Short answer: American and British English share the same grammar core, but they differ in spelling (color vs. colour), vocabulary (elevator vs. lift), a few grammar habits (the team is vs. the team are) and punctuation and date formats. If your readers are in the United States, use American forms throughout and stay consistent.
Spelling differences.
Most spelling differences follow a few patterns: -or vs. -our, -er vs. -re, -ize vs. -ise, and one l vs. two in words like traveling.
| American English | British English |
|---|---|
| color | colour |
| favorite | favourite |
| center | centre |
| theater | theatre |
| realize | realise |
| organize | organise |
| defense | defence |
| gray | grey |
| traveling | travelling |
| catalog | catalogue |
| tire (on a car) | tyre |
| jewelry | jewellery |
| check (bank) | cheque |
| license (noun) | licence |
Vocabulary differences
These everyday words are the ones learners confuse most. The American form is on the left.
| American English | British English |
|---|---|
| apartment | flat |
| elevator | lift |
| truck | lorry |
| cookie | biscuit |
| french fries | chips |
| potato chips | crisps |
| vacation | holiday |
| trunk (of a car) | boot |
| gas, gasoline | petrol |
| sidewalk | pavement |
| soccer | football |
| diaper | nappy |
| trash, garbage | rubbish |
| fall | autumn |
| pants | trousers |
| sneakers | trainers |
| cell phone | mobile phone |
| eraser | rubber |
| line (of people) | queue |
| first floor (ground level) | ground floor |
Some words mean different things in each country. For example, chips are hot fried potato sticks in the UK but thin crispy slices in a bag in the US, and pants means trousers in the US but underwear in the UK.
Grammar differences
| Topic | American English | British English |
|---|---|---|
| Collective nouns | The team is winning. | The team are winning. |
| Past participle of get | I’ve gotten better at writing. | I’ve got better at writing. |
| Recent past actions | I just ate . | I have just eaten . |
| Ranges of days | Monday through Friday | Monday to Friday |
| Weekends | on the weekend | at the weekend |
| Hospital | She is in the hospital. | She is in hospital. |
| Writing to someone | Write me soon. | Write to me soon. |
Both forms are understood everywhere. The point is to pick one standard for each piece of writing.
Punctuation and dates
- Dates: Americans write month/day/year, so 10/5/2026 is October 5, 2026. In the UK it is 10 May 2026.
- Quotation marks: American English uses double quotation marks first and puts periods and commas inside them: She said, “I’m ready.”
- Titles: Americans write Mr., Mrs. and Dr. with a period. British writing often leaves the period out.
- Serial comma: Many American style guides use the Oxford comma (red, white, and blue). British style often omits it.
Which one should you use?
Use American English if your readers, customers or school are in the United States, and for tests that follow American usage. Use British English for readers in the UK and most Commonwealth countries. Whichever you choose, do not mix them in one document.
Take the American vs. British English quiz
1. Which spelling is American?
2. What does an American usually call a “lift “?
3. What does an American call British “chips ” (hot fried potato sticks)?
4. Which sentence follows typical American usage?
5. Which is the usual American past participle of get?
6. Which date does an American read as October 5, 2026?
7. Where does an American put a period at the end of a quotation?
8. What do Americans call “petrol “?
9. Which spelling is American?
10. Which phrase is typical American English for a range of days?
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest difference between American and British English?
Vocabulary and spelling are the most noticeable. Grammar differences exist but are smaller, such as the team is vs. the team are.
Is American English or British English correct?
Both are correct. Choose the one that matches your readers and stay consistent.
Which English should I learn for the TOEFL?
ETS, which makes the TOEFL, is based in the United States and the test mainly uses North American English, so American spelling and vocabulary are a safe choice. Check ETS guidance if you prefer British forms.
