IELTS HOPECO Grammar: British - American Differences

 

Britain	America
Many words ending:  -our in Britain and -or in America.
✓ colour, favour  , neighbour	✓ color, favor, neighbor
Words ending: -tre in Britain and -ter in America.
✓ centre, litre, theatre	✓ center, liter, theater
Doubling of letters: In Britain, the 'l' is doubled in an unstressed syllable
✓ travelling, marvellous	✓ traveling, marvelous
Different spelling
✓ analyse, catalogue, cheque, defence, kerb, plough, pyjamas, tyre (for a wheel)	✓ analyze, catalog, check, defense, curb, plow, pajamas, tire
Different words
✓ handbag, holiday, lorry, motorway, nappy, pavement, tap	✓ purse/pocketbook, vacation, truck, freeway, diaper, sidewalk, faucet
Verbs: In Britain some verbs end in either -ize or -ise. In America, they always end in –ize.
✓ apologise, organize, realise	✓ apologize, organize, realize
Regular - Irregular forms of verbs: Some verbs have alternative regular and irregular past tense and past participle forms. In Britain, the irregular form is more often used, whereas in American English, there is a preference for the regular form.
✓ dream    dreamed   ✓ learn      learned   ✓ spell      spelled   ✓ spoil      spoiled	✓ dream    dreamt   ✓ learn      learnt   ✓ spell      spelt   ✓ spoil      spoilt
The pronoun 'one': Americans do not often use 'one' to mean 'people in general', nor do they use ‘one’s’ or 'oneself'.
✓ One should look after one's health.	✓ You should look after your health.   ✓ People should look after their health.
Dates: There are differences in the way dates are said and written.
✓ 4th July - the fourth of July	✓ July 4   - July four   -   July fourth
Numbers: The British use 'and' between hundred and the rest of the number. The Americans do not.
✓ Two hundred and twenty.	✓ Two hundred twenty.

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