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American English? British English?

by Elaine Gallagher    Many times people might comment or ask you: «Is this book/movie based on British or American English?» Having grown up in the northeastern region of the USA, known as «New England», I had never, ever heard that question until I moved to Mexico. We might have referred to the accent, but nothing […]

Autor: UNOi

Fecha: 8 de abril de 2013

Elaine Gallagher by Diego Devesa Laux

Elaine Gallagher by Diego Devesa Laux

by Elaine Gallagher   

Many times people might comment or ask you: «Is this book/movie based on British or American English?»

Having grown up in the northeastern region of the USA, known as «New England», I had never, ever heard that question until I moved to Mexico. We might have referred to the accent, but nothing more. 

It honestly seemed to me to be a silly question, about the equivalent as, «Is this book based on Spain’s Spanish or Mexican Spanish?»

Those of you concerned about Cambridge Exams, Trinity Exams, TOEFL and the like, let me assure you. NO student will obtain a low score simply because of the country of origin of the exam, the examiner, or the student. It is a very poor excuse when one doesn’t do well on an exam, saying as an excuse, «Well, our teacher is an American from USA, but the test was the Cambridge exam.» 

About eight years ago, the British Council in San Sebastian, País Vasco, Spain, told me…

WE DO NOT DIFFERENTIATE ANYMORE…WE NOW TALK ABOUT «INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH».

 FURTHERMORE 90% OF ENGLISH NOW USED IN SCIENCE, MEDICINE, and TECHNOLOGY IS AMERICAN ENGLISH, NOT THE QUEEN’S TONGUE.»      

So, administrators, teachers, students, and parents: RELAX. Learn and practice English based on CLIL philosophy, and you’ll do fine.

Yes, there are some words and spelling differences between the two countries (USA/England).

Below I’ve included some charts with words or phrases that exhibit differences. Be prepared…but don’t worry. You’ll do well!

                                                      AMERICAN / BRITISH ENGLISH

American British
apartment Flat
argument Row
baby carriage Pram
band-aid Plaster
bathroom loo or WC
can Tin
chopped beef Mince
cookie Biscuit
corn Maize
diaper Nappy
elevator Lift
eraser Rubber
flashlight Torch
fries Chips
gas Petrol
guy bloke, chap
highway Motorway
hood (car) Bonnet
jello Jelly
jelly Jam
kerosene Paraffin
lawyer Solicitor
license plate number plate
line  (to line up) Queue
mail Post
motor home Caravan
movie theater Cinema
muffler Silencer
napkin Serviette
nothing Nought
overpass Flyover
pacifier Dummy
pants Trousers
parking lot car park
period full stop
pharmacist Chemist
potato chips Crisps
rent Hire
sausage Banger
sidewalk Pavement
soccer Football
sweater Jumper
trash can Bin
truck Lorry
trunk (car) Boot
vacation Holiday
vest Waistcoat
windshield (car) Windscreen
zip code postal code

 

SPELLING

BRITISH / AMERICAN  ENGLISH

-or vs. –our

American

British

color Colour
favorite Favourite
honor Honour

 

-ll vs. –l

American

British

enrollment Enrolment
fulfill Fulfil
skillful Skilful

 

-og vs. –ogue

American

British

analog Analogue
catalog Catalogue
dialog Dialogue

 

-ck or -k vs. –que

American

British

bank Banque
check Cheque
checker Chequer

-ense vs. –enze

American

British

defense Defence
license Licence
   

               

-ze vs. –se

American

British

analyze Analyse
criticize Criticize
memorize Memorise

 

-er vs. –re

American

British

center Centre
meter Metre
theater Theatre

 

-e vs. -oe or –ae

American

British

encyclopedia encyclopaedia
maneuver Maneuver
medieval Mediaeval

 

-dg vs. -dge (or -g vs. -gu)

American

British

aging Ageing
argument Argument
judgment Judgement

 

Other

American

British

jewelry Jewellery
draft Draught
pajamas pyjamas 
plow Plough
program Programme
tire Tyre

——————————————————————————————————–                                                 

IDIOMS

BRITISH / AMERICAN ENGLISH

 

British English

American English

not touch something with a bargepole not touch something with a ten-foot pole
sweep under the carpet sweep under the rug
touch wood knock on wood
see the wood for the trees see the forest for the trees
throw a spanner (in the works) throw a (monkey) wrench (in the works)
tuppence worth

also two pennies’ worth, two pence worth, two pennyworth,

two penny ‘th,

two cents’ worth
skeleton in the cupboard skeleton in the closet
a home from home a home away from home
blow one’s trumpet blow (or toot) one’s horn
a drop in the ocean a drop in the bucket
storm in a teacup tempest in a teapot
flogging a dead horse beating a dead horse
haven’t (got) a clue don’t have a clue or have no clue
a new lease of life a new lease on life
if the cap fits (wear it) if the shoe fits (wear it)
lie of the land lay of the land

In some cases, the «American» variant is also used in BrE, or vice versa.