This table showcases the differences in spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation between American and British English. Understanding these variations can help with communication, especially when interacting with people from different English-speaking regions.

What is the difference between American and British English?

Category	American English (AmE)	British English (BrE)	Examples
Spelling: -or vs -our	AmE uses -or suffix	BrE uses -our suffix	AmE: Color, Honor BrE: Colour, Honour
Spelling: -ize vs -ise	AmE uses -ize for verbs	BrE often uses -ise	AmE: Realize, Organize BrE: Realise, Organise
Spelling: -er vs -re	AmE uses -er suffix	BrE uses -re suffix	AmE: Center, Meter BrE: Centre, Metre
Spelling: -se vs -ce	AmE uses -se for certain nouns	BrE uses -ce	AmE: Defense, License BrE: Defence, Licence
Spelling: -ll vs -l	AmE uses single L in some words	BrE often uses double L	AmE: Traveling, Fulfill BrE: Travelling, Fulfil
Vocabulary: Car-related	AmE uses trunk, hood, gas	BrE uses boot, bonnet, petrol	AmE: Trunk of a car, Gasoline BrE: Boot of a car, Petrol
Vocabulary: Public transportation	AmE uses subway	BrE uses underground/tube	AmE: Take the subway BrE: Take the underground
Vocabulary: School-related	AmE uses grade, principal	BrE uses year, headteacher	AmE: 10th grade, School principal BrE: Year 11, Headteacher
Vocabulary: Apartment vs Flat	AmE uses apartment	BrE uses flat	AmE: I live in an apartment BrE: I live in a flat
Vocabulary: Vacation vs Holiday	AmE uses vacation	BrE uses holiday	AmE: Going on vacation BrE: Going on holiday
Vocabulary: Pants vs Trousers	AmE uses pants for clothing	BrE uses trousers	AmE: Wear pants to work BrE: Wear trousers to work
Vocabulary: Sweater vs Jumper	AmE uses sweater	BrE uses jumper	AmE: Put on a sweater BrE: Put on a jumper
Vocabulary: Faucet vs Tap	AmE uses faucet	BrE uses tap	AmE: Turn on the faucet BrE: Turn on the tap
Vocabulary: Cookie vs Biscuit	AmE uses cookie	BrE uses biscuit	AmE: Have a cookie BrE: Have a biscuit
Vocabulary: Elevator vs Lift	AmE uses elevator	BrE uses lift	AmE: Take the elevator BrE: Take the lift
Vocabulary: Movie vs Film	AmE uses movie	BrE uses film	AmE: Watch a movie BrE: Watch a film
Vocabulary: Flashlight vs Torch	AmE uses flashlight	BrE uses torch	AmE: Use a flashlight BrE: Use a torch
Vocabulary: Diaper vs Nappy	AmE uses diaper	BrE uses nappy	AmE: Change the baby’s diaper BrE: Change the baby’s nappy
Vocabulary: Mail vs Post	AmE uses mail as a noun and verb	BrE uses post	AmE: Send a mail, mailbox BrE: Send a post, postbox
Grammar: Present Perfect	AmE often uses simple past where BrE uses present perfect	BrE prefers present perfect	AmE: I already ate. BrE: I have already eaten.
Grammar: Gotten vs Got	AmE uses gotten as the past participle of “get”	BrE uses got	AmE: I have gotten better. BrE: I have got better.
Collective Nouns	AmE treats collective nouns as singular	BrE treats collective nouns as plural	AmE: The team is winning. BrE: The team are winning.
Punctuation: Full stop vs Period	AmE uses period for the punctuation mark	BrE uses full stop	AmE: End of a sentence, use a period. BrE: End of a sentence, use a full stop.
Use of “Shall”	AmE uses will more commonly	BrE uses shall more frequently for offers and suggestions	AmE: I will help you. BrE: Shall I help you?
Pronunciation: Schedule	AmE pronounces “schedule” as sked-yool	BrE pronounces it as shed-yool	AmE: Pronounce as “sked-yool” BrE: Pronounce as “shed-yool”
Pronunciation: Herb	AmE often drops the h sound	BrE pronounces the h	AmE: Pronounce as “erb” BrE: Pronounce as “herb” with an h sound
Use of “Have”	AmE uses have in expressions of possession	BrE uses have got	AmE: I have a car. BrE: I have got a car.
Use of “On the weekend” vs “At the weekend”	AmE says on the weekend	BrE says at the weekend	AmE: I’ll visit on the weekend. BrE: I’ll visit at the weekend.

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