British English and American English are two major varieties of the English language. They share the same basic grammar and most of the same vocabulary, but they differ in spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary, punctuation and, in some cases, grammar.
For English learners, these differences can sometimes be confusing. You may see colour on one website and color on another, or hear someone say flat while another person uses apartment.
Neither variety is automatically more correct than the other. The important thing is to understand the differences and remain consistent with the form of English you choose to use.
This guide explains the main differences between British and American English, with simple examples you can use in everyday writing and conversation.
What is British English?
British English refers to forms of English traditionally used in the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It has influenced English usage in many countries, including Kenya and other Commonwealth countries. British English is also widely used in international organisations, education, journalism and professional communication around the world.
Some common British English spellings include:
- colour
- favourite
- centre
- organise
- travelling
- programme
What is American English?
American English is the form of English commonly used in the United States.
It has become highly influential internationally through American films, television, music, technology, business, social media and popular culture.
Some common American English spellings include:
- color
- favorite
- center
- organize
- traveling
- program
American English is also widely understood outside the United States.
Is British English different from American English?
Yes, but the differences are usually relatively small.
A British English speaker and an American English speaker can generally understand each other without difficulty.
The biggest differences tend to involve:
- Spelling
- Vocabulary
- Pronunciation
- Dates and formats
- Some grammar
- Punctuation and style
The basic English language remains the same.
British vs American English spelling
Spelling is one of the easiest differences to notice.
-our vs -or
British English often uses -our, while American English commonly uses -or.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| colour | color |
| favourite | favorite |
| honour | honor |
| behaviour | behavior |
| neighbour | neighbor |
| labour | labor |
For example:
British:
My favourite colour is blue.
American:
My favorite color is blue.
Both are correct within their respective varieties.
-re vs -er
Some words ending in -re in British English are commonly written with -er in American English.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| centre | center |
| metre | meter |
| theatre | theater |
| litre | liter |
| fibre | fiber |
For example:
British:
The theatre is in the city centre.
American:
The theater is in the city center.
-ise vs -ize
British English commonly uses -ise, although -ize is also accepted in some British usage and style guides.
American English generally uses -ize.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| organise | organize |
| realise | realize |
| recognise | recognize |
| apologise | apologize |
| specialise | specialize |
For a website or publication, the important thing is to choose a style and use it consistently.
Double consonants
Some words can also differ in whether a consonant is doubled.
For example:
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| travelling | traveling |
| travelled | traveled |
| cancelled | canceled |
| labelled | labeled |
| modelling | modeling |
However, spelling differences are not always completely predictable, so checking a reliable dictionary or style guide can be useful.
British vs American English vocabulary
Some everyday words are completely different.
This can be confusing for English learners because two people may be referring to exactly the same thing while using different words.
| British English | American English | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| flat | apartment | A home in a larger building |
| lift | elevator | A machine used to move between floors |
| holiday | vacation | Time away from work or school |
| lorry | truck | A large road vehicle |
| biscuit | cookie | A baked snack |
| crisps | chips | Thin, crispy slices of potato |
| chips | fries | Fried strips of potato |
| trainers | sneakers | Sports or casual shoes |
| trousers | pants | Clothing worn on the legs |
| petrol | gas / gasoline | Fuel for vehicles |
| motorway | freeway / highway | Major road |
| underground | subway | Urban railway system |
| queue | line | A group of people waiting |
| post | Letters and parcels | |
| postcode | ZIP code | A postal area code |
| torch | flashlight | A portable electric light |
| tap | faucet | A device that controls water |
| nappy | diaper | Clothing for a baby |
| dummy | pacifier | A device given to babies to suck |
| chemist | drugstore / pharmacy | A place where medicines are sold |
Some words can cause funny misunderstandings
A few vocabulary differences are particularly important because the same word can have a different meaning.
One famous example is pants.
In British English, “pants” usually means underwear.
In American English, “pants” normally means trousers.
Another example is football.
In British English, football normally refers to the sport Americans call soccer.
In American English, football usually refers to American football.
Context usually makes the meaning clear.
British vs American English for cars
Transport vocabulary also differs.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| bonnet | hood |
| boot | trunk |
| windscreen | windshield |
| number plate | license plate |
| indicator | turn signal |
| gear stick | gear shift |
| car park | parking lot |
| petrol station | gas station |
For example:
British:
I left my bag in the boot.
American:
I left my bag in the trunk.
British vs American English for travel
Travellers may encounter several differences.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| return ticket | round-trip ticket |
| single ticket | one-way ticket |
| luggage | baggage |
| timetable | schedule |
| holiday | vacation |
| underground | subway |
You may therefore hear:
“What time is the train timetable?”
in British English contexts, while an American speaker might talk about the train schedule.
British vs American English pronunciation
Pronunciation can vary considerably between British and American accents.
There is not one single British accent or one single American accent. People from different parts of the UK and United States pronounce words differently.
One noticeable difference involves the letter r.
Many traditional British accents, particularly non-rhotic varieties, do not pronounce the r at the end of a syllable.
For example, “car” may sound closer to:
“cah”
in some British accents.
Most mainstream American accents pronounce the r clearly.
Another difference can be heard in words such as:
- water
- better
- city
- party
- schedule
The exact pronunciation depends on the speaker’s regional accent.
The pronunciation of “schedule”
This is a well-known difference.
