American English
There are many differences between American
English and Standard English. You might be familiar with some of these
differences from films and TV
The first part of
the list shows differences between American and British spelling of common
words. An asterisk indicates that the pronunciation differs as well as the
spelling.
aluminum *
aluminium
analog
analogue
anesthesia
anaesthesia
archeology
archaeology
bylaw
bye law
catalog
catalogue
center
centre
color
colour
curb
kerb
Edge of roadway or pavement. "curb" in the sense of "restrain" is used in British and American English.
defense
defence
dialog
dialogue
draft
draught
favorite
favourite
gage
gauge
gray
grey
gynecology
gynaecology
hauler
haulier
honor
honour
humor
humour
jewelry
jewellery
license
licence
British usage is license for the verb and licence for the noun
maneuver
manoeuvre
meter
metre
British usage is "meter" for a measuring device and "metre" for the unit of length
mold
mould
omelet
omelette
pajamas
pyjamas
phyllo
filo
sort of pastry
practice
practise
British usage is "practise" for the verb and "practice" for the noun
privelege
privilege
program
programme
British usage
is "program" for computers and "programme" for
television or radio.
routing
routeing
specialty
speciality
sulfur
sulphur
According to a correspondent the American spelling is now "official" British spelling for use by professional chemists but it is unlikely to be recognised by any other British English speaker.
thru
through
tire
tyre
part of wheel in contact with road
vise
vice
tool
Generally
American English -or as a word ending is equivalent to -our in British
English. For example:
American British (standard)
color colour
homor humour
honor honour
American
-er at word ending is sometimes equivalent to -re. In American. For example:
American British (standard)
meter metre
American
English tends to prefer -ize and -ization
whereas British English prefers -ise and -isation. For example:
American British (standard)
recognize recognise
The second part of
the list shows common differences in usage. I.e. those cases
where different words are used to describe the same thing. The primary
purpose of this list is to indicate American usages that would be unfamiliar to
speakers of British English.
airplane *
aeroplane
antenna
aerial
electronics
apartment
flat
area code
dialling code
asphalt
Tarmac
attached home
semi-detached house
Two dwellings sharing a single common wall.
auto, automobile
car
"auto" is still common in notices and road signs. The American usages would sound strange to British ears.
baby carriage
pram or
perambulator
backpack
rucksack
Carrier for camping equipment etc., usually with a metal frame, worn on the back.
back-up light
reversing light
Band-Aid
sticking plaster
bandshell
bandstand
bankroll
foot the bill
barrette
hair slide
baseboard
skirting board
bathrobe
dressing gown
bathroom
toilet
bathtub
bath
beer
lager
bell pepper
red pepper, green
pepper
beltway, loop
ring road, circular
road
bill
note
In the sense of a unit of paper currency.
billion
thousand million
biscuit
scone
blacktop
Tarmac
bobby pin
hair grip,
Brit
Briton
bureau
chest of drawers
caboose
guard's van
cadaver
corpse
dead body
candy
sweet
"candy" refers to a particular crystallised
sugar confection in British
usage.
caravan
convoy
carnival
travelling fair or
circus
cart
trolley
shopping
cattle guard
cattle grid
check
cheque
Banking. Same pronunciation,
different
spelling.
checkers
draughts
board game.
checking account
current account
chicory
endive
chief executive
officer
(CEO)
managing director (MD)
chips
crisps
Thin fried
slices of potato usually sold in
bags as snacks or
"nibbles".
city
town
closet
fitted wardrobe
closing out
closing down
clothes pin
clothes peg
collect call
reverse charge call
comforter
quilt, eiderdown
condominium, condo
block of flats
conductor
guard
consignment
second hand goods
cookie
biscuit
cooler
cool box
cord
lead
corn
sweet corn, maize,
corn-on-the-cob
corn starch
corn flour
cotton batting
cotton wool
cotton candy
candy floss
crackers
biscuits
crawl space
under floor void
crazy bone
funny bone
creek
stream, brook
crosswalk
pedestrian crossing
cuffs
turn-ups
of trousers. British shirts (with long sleeves) have cuffs.
custom made
bespoke, made to
measure
dead end
cul-de-sac
daylight saving(s)
time
(British) summer time
deck
pack
of playing cards
delivery tanker
tanker
delivery truck
van
denatured alcohol
methylated
spirits, meths
desk clerk
receptionist
dessert
pudding
detour
diversion
diaper
nappy
differ... than
differ... from
dime
no equivalent
10 cent coin.
diner
café
district attorney
public prosecutor
divided highway
dual carriageway
docent
curator, guide
doctor's office
surgery
downtown
town centre
(the) draft
conscription
Enforced membership of military forces.
drapes
net curtains
drug store
pharmacy, chemists
druggist
chemist, pharmacist
dumpster
skip
eggplant
aubergine
eighth note
quaver
elevator
lift
The American
habit of saying "
England and EXTREMELY annoying to people who live in Wales,
entree
main course
eraser
rubber
exit
junction
fall
autumn
faucet
tap
feminine napkin
sanitary towel
fender
wing
part of car
fire hall
fire station
fire starter
fire lighter
fire truck
fire engine or fire
appliance
first floor
ground floor
flashlight
torch
float home
house boat
float plane
sea plane
football
American football
four way
cross roads
freeway
motorway
french
fries
chips
furnace
central heating
boiler
garbage, trash
rubbish, refuse
garter belt
suspender
gas
petrol
gear shift, gear
stick
gear lever
girl scouts
girl guides
goaltender
goalkeeper
goatsucker
nightjar
bird
golden raisin
sultana
goose bumps
goose pimples
gotten
got
grade
gradient (slope)
The American usage of the word to refer to a stage
in a child's progress through school is unknown in
grade crossing
level crossing
ground
earth
gumboot
wellington
gurney
no equivalent
It's not that wheeled stretchers are unknown in British hospitals, it's just that there is no common name for them.
hidabed,
hideaway
bed-settee
highway
main road
half note
minim
hobo
tramp
hog
pig
In British
usage a "hog" is a person that claims exclusive use of something,
i.e. hogs it.
hood
bonnet
car
horny
randy
house-trailer
caravan
icebox
refrigerator
incorporated
limited
intersection
cross roads
interstate
main road, major
road,
trunk road
janitor
caretaker
jelly
No equivalent
Spread
for toast or bread not
incorporating preserved fruit. See discussion under "preserves".
jelly roll
Jell-o
jelly
john