98
Divided by a common language Very few words and expressions are used exclusively in either British or American English, and you are likely to hear and read words from both varieties.
A
Streets and roads Street has a wider range of meaning in American English. American speaker: Let’s cross the street here; there’s more traffic further down. However, a British speaker would normally say cross the road, especially in a busy city. Here are some more examples of American English words and expressions not used in British English. The British English expressions are given in square brackets. Go two blocks down and the car rental office is kitty-corner to the gas station. [diagonally opposite; informal] [petrol station]
You should always use the crosswalk to cross the street. [pedestrian crossing / zebra crossing] There’s a trail that leads down to the creek. [path] [stream, small river] Take a left here and you’ll come to the Interstate after about three miles. [turn left] [major motorway in the US connecting different states]
Language help
After the intersection, look for a sign saying ‘International Airport’. [junction] I hit a shopping cart in the parking lot when I was backing up. [trolley] [car park] [reversing] Look for the overpass and then take the next exit for downtown Chicago. [flyover, i.e. bridge
In British English road numbers use the; in American English no article is used. British English: Take the M4 as far as Newbury, then turn off on to the A34 for Oxford. American English: Take I-45 north for about 20 miles, then take 25 west.
that carries one road over another]
B
C
Educational terminology American
British
My older brother never went to college.
My older brother never went to university. (college in Britain usually means a place for specialised education for people over 16)
What courses are you taking next semester?
What modules are you taking next semester/term?
Are you a freshman? No, I’m a sophomore.
Are you a fresher / first year (student)? No, I’m (a) second year.
Most of my friends are juniors.
Most of my friends are third years / third year students.
She’s majoring in French.
She’s doing honours in French. / She’s doing a French honours degree.
My professors are all very friendly. (used as a general term for university teachers)
My lecturers are all very friendly. (used as a general term for university teachers – a professor is a person with the highest academic rank)
I want to be an elementary school teacher.
I want to be a primary school teacher.
My years in high school were not very happy.
My years in secondary school were not very happy.
Around the home This cable is the ground (US) / earth (UK). [cable that takes electricity safely into the ground] We need a dumpster (US) / skip (UK) to put all this old stuff in. [large metal container for rubbish] The faucet (US) / tap (UK) in the kitchen never stops dripping! I have to cook for five people, so we need a big stove (US) / cooker (UK). [piece of kitchen equipment to cook food] I fried the fish in a skillet (US) / frying pan (UK).
202
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