In many British English varieties:
schedule → “shed-yool”
In American English:
schedule → “sked-jool”
Both pronunciations are widely recognised.
British vs American English grammar
The grammar is largely the same, but there are some differences in usage.
Present perfect vs past simple
British English often uses the present perfect when talking about a recent event.
British:
I’ve just eaten.
American English commonly allows the simple past in similar situations:
American:
I just ate.
Both forms are widely understood.
Have got
British English commonly uses have got when talking about possession.
I’ve got a car.
American English frequently uses:
I have a car.
Both are correct.
Collective nouns
British English can sometimes treat collective nouns as either singular or plural.
For example:
The team are playing well.
American English more commonly treats a collective noun as singular:
The team is playing well.
However, usage varies by context and style.
British vs American English punctuation
There are also some differences in punctuation and style.
Full stop vs period
British English usually calls this:
full stop
American English usually calls it:
period
The punctuation mark itself is the same:
.
Quotation marks
British publications may use single quotation marks in some styles:
‘This is an example.’
American writing commonly uses double quotation marks:
“This is an example.”
However, quotation-mark conventions vary between publications, publishers and style guides.
British vs American English dates
Date formats can cause more confusion than spelling.
In British English, dates are commonly written:
10 September 2026
or:
10/09/2026
In American English, the same date is commonly written:
September 10, 2026
or:
09/10/2026
The numerical format can therefore be ambiguous.
For international communication, writing the month as a word is often clearer.
Instead of:
10/09/2026
write:
10 September 2026
or:
September 10, 2026
depending on your preferred style.
British vs American English time
Both varieties commonly use the 12-hour clock in everyday conversation.
For example:
8:30 am
or:
8:30 a.m.
The 24-hour clock is also widely used, particularly in transport, business, medicine, the military and official contexts.
British vs American English in education
Some educational terms also differ.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| university | college / university |
| primary school | elementary school |
| secondary school | high school |
| term | semester / term |
| mark | grade |
| maths | math |
| timetable | schedule |
| revision | studying / review |
For example, a British student might say:
“I need to revise for my exams.”
An American student might say:
“I need to study for my exams.”
British vs American English: maths or math?
This is a small but famous difference.
British English:
maths
American English:
math
For example:
British:
I’m good at maths.
American:
I’m good at math.
British vs American English in business
Both varieties are widely used in international business.
However, organisations often have a preferred style.
If you work for a British organisation, you may be expected to use British spelling:
organisation
programme
colour
An American organisation may prefer:
organization
program
color
The best approach is to follow your employer’s, client’s or publication’s style guide when one exists.
Which is better: British or American English?
Neither is inherently better.
The best variety depends on your audience and purpose.
Choose British English if:
- You are writing for a British audience.
- Your organisation uses British English.
- You are following a British publication’s style.
- Your educational institution requires it.
- You are writing primarily for audiences accustomed to British English.
Choose American English if:
- You are writing primarily for an American audience.
- Your organisation uses American English.
- You are following an American publication’s style.
- Your clients are primarily in the United States.
- Your content is specifically intended for the US market.
If your audience is international, either can work. Consistency is more important than trying to mix the two varieties.
Which English should English learners use?
There is no universal answer.
If you live or work in a country where British English is commonly taught and used, learning British English may feel more natural.
If you plan to study, work or live in the United States, American English may be more useful.
However, you should not worry too much about choosing the “correct” variety. The vast majority of English speakers are familiar with both.
The most important things are:
- Clear communication
- Correct grammar
- Understandable pronunciation
- Appropriate vocabulary
- Consistent spelling
Can British and American English be mixed?
It is possible, and people will usually understand you.
However, mixing varieties can make your writing look inconsistent.
For example:
“My favourite color is blue and I live in an apartment near the city centre.”
This sentence combines British and American forms:
- favourite → British
- color → American
- apartment → American
- centre → British
There is nothing seriously wrong with the sentence, but a publication might prefer one consistent style.
British version:
“My favourite colour is blue and I live in a flat near the city centre.”
American version:
“My favorite color is blue and I live in an apartment near the city center.”
British vs American English: quick comparison
| Category | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | colour | color |
| Favourite | favourite | favorite |
| Centre | centre | center |
| Theatre | theatre | theater |
| Organise | organise | organize |
| Travelling | travelling | traveling |
| Flat | flat | apartment |
| Lift | lift | elevator |
| Holiday | holiday | vacation |
| Lorry | lorry | truck |
| Petrol | petrol | gas |
| Biscuit | biscuit | cookie |
| Crisps | crisps | chips |
| Chips | chips | fries |
| Trainers | trainers | sneakers |
| Trousers | trousers | pants |
| Queue | queue | line |
| Post | post | |
| Maths | maths | math |
| Full stop | full stop | period |
British English is not the same as an accent
It is important to distinguish English variety from accent.
British English includes many different accents, including those associated with different parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
American English also includes many regional accents.
You can therefore use British spelling while having an accent that sounds very different from another British speaker.
The same applies to American English.
How to choose your English style
If you are writing regularly, choose one variety as your default.
For example, if you decide to use British English, make choices such as:
- colour rather than color
- favourite rather than favorite
- centre rather than center
- travelling rather than traveling
- flat rather than apartment when appropriate
If you choose American English, use the corresponding American forms consistently.
This is particularly useful for:
- Websites
- Blogs
- Books
- CVs
- Reports
- Business documents
- School assignments
- News articles
- Marketing materials