What are the main differences between British and American English? - The Readers' Issue 1

1.Use of the Present Perfect

In American English the past simple can be used to express an action that has occurred in the recent past.

I lost my keys. (American)

I've lost my keys. (British) 

2.Possession

The Britts express possession with have got

Do you have a car? (American)

Have you got a car? (British) 

3.The Verb Get

The past participle of the verb get is gotten in American English.

He's gotten much better at playing tennis. (American)

He's got much better at playing tennis. (British) 

4.Vocabulary

Some words change in the two varieties, for example:

An elevator in the US is a  lift in the UK

UK / US

Apartment = Flat

Band-aid = Plaster

Can = Tin

Cookie  Biscuit

Fall = Autumn

Gas = Petrol

Guy = Bloke

Highway = Motorway

Line = Queue

Pants = Trousers

For an A-Z list click here

5.Spelling

Two general differences between British and American spellings:

Words ending in -or (American) -our (British)

color, colour, humor, humour, flavor, flavour etc.

Words ending in -ize (American) -ise (British) recognize, recognise, patronize, patronise etc.