British and American English
Neither is more correct. Pick one for your exam or your job and stay consistent, and recognise the other when you hear it.
Vocabulary
| British | American | Note |
|---|---|---|
| flat | apartment | A set of rooms on one floor. 'Apartment' is also used in Britain for expensive or modern ones. |
| lift | elevator | |
| holiday | vacation | In Britain 'holiday' is also used for a break from work; 'vacation' there is mostly for university terms. |
| autumn | fall | 'Autumn' is understood in the US, but 'fall' is the normal word. |
| boot (of a car) | trunk | |
| petrol | gas (gasoline) | |
| queue | line | 'Stand in line' is American; 'queue up' is British. |
| biscuit | cookie | An American 'biscuit' is a soft bread roll eaten with a meal. |
| chips | fries | British 'chips' are thick fried potatoes; the thin ones in fast-food restaurants are 'fries'. |
| crisps | chips | Thin fried slices of potato sold in bags. |
| trousers | pants | In Britain 'pants' means underwear. |
| pavement | sidewalk | In American English 'pavement' is the road surface. |
| rubbish | trash (garbage) | |
| football | soccer | In the US 'football' is American football. |
| mobile phone | cell phone | |
| tap | faucet | |
| nappy | diaper | |
| torch | flashlight | A British 'torch' is not a burning stick. |
| post | 'Post' is both noun and verb in British English: to post a letter. | |
| film | movie | Both are used in both countries, but 'movie' is more American. |
| trainers | sneakers | |
| jumper | sweater | |
| chemist | drugstore (pharmacy) | |
| motorway | freeway (highway) | |
| maths | math | |
| timetable | schedule | Both are used in both countries for different things; a train 'timetable' is British. |
| zebra crossing | crosswalk | |
| bin | trash can | |
| full stop | period | |
| CV | resume (résumé) |
Grammar
| Point | British | American | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present perfect with just, already, yet | I've just seen her. Have you finished yet? | I just saw her. Did you finish yet? | Both are acceptable in American English; the simple past is more usual there. |
| Have got | I've got two sisters. | I have two sisters. | 'Have got' is used in American English too, but less often for possession. |
| Collective nouns | The team are playing well. | The team is playing well. | British English allows a plural verb when you think of the people in the group. |
| Days and dates | at the weekend; Monday to Friday; 5 March | on the weekend; Monday through Friday; March 5 | British writing puts the day first. American writing puts the month first. |
| Different from | different from or different to | different from or different than | 'Different from' is safe everywhere. |
| Got and gotten | She has got much better. (got) | She has gotten much better. (gotten) | British English uses 'got' only; 'gotten' sounds American. |
| Needn't and don't need to | You needn't come. | You don't need to come. | 'Needn't' sounds British and rather formal. |
| Shall | Shall we go? | Should we go? | 'Shall' is much less common in the US. |
Spelling
| British | American |
|---|---|
| colour | color |
| favourite | favorite |
| centre | center |
| theatre | theater |
| travelled | traveled |
| grey | gray |
| programme | program |
| cheque | check |
| tyre | tire |
| licence (noun) | license |
| defence | defense |
| organise | organize |
| catalogue | catalog |
| practise (verb) | practice |
Many British publishers also accept -ize endings (organize, recognize), so organise is a common British choice rather than the only one.
Phrasal verbs and collocations carry notes where the two differ. For example get on with and fill in are British, while fill out is the American choice.