How Did These Differences Come About?
The English language was first introduced to America by British settlers in the 17th century, and it has evolved since then. A key player who nudged American English away from British English was Noah Webster. In the 18th century, he decided to create the now well-known Webster dictionary and worked on developing a new version of English for America. He wanted American English to be more independent from British English and to spell words more as he believed they sound. Britain kept its spelling of words which was anchored in other languages such as French and German.
Differences between British English and American English
- Words spelt with an "our" in British English and just with an "or" in American English:
Colour/color
Flavour/flavor
Neighbour/neighbor
Favourite/favorite
- Words that end with an "ise" in British English and with an "ize" in American English:
Organise/organize
Realise/realize
Recognise/recogize
- As well as differences in spelling, there are different words used in British and American English for the same thing. Here are some of the most common word differences:
British English American English
Football Soccer
Petrol Gas
Rubbish Garbage
Crisps Potato Chips
Holiday Vacation
Film Movie
Chips French Fries
These are just a few examples of the many differences between British and American English that you may come across. Next time you watch an English film or perhaps speak with a native English speaker, you may start to notice these differences and understand a little more about why these differences exist.
Students Learning British English in Our London Classroom Students Learning British English in Our London Classroom
Students Learning American English in Our New York Classroom
