Who speaks RP? Apart from the British upper class, most educated people in the southeast of England, actors, TV personalities, politicians and English teachers speak something similar to RP.

01 American English words missing from British English

Along with groundhogs and woodchucks, other living things earned uniquely American monikers. One of them was the ladybug, the red and black ladybird beetle of the United Kingdom. The Americans based rappel, the act of descending from a height using a rope, on the French word for recall. Across the pond, the German language inspired abseiling, the British word for the same action. Uniquely American foods, such as s’mores, don’t have British equivalents because they are still relatively unknown. Perhaps that would change if they sampled them; s’mores are delicious!

02 British English words missing from American English

Put on your anorak. Check the pillar box, and see if my business partner sent over the hire purchase. Would the average American understand these commands? Probably not! Here’s the translation: Put on your jacket. Check the mailbox, and see if my business partner sent over the installment plan.

03 Vocabulary development

Other words exist in both languages, but they mean different things. For example, if you requested a caretaker in England, you might be introduced to someone holding a broom and dustpan. There, a caretaker is a person who cleans and maintains a building. To Americans, a caretaker is someone who takes care of someone, such as a child or sick person, or who looks after a property while the owner is away. Other Briticisms are famous. Have you learned what a lift is? Would you go for a ride in a lorry?

04 spelling

One man is responsible for many of the spelling differences that exist between American and British English. His name was Noah Webster. Yes, the same Webster of Webster’s Dictionary. He decided that Americans should be independent, not only politically, but also lexically. That’s why you’ll notice an extra U in some British words like colour, armour, and humour. American English tends to end words with -ize rather than the British -ise. The -er ending of words like theater and center is reversed in British English words. Other words are almost unrecognizable as cognates, such as curb and kerb

05 grammar

In British English, you have to use the present perfect for recent actions that affect the present.

I’ve broken your vase. Will you forgive me?

American English accepts the present perfect as correct, but it also offers a second possibility—the simple past.

I broke your vase. Will you forgive me?

American English is tolerant of present perfect, but it’s not as understanding of Britain’s past participles. In the following sentences, Americans would use gotten as the past participle of the verb to get, leaned in the place of leant, and spoiled instead of spoilt.

You have got much better at breaking things! It’s because you’ve leant too hard against the furniture. Now it’s spoilt!

Even with the Ts in place of the -ed endings, an American could understand the meaning of these sentences without a problem. And despite both groups’ accents and idiosyncratic expressions, Brits and Americans have little problem communicating with each other in English. If you visit London, you may be invited to join the natives for an afternoon tea. If you don’t “fancy” milk in your drink, you can let them know. Aren’t you grateful for that?