Two nations divided by a common language. Explore the fascinating differences in spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Spot the patterns. Once you know the rule, you can spell hundreds of words correctly on either side of the pond.
Color
Colour
British English keeps the 'u' from Old French. American English drops it.
Center
Centre
Americans put the 'er' at the end. British keep the French 're'.
Realize
Realise
Words from Greek get a 'z' in the US, but an 's' in the UK.
Defense
Defence
Nouns often end in 'se' in the US and 'ce' in the UK.
Traveled
Travelled
UK English doubles the 'L' when adding suffixes.
License
Licence
The verb/noun distinction changes the 'c' to an 's' in America.
From the hood of your car to your pants, things have very different names.
Ordering food can be confusing. Don't ask for "chips" in London if you want potato chips.
French Fries
Chips
Potato Chips
Crisps
Cookie
Biscuit
Ground Beef
Minced Beef
It's not just what you say, but how you structure the sentence.
US: Treats groups as singular.
"The team is winning."
UK: Often treats groups as plural.
"The team are winning."
US: Prefers the standard "-ed".
"I learned something new today."
UK: Often uses the irregular "-t".
"I learnt something new today."
US: Month first, then Day.
"July 4, 2023" (MM/DD/YYYY)
UK: Day first, then Month.
"4 July 2023" (DD/MM/YYYY)
US: Punctuation goes inside quotes.
"Hello," he said.
UK: Punctuation goes outside quotes.
"Hello", he said.
Explore our extensive dictionary using different filters and categories.
Take this 50-question quiz to test your vocabulary knowledge.
1. In Canada, which form is generally preferred for the past participle, though both are understood?
2. Who is largely credited with simplifying American spellings, including changing 'plough' to 'plow'?
3. From which language did the word 'armour' originate?
4. What is the root noun from which 'marvelous/marvellous' is derived?
5. Is 'forwards' completely wrong in the UK?
6. Which spelling is the standard form in American English?
7. Which related word is spelled with one 'l' in the US?
8. Which of the following is another US/UK verb pair that follows the exact same single vs. double 'l' pattern?
9. Which spelling is the standard form in British English?
10. Which of the following is the correct American spelling for the metric unit of volume?
11. Which spelling is the standard form in British English?
12. Which spelling is the standard form in British English?
13. Which sentence uses the American form correctly?
14. What is the noun form of the verb criticize/criticise?
15. What is the primary reason for the spelling difference between the US and the UK?
16. What is the correct adjective form for a highly educated professor?
17. What does the word analog/analogue typically refer to in technology?
18. Who is largely credited with simplifying American spellings, including dropping the double 'l'?
19. Which sentence uses the American spelling correctly?
20. Which sentence uses the US spelling correctly?
21. Which word is the standard past tense in American English?
22. Which spelling is the standard form in American English?
23. Which spelling is generally considered older, stemming from Latinized Greek roots?
24. Complete the common English phrase: 'Flavor of the ____.'
25. Which spelling is universally preferred in the UK for both verbs and adjectives?
26. Which spelling is the standard form in American English?
27. What does the word 'enrolment/enrollment' mean?
28. Who is largely credited with simplifying American spellings, including the use of 'z'?
29. Which spelling of the word follows the pattern of other UK medical terms like 'gonorrhoea' and 'oedema'?
30. Is 'diarrhoea' pronounced with an extra syllable compared to 'diarrhea' due to the 'o'?
31. Which spelling is the standard form in American English?
32. Which spelling is the traditional and cultural form in British English?
33. How is 'rumour' typically pronounced in British English?
34. How is 'center' typically pronounced in American English?
35. Are 'rumor' and 'rumour' the same word?
36. Are 'armor' and 'armour' pronounced the same way?
37. What is the correct UK present participle (ing form)?
38. Which word is the standard past tense in British English?
39. What is a safe, formal alternative to using 'gotten' or 'got'?
40. How many syllables are in 'neighbour' (UK)?
41. What letter is doubled in the British spelling of the word?
42. How is 'honor' typically pronounced in American English?
43. Fill in the blank (US context): 'The IT department maintains a service ____.'
44. How is 'traveler' typically pronounced in American English?
45. Which form is traditionally preferred in British English?
46. What is the primary reason for the spelling difference between the US and the UK?
47. Which spelling is historically older?
48. In Canada, which spelling is generally preferred, though both are understood?
49. Which spelling is the traditional and preferred form in British English?
50. Which spelling is universally preferred in international academic publishing?
The main differences lie in vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and pronunciation. For example, Americans say 'elevator' and 'apartment', while British people say 'lift' and 'flat'. Spelling differences include words like 'color' (US) vs 'colour' (UK).
Neither is better than the other; it depends on your goals and location. If you plan to study or work in the US, American English is more practical. If you are moving to the UK or a Commonwealth country, British English is preferred. However, native speakers of both varieties can understand each other perfectly.
Some common vocabulary differences include 'truck' (US) vs 'lorry' (UK), 'vacation' (US) vs 'holiday' (UK), 'sneakers' (US) vs 'trainers' (UK), and 'French fries' (US) vs 'chips' (UK). You can explore our full A-Z list above to discover hundreds of these differences.
The differences in spelling largely stem from the work of Noah Webster, an American lexicographer who reformed American spelling in the early 19th century to make it more phonetic and distinct from British rule. This is why Americans use '-or' (color) instead of the British '-our' (colour), and '-er' (center) instead of '-re' (centre).
Generally, no. Because of movies, television, and the internet, both groups are highly exposed to the other's dialect. While some slang words or strong regional accents might require a moment to adjust to, British and American English speakers communicate with each other very easily.
