What are the Differences in American and British English Grammar? [with Examples]

English is the most spoken language by millions of people around the world. But we often get confused in noticing what are the differences in American and British English grammar. Worry not, as we have got your back. When understanding the differences between the two, one must note that the main differences are vocabulary and pronunciation. To help you out with the difference between the two types of English languages, we have compiled this blog post which will clear out this doubt of yours along with the examples which you can use in your writing. 

Must Read: Learn English Grammar from Scratch

Difference in American and British English Grammar with Examples

If you are a writer, then the first step to becoming a great one is knowing the difference between American and British English grammar, how it should be used and what are some of the basic words that are changed and should be kept in mind. To help you out with the same, we have compiled a list of differences between the two which will help you in writing. 

Particulars	American English	British English
Vocabulary	In American English, the front of the car is referred to as hood. On the other hand, the back of the car is known as truck.	Here, people refer to the front of the car as bonnet. While the back of the car is referred to as boot.
Use of Present Perfect Tense	American English often uses the simple past tense in similar contexts. Example: I just ate.	In British English, the present perfect tense is often used to describe an action that has occurred in the recent past and has relevance to the present moment. Example: I have just eaten.
Collective Nouns	In American English, collective nouns are usually treated as singular. Example: The team is winning.	In British English, collective nouns (e.g., “team,” “government,” “family”) can take either singular or plural verbs, depending on whether the group is being considered as a single unit or as individuals.  Example: The team are winning.
Tone	Americans tend to be more laid-back and upfront with their language than their British counterparts. While Americans tend to greet by  “hey” or a “What’s up?”.	In British, people tend to greet people by “Good morning” and a “How do you do?”.

Also Read: British English vs American English

What is British English Language?

British English is the form of the English language spoken and written in the United Kingdom. It encompasses various regional dialects and accents, including those found in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Here are some examples of British English which will give an understanding. 

• Colour (British) vs. Color (American)
• Centre (British) vs. Center (American)

What is American English Language? 

Similarly, American English is the form of English language that is spoken and written in the United States. It has distinct features in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar compared to other varieties of English, particularly British English. Some examples to give you an idea are:

• Center (American) vs. Centre (British)
• Favorite (American) vs. Favourite (British)

Also Read: Essay on English Language in 500 Words

15+ American and British English Examples (A to Z)

Now that you have a basic understanding of the difference between American and British English let’s look at some examples of the same from A to Z. These will help you in writing and not confuse you in the future. 

American English	British English
Adhesive tape	Sticking plaster
Awaken someone	Knock up
Baby carriage	Pram
Bathrobe	Dressing gown
Bill	Banknote
Bobbie pin	Hairgrip
Call	Ring up
Candy	Sweets
Closet	Cupboard
Delivery truck	Van
Diaper	Nappy
Drapes	Curtains
Elevator	Lift
Eraser	Rubber
First floor	Ground floor
Flashlight	Torch
Gas station	Filling Station
German shepherd	Alsatian
Hardware	Ironmonger
Intermission	Interval
Jail	Gaol/jail
Jump rope	Skipping rope

Lawyer /attorney	Solicitor
Legal holiday	Bank holiday
Line	Queue
Mailbox	Pillar-box
Motorcycle	Motorbike
News dealer	News agent
Overpass	Flyover
Pedestrian crossing	Zebra crossing
Raincoat	Mackintosh
Restroom	Toilet/cloakroom
Schedule	Time-table
Semester	Term
Soccer	Football
Take-out	Take-away
Truck	Lorry
Undershirt	Vest
Underwear	Small
Vacation	Holiday
Washcloth	Face flannel
Yard	Garden
Zip Code	Postal Code

33 British and American English Words with Spelling Differences 

Here is a list of 33 British and American words that have different spellings but mean the same thing.

British Words	American Words
Aluminium	Aluminum
Analogue	Analog
Analyse	Analyze
Apologise	Apologize
Behaviour	Behavior
Centre	Center
Cheque	Check
Colour	Color
Defence	Defense
Dialogue	Dialog
Enrol	Enroll
Favourite	Favorite
Flavour	Flavor
Honour	Honor
Humour	Humor
Jewellery	Jewelry
Labour	Labor
Licence	License
Litre	Liter
Leukaemia	Leukemia
Metropolitan	Metropolitian
Neighbour	Neighbor
Organise	Organize
Organisation	Organization
Paediatric	Pediatric
Practise	Practice
Programme	Program
Realise	Realize
Recognise	Recognize
Speciality	Specialty
Theatre	Theater
Travelling	Traveling
Tyre	Tire

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How Parents Can Help Their Children Learn English	Basic Rules in Grammar
Evolution of English Grammar Rules	History of English Grammar

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