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Given the number of places around the world that English is spoken, differences are bound to emerge. Despite how much the USA and UK have in common, there are enough differences between their two versions of the English language that someone may not always understand exactly what someone from the other country is saying. Not only are there 160 distinct dialects of the English language, but there's also different spelling and even words, used to describe one or other thing. Fortunately, the US State Department has created a series of these useful graphics to help clear things up between the British English Vs. American English usage.

Did you know, that the difference between spelling words like American color and British colour, or humor and humour, comes from the Brits adopting, their now called British words, from Old French language? When it came to America later, the spelling was simplified. And so is with many other American English and British English differences, as the adaptation of grammar took its part.

The US and the UK's imperial histories and modern influence over the world have changed the English wording forever. Because it was exported to countries all over the world, it has been forced to accept different variations of the same language, the most known one to be the British Vs. American.

Even if you're a native speaker of UK or US English, there's a good chance you'll learn something new here. Check the brilliant graphs about British Vs. American English language differences below.

More info: americanenglish.state.gov (h/t: designyoutrust, demilked)

#1

British Vs American Words For Clothing

British Vs American Words For Clothing

americanenglish.state.gov Report

#2

British Vs American Words For Food

British Vs American Words For Food

americanenglish.state.gov Report

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CharlesFranks
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8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We too have french fries (what you get in McDonalds) chips are different. We also use peckish and hungry they indicate a degree in our state of hunger.

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#4

British Vs American Words For Vegetables

British Vs American Words For Vegetables

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Arnold dela cruz
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd rather use the one who introduce Microsoft, Google, Apple, Youtube & Internet. I use this my reference and of course they favor American English. Internet age uses american english. If your child ask a question or spelling probably you will turn to to google or microsoft to type & use spelling checker and you will end up using american english spelling as british english spelling will be mostly underlined with red unless British could invent and beat all those american inventions/inovation as I mentioned above.

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Virtuous One
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The WORLD WIDE WEB which you used to leave your comment was invented by an Englisman Tim Berthers-Lee https://home.cern/science/computing/birth-web/short-history-web

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KayKaminga
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the U.S. cilantro is used for the fresh herb and coriander is used for the dried ground herb.

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IsabelleHerbert
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, courgette is French and Zucchini is Italian! Neither is English. I think this just indicates where past immigrations have originated!

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Suzanne Haigh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

English actually uses both for some strange reason, but they were not grown in England back in time so we stuck to their true names, nothing to do with our language having european words in.

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Reginald McGriff
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're just sexual emojis now, like who really talks about zucchini or eggplants?

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Andrew Hobson
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A cookie is also a cookie in the UK. Don't confuse cookies with biscuits (e.g. McVities Digestives, etc)

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Ioana Oancea Danciu
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can see a difference between courgette and zucchini, as vegetables. Zucchini is darker, at least. We haven't had zucchini here, in Romania, since a few years ago and when they entered the market were considered a trend and they were very expensive, by comparison to regular courgettes, which are cheap during summer time.

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Emmett Reely
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can we also discuss this 'capsicum' v 'pepper' difference as well? also, in Australia we call them 'green beans'. I've seen 'eggplant' used more here, but we still understand 'aubergine'. never heard of 'courgette' (except when speaking french, of course).

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phoeny123
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We call them green beans, i lived in america all my life never heard anyone say string bean.

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JoanneOsborn
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are French beans in your pic. British runner beans or string beans are wider and flatter.

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#5

British Vs American Words For Housing

British Vs American Words For Housing

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PeterKerngast
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8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Labeling of floors in elevators in both the US and UK is a permanent cause of confusion for continental ppl lol

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#6

British Vs American

British Vs American

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AndreaK
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Charles Franks is obviously an English language scholar. Please consult him before writing these articles

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#8

British English Vs American English

British English Vs American English

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MalcolmeCollins
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my sister in laws had a period of schooling in the states and had the class in fits of laughter when she asked for a rubber to rectify a mistake she had made not realising that a rubber was slang for a condom. Very red faced.

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#9

British English Vs American English

British English Vs American English

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IsabelleHerbert
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Autumn is widely used in the US. Basically holiday means a public holiday (what would be called a bank holiday in the UK) whereas vacation is your time off work. Actually that seems pretty reasonable.

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#10

British English Vs American English

British English Vs American English

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KristenHamilton
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Estate wagon sounds so much better. Would probably sell better too. You can't call a '78 Oldsmobile station wagon a 'sports wagon'...estate wagon would totally work tho

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#11

British Vs American Spelling

British Vs American Spelling

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CharlesFranks
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A parlour is a nice room in your house for special guests (bit old fashioned), you generally don't by ice cream there.

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#13

British Vs American Words For Sweets

British Vs American Words For Sweets

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SandraLeslie
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sweets/candy in Australia = lollies, candy floss= fairy floss, ice lolly = icy pole,

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#14

British & American English

British & American English

americanenglish.state.gov Report

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#17

British English Vs American English

British English Vs American English

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FaithFielder
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8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The southern U.S. version of dish towel is "cup towel," even though you dry other dishes with it. And if we are betraying our roots, we say "dishrag" or "washrag" instead of dish cloth. I have to be really cautious to say the fancier one.

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#19

British Vs American

British Vs American

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guess
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always tried to spell mustache as moustache because it looked right to me, but autocorrect says it's incorrect! I guess I wasn't wrong, I was just a little British :D

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#20

British Vs American Differences

British Vs American Differences

americanenglish.state.gov Report

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#22

British English Vs American English

British English Vs American English

americanenglish.state.gov Report

#23

British Vs American

British Vs American

americanenglish.state.gov Report

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DanielleIllich
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8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Diversion was a nightmare when I first moved to England! We were lost for 2 hours because the highway just closed and we had to exit! We had no clue what to do. Finally we saw a tiny sign that said diversion. We followed it and made it home!

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