by Rosa Radikalis

Created on: January 19, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

As a British woman living in Maryland, USA and a former English language teacher I reckon I know a bit about the differences between American English and non-American English. In particular, I am qualified to discuss the differences between the English used in the US and that which is spoken and written in the UK. The main differences concern spelling, pronunciation and some vocabulary items.

Spelling

There are two main differences in the way the British and Americans spell. American English often substitutes the letter S for a Z. Americans write realize while Brits use realise. Americans have also dropped the letter U in some cases. For example, while a Brit spells it colour the American writes color.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation can also differ greatly, hence that song about tomatoes and potatoes. I find the way in which Americans say the words aluminum and vitamin decidedly odd. Bear in mind, though, that in Britain itself there are several different regional accents. In the county of England I come from, a place in the north called South Tyneside; people speak in a way that sounds extremely bizarre to outsiders. Some might not even think that the locals of South Tyneside speak English.

Vocabulary.

Thinking of the differences in vocabulary makes me recollect an amusing incident, which occurred not long after I began dating my husband. He was talking to his daughter on the telephone. He asked her to make sure he had some black suspenders because he had a funeral to attend. When he got off the telephone, he couldn't understand why I was laughing profusely. I was laughing because I imagined him going to a funeral wearing what Americans call a garter belt. We Brits call garter belt suspenders. Of course, there are so many differences in the vocabulary commonly used by British and Americans that it would take forever to list them all. Here are just a few examples: Americans say pants, Brits say trousers. Americans say hose, Brits say tights. American say sweater, Brits say jumper. Americans say trash, Brits say rubbish. Americans say panties, Brits say knickers. Americans say diaper, Brits say nappy. Americans say hood, Brits say bonnet. Americans say trunk, brits say boot. Americans say bangs, Brits say fringe.

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