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There are quite a few noticeable differences between the British English dialect and the evolved dialect of American English. These are the ones we will cover: Spelling Pronunciation {sounds} Pronunciation {accent} Grammar Vocabulary
AMERICAN – “-or”
BRITISH – “-our”
Color
Colour
Honor
Honour
Favorite
favourite AMERICAN – “-ze”
BRITISH – “-se”
Analyze
Analyse
Criticize
Criticise
Memorize
Memorise
AMERICAN – “-ll”
BRITISH – “-l”
Enrollment
Enrolment
Fulfill
Fulfil
Skillful
skilful
AMERICAN – “-er”
BRITISH – “-re”
Center
Centre
Meter
Metre
Theater
theatre
AMERICAN – “-og”
BRITISH – “-ogue”
Analog
Analogue
Catalog
Catalogue
Dialog
Dialogue
AMERICAN – “-ck” or “-k”
BRITISH – “-que”
Bank
Banque
Check
Cheque
AMERICAN – “-e”
BRITISH – “-ae” or “-oe”
Encyclopedia
Encyclopaedia
Maneuver
Manoeuvre
Medieval
Mediaeval
AMERICAN – “-dg” “-g” “-gu” BRITISH – “-dge” “-ge” “-gue” Aging
Ageing
Argument
Arguement
Judgment
Judgement
AMERICAN – “-ense”
BRITISH – “-ence”
License
Licence
Defense
Defence
Other word-specific differences -AMERICAN
BRITISH
Jewelry
Jewellry
Draft
Draught
Pajamas
Pyjamas
Plow
Plough
Program
Programme
Tire
Tyre
Base words that end in L normally double the L in British English when a suffix is added. BASE WORD
AMERICAN
BRITISH
Counsel
Counseling
Counselling
Equal
Equaled
Equalled
Model
Modeling
Modelling
Quarrel
Quarreling
Quarrelling
Signal
Signaled
Signalled
Travel
Traveling
Travelling
The letter can double in American as well – but ONLY IF the stress is on the second syllable of the base word.
BASE WORD
AMERICAN BRITISH
Excel
Excelling
Excelling
Propel
Propelling
Propelling
WORD
Teacher Father Letter Water Aunt Tomato
AMERICAN PRONUNCIATION
BRITISH PRONUNCIATION
There are also other words borrowed from French that feature stress differences. American first-syllable; British last-syllable: Mustache Mustache Cigarette Cigarette
The next 2 videos show a teacher saying the same text first with the American accent and then with the British accent
American accent
British accent
VERBS NOUNS In British English, collective nouns can take either singular or plural verb forms, depending on whether the emphasis is on the body or the members within it. i.e.“A committee was appointed.” “ The committee were unable to agree.”
morphology American -- "-ed" British -- "-t" i.e. learned/learnt, dreamed/dreamt British English rarely use “gotten;” instead, “got” is much more common. Past participles often vary: i.e. saw – American: sawed; British: sawn
tenses British English employs the present perfect to talk about a recent event {i.e. “I’ve already eaten,” “I’ve just arrived home.”}
auxiliaries British English often uses “shall” and “shan’t” American English uses “will” and “won’t”
American & British English sometimes have different words for the same things --
AMERICAN
BRITISH
Apartment
Flat
Argument
Row
Carriage/coach
Pram
Bathroom
Loo
Can
Tin
Cookie
Biscuit
Diaper
Nappy
Elevator
Lift
Eraser
Rubber
Flashlight
Torch
Fries
Chips
Gas
Petrol
Guy
Bloke/chap
AMERICAN
BRITISH
AMERICAN
BRITISH
Highway
Motorway
Truck
Lorry
Hood {of a car}
Bonnet
Trunk
Boot
Jelly
Jam
Vacation
Holiday
Kerosene
Paraffin
Windshield
Windscreen
Lawyer
Solicitor
License Plate
Number Plate
Line
Queue
Pacifier
Dummy
Post
Parking lot
Car park
Napkin
Serviette
Pharmacist
Chemist
Nothing
Nought
Sidewalk
Pavement
Period
Full stop
Soccer
Football
Potato chips
crisps
Trash can
Bin
American and British English speakers often use the same words but intend very different meaning with them: WORD
AMERICAN
BRITISH
Biscuit
Dinner roll
Cookie
Brew
Beer
Tea
Bureau
Chest of drawers
Writing table/desk
Casket
Coffin
Jewelry Box
First Floor
Ground Floor
“Second” Floor
To hire
To employ
To rent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_words_having_different_meani ngs_in_British_and_American_English {for more examples!}
Intemann, Dr. F. “Teaching English Grammar and Lexis.” http://www-public.tu-bs.de:8080/~intemann/BA/grammar-lexis/bararistau-schubert.pdf Jones, Susan. “List of American vs. British Spelling.” http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/jones/spelling.htm Wallechinsky, David & Irving Wallace. “Trivia on History of MerriamWebster’s Dictionary Part 1.” http://www.trivia-library.com/b/history-of-merriam-webster-dictionarypart-1.htm Wikipedia. “British English.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English Wikipedia. “American and British English Differences.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_differences