0
What is the difference between American English and British English?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
The pronunciation is different and so is much of the vocabulary. For example, Americans pronounce words such as 'herbal' without the 'h'. One can easily notice that the accents are much different.
Some words are slightly different. For example, in American English the undergarments of a person is called "underwear." However, in British English, it is simply called "pants." Those who speak British English would say 'jam' for what Americans call 'jelly', and 'jelly' what Americans call 'Jell-O'.
Thus, some words can be easily confused in the opposite cultures.
There are also some reasonably consistent spelling differences.
There are some common rules for American English.
- Where UK, Australian and NZ English often use the letter group of our, in American English the u is omitted. In the following examples, the first is UK English and the second is American English:
favourite / favorite
neighbour / neighbor
colour / color
- UK English uses an s where American English often substitutes a z. In the following examples, the first is UK English and the second is American English:
capitalisation / capitalization
recognise / recognize
- In word building, UK English doubles the final consonant where it is preceded by a vowel, whereas American English does not. For example:
traveller / traveler
labelled / labeled
- Some words which are spelt with a 'c' in the noun form but an 's' in the verb form of some words are not spelt with the 'c' in American English - both noun and verb forms retain the 's'.
practice/practise in U.K. and Australian English is always practise in American English.
licence/license is always license in American English.
- Some words ending in 're' in U.K. and Australian English are spelt with 'er' in American English.
centre/center
kilometre/ kilometer
- U.K. English retains the old style of retaining 'oe' and 'ae' in the middle of some words, whilst American English uses just an 'e'.
encyclopaedia/encyclopedia
manoeuvre/maneuvre
- Some words in U.K. English retain the 'gue' at the end, as opposed to just the 'g' in American English.
dialogue/dialog
catalogue/catalog
In essence, it could be said that the American English has opted for a simpler style, whilst the U.K./Australian/New Zealand English usually retains the older, more complex spelling rules.
British English is more influenced by French/Latin and American English is more influenced by Germanic Languages.
The basic difference is British English shows signs of influence from French and Latin in general, while American English shows signs of influence from Germanic Languages.
The reason for the spelling differences is in large part due to the "reforms" of Noah Webster who felt some words looked better or had unnecessary letters as in the "colour" cited above. Words like theatre, spelled "theater" in the US, in no way reflect any difference in pronunciation, except for allowing for the more rhotic American pronunciation, and the British spelling reflects the origin of the word, which is from the French theatre from Latin theatrum, so the British spelling reflects the etymology of the word, one reason why archaic spellings are kept.
See the Related Link below for examples of the different usage of words.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is the difference between Canadian English and British English?
Canadian English is a mixture of both American English and British English. Some words Canadians spell as the British do; i.e. 'colour', but others they do not.
What is the difference between analysing and analyzing?
Analysing is the preferred spelling in British and Australian English, while analyzing is preferred in American and Canadian English. There are no other difference between the two.
How do you have a British acent?
It is important to note that there is difference between American English and British English. In order to sound British, one must adopt British English for example; Stress upon 'A' or use the word flat instead of apartment.
What is the difference between British and Indian English?
may be the british english is the same which we are taught in schools in india
What is the difference between recognize and recognize?
Recognise is British and recognize is American.
What is the difference between spanner and wrench?
spanner - british english ; wrench- american english
What is the difference between British English vs American English?
they call it diaper instead of nappie
What is the difference between curb and kerb?
Kerb is British English while curb is American English
What is the difference between Canadian English and British English?
Canadian English is a mixture of both American English and British English. Some words Canadians spell as the British do; i.e. 'colour', but others they do not.
What is the difference between Oxford and cambridge English?
Oxford follows British EnglishCambridge follows both British and American varieties
What is the difference between analysing and analyzing?
Analysing is the preferred spelling in British and Australian English, while analyzing is preferred in American and Canadian English. There are no other difference between the two.
What is the difference between absorption and adsorbtion?
its just a matter of spelling. the "b" is for British English and "p" is used in American English
Is there a difference between the expressions different than different from and different to?
The main difference between different than, different from and different to are the countries of origin and where it is used. Different than is common in American English, different to is more common in British English. The term different from is common in both American and British English.
How do you have a British acent?
It is important to note that there is difference between American English and British English. In order to sound British, one must adopt British English for example; Stress upon 'A' or use the word flat instead of apartment.
What is the difference between the words orient and orientate?
There is no difference. In American English, the verb is to orient; in British English, the verb is to orientate.Not true! 'To orient' is perfectly correct British English and is preferred by many of us to the unnecessarily and pointlessly extended version 'to orientate'.
What is difference between a train station and railway station?
Railway station is used in UK, it's British English and train station is used in US, it's American English. Other than that there is no difference between them.
What the different between American English and British English?
7
