The United States and the United Kingdom

Shaw
The United States and the United Kingdom

colonization.
x
The first English settlement was established in Jamestown, Virginia in

1607.

The language also spread to other parts of the world as a result of British trade and colonization. By 1921 the former British Empire controlled a population of 470 to 570 million people (a ¼ of the world’s population).

changed into two versions we refer to as American English

and Standard British English.
Differences include: pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, idioms, and formatting of dates.

is different:
05/01/2013: British English – DD/MM/YYYY
01/05/2013: American English – MM/DD/YYYY

The

way UK and USA speakers say dates is also different:
5th of January 2013 – British English
January 5th, 2013 – American English

It gets a bit confusing!

ending in –or.
Example: Labour/ Labor, Favour/Favor, Savour/Savor, Colour/Color
American English

does not always use double consonants.
Example: Traveller/Traveler
American English has changed words ending in “re” to “er.”
Example: Fibre / Fiber, Centre / Center, Theatre / Theater
American English has changed “C” to “S” in words.
Example: Defence / Defense, Offence / Offense
American English has changed “S” into “Z.”
Example: Recognise / Recognize, Hyponotise / Hypnotize, Realise / Realize

in British and American English.
Examples:
Dustbin and Trash Can
Rubbish and

Garbage

Differences most likely to create confusion are those where the same word or phrase is used for two different objects.
Examples:
French Fries  Chips
Chips  Crisps
Crisps  Chips
Chips  French Fries

/ Path / Grass
The /o/ sound is pronounced with lips

rounded only in British English.
Example: Not / Lot / Hot / Top
Unaccented syllables are very slightly pronounced in British English.
Example: literature.
Ts are less pronounced in American English.
Example: Meter / Twenty
The double T turns into a D sound in American English.
Example: Kettle / Battle / Bottle / Little