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. Fill in the blank (UK context): 'The MP was heavily ____ for his remarks.'
2. What is the Old English root word that 'neighbour' originates from?
3. How many syllables does 'diarrhoea' have?
4. Does the word 'colorblind' change its spelling in the UK?
5. What is the literal meaning of the Old English root 'weard'?
6. Which suffix does the British spelling use?
7. How is 'offense' typically pronounced in American English?
8. Which sentence uses the American spelling correctly?
9. Is there a difference in meaning between 'mold' and 'mould'?
10. Which form is the standard past participle in British English?
11. How is 'modelling' typically pronounced in British English?
12. Who is largely credited with dropping the 'u' to create the American spelling?
13. In Canada, which spelling is generally preferred in technical writing, though both are understood?
14. What is the primary reason for the spelling difference between the US and the UK?
15. Who is largely credited with simplifying American spellings, including dropping the second 'l' in traveling?
16. Fill in the blank (US context): 'She ____ the letters.'
17. How is 'gray' typically pronounced in American English?
18. Which spelling is the standard form in American English?
19. Is 'diarrhoea' pronounced with an extra syllable compared to 'diarrhea' due to the 'o'?
20. What is the primary difference between 'rumor' and 'rumour'?
21. Which spelling is the standard form in British English?
22. What is the primary reason for the spelling difference between the US and the UK?
23. How is 'kilometre' typically pronounced in British English?
24. In Canada, which spelling is generally preferred, though both are understood?
25. What is the best spelling for an international scientific journal?
26. How is 'defense/defence' typically pronounced in both dialects?
27. Which of the following is an antonym for 'monolog/monologue'?
28. Which sentence uses the British spelling correctly?
29. Which spelling is the standard form in American English for the unit of length?
30. Which sentence uses the British spelling correctly?
31. Which sentence uses the British spelling correctly?
32. Who is largely credited with standardizing the '-ed' ending in American English?
33. What is the primary reason for the spelling difference between the US and the UK?
34. What is a common incorrect spelling of 'dreamt'?
35. How many syllables does 'defense/defence' have?
36. Which spelling is generally preferred in Canada?
37. What letter is dropped in the American spelling of the word?
38. What does the Hindi root 'pāy' mean in 'pāy-jāma'?
39. Which spelling rule explains the American version?
40. Which of the following is a common colloquialism for both 'jewelry' and 'jewellery'?
41. How is 'upwards' typically pronounced in British English?
42. What is an 'analog clock'?
43. Which word is the standard past tense in American English?
44. What is the primary reason for the spelling difference between the US and the UK?
45. In Canada, which spelling is generally preferred, though both are understood?
46. Which spelling is the standard form in British English?
47. Which sentence uses the British spelling correctly?
48. Which spelling is the standard form in British English?
49. Which medical organization in the US uses the spelling 'diarrhea'?
50. Where does the spelling difference between 'realize' and 'realise' originate?
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.
