BRITISH ENGLISH - AMERICAN ENGLISH

some differences :
-our/-or
Many words end in -our in Britain, and in -or in America.

Here are some examples :


Britain America

colour color

favour favor

neighbour neighbor


-tre/-ter

Words ending in -tre in Britain, end in -ter in America, for example:


Britain America

centre center

litre liter

theatre theater


Doubling of Letters : In Britain, the 'l' is doubled in an unstressed syllable :


Britain America

travelling traveling

marvellous marvelous


Different spelling :


Britain America

analyse analyze

catalogue catalog

cheque check

defence defence/defense

kerb curb

plough plow

pyjamas pajamas

tyre (for a wheel) tire


Different words :

Britain America

handbag purse/pocketbook

holiday vacation

lorry truck

motorway freeway

nappy diaper

pavement sidewalk

tap faucet


VERBS

Verbs ending in -'ize' or '-ise'

In Britain, some verbs end in either -ize or -ise. Both are used.

In America, they always end in -ize.

examples :

apologise/apologize

organise/organize

realise/realize


Regular - Irregular forms

Some verbs have alternative regular and irregular past tense and past participle forms,

for example :

dream - dreamed or dreamt.


In Britain, the irregular form is more often used, whereas in American English, there is a preference for the regular form.


Here are some of those verbs :



dream dreamed/dreamt

learn learned/learnt

spell spelled/spelt

spoil spoiled/spoilt

and also:

dive - dived - dived (GB)

dive - dove - dived (US only)


The Pronoun 'one'

Americans do not often use 'one' to mean "people in general", nor do they use 'one's' or 'oneself'.

GB : One should look after one's health.

US : You should look after your health.
People should look after their health.



Dates

There are differences in the way dates are said and written.


GB : 4th July - the fourth of July US : July 4 - July four - July fourth

GB : 6/12/99 means the 6th of December 1999 US : 6/12/99 means the 12th of June 1999


Numbers

The British use 'and' between hundred and the rest of the number. The Americans leave it out.
GB : Two hundred and twenty. US : Two hundred twenty.

from: Learn English Today