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UK vs. US English: Tips for ESL students
February 21, 2019 | Blog
You may be required to write in any one of a number of dialects, including British English, American English, Canadian English or Australian English, but UK and US English are the dialects most commonly requested by our clients.
While spelling and grammar checkers have become more adept at discerning the differences between the various dialects, we still recommend you check the spelling in your essay yourself. In the table below you can see some of the most common UK/US errors made by ESL students.
| Dilemma | US | UK |
|---|---|---|
| z or s? | Organize, Organization, Generalize, Analyze | Organise, Organisation, Generalise, Analyse |
| or or our? | Color, Flavor, Neighbor, Behavior | Colour, Flavour, Neighbour, Behaviour |
| l or ll? | Labeled, Traveled, Modeling | Labelled, Travelled, Modelling |
| s or c? | Practice | Practice (noun)/Practise (verb) |
| er or re? | Center | Centre |
Vocabulary choice
British and American English speakers may use different words to describe the same terms. Take care to consult a reputable dictionary—Merriam-Webster for US English, Macquarie for Australian English, Oxford or Cambridge for UK English, and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary for Canadian English—to make sure that the terms you’re using are commonly understood in the dialect you’re aiming for.
Here are some common examples of words that might cause confusion across dialects:
| American English | British English |
|---|---|
| antenna | aerial |
| mad | angry |
| fall | autumn |
| bill | bank note |
| attorney | barrister, solicitor |
| cookie | biscuit |
| hood | bonnet |
| trunk | boot |
| suspenders | braces |
| janitor | caretaker |
| drug store | chemist’s |
| french fries | chips |
| the movies | the cinema |
| patrolman | constable |
| stove | cooker |
| wheat | corn, wheat |
| crib | cot |
| wreck | crash |
| intersection | crossroads |
| drapes | curtains |
| checkers | draughts |
| thumbtack | drawing pin |
| divided highway | dual carriageway |
| pacifier | dummy |
| trashcan | dustbin, rubbish-bin |
| garbage can | dustbin, rubbish-bin |
| garbage collector | dustman |
| generator | dynamo |
| engineer | engine driver |
| movie | film |
| apartment | flat |
| overpass | flyover |
| yard | garden |
| gear-shift | gear-lever |
| alumnus | graduate |
| broil | grill |
| first floor | ground floor |
| rubbers | gumshoes, wellington boots |
| sneakers | gym shoes, tennis-shoes |
| purse | handbag |
| billboard | hoarding |
| vacation | holiday |
| vacuum cleaner | hoover |
| sick | ill |
| intermission | interval |
| sweater | jersey, jumper, pullover, sweater |
| pitcher | jug |
| elevator | lift |
| truck | lorry |
| baggage | luggage |
| raincoat | mackintosh, raincoat |
| crazy | mad |
| highway | main road |
| corn | maize |
| math | maths |
| stingy | mean |
| freeway | motorway |
| diaper | nappy |
| vicious, mean | nasty |
| noplace | nowhere |
| private hospital | nursing home |
| optometrist | optician |
| liquor store | off-license |
| kerosene | paraffin |
| sidewalk | pavement |
| peek | peep |
| gasoline | petrol |
| post | |
| mailbox | postbox |
| mailman, mail carrier | postman |
| potato chips | potato crisps |
| baby carriage | pram |
| bar | pub |
| restroom | public toilet |
| blow-out | puncture |
| stroller | push-chair |
| line | queue |
| railroad | railway |
| railway car | railway carriage |
| spool of thread | reel of cotton |
| round trip | return (ticket) |
| call collect | reverse charges |
| raise | rise (in salary) |
| pavement | road surface |
| traffic circle | roundabout |
| eraser | rubber |
| garbage, trash | rubbish |
| sedan | saloon (car) |
| tape | sellotape |
| store | shop |
| muffler | silencer |
| one-way | single (ticket) |
| wrench | spanner |
| faculty | staff (of a university) |
| oil pan | sump |
| dessert | sweet |
| candy | sweets |
| faucet | Tap (indoors) |
| spigot | tap (outdoors) |
| cab | taxi |
| dish-towel | tea-towel |
| semester | term |
| pantyhose | tights |
| schedule | timetable |
| can | tin |
| turnpike | toll motorway |
| flashlight | torch |
| pants | trousers |
| cuffs | turn-ups |
| subway | underground railway |
| underwear | pants |
| shoulder (of road) | verge (of road) |
| vest | waistcoat |
| closet | wardrobe |
| wash up | wash your hands |
| windshield | windscreen |
| fender | wing |
| zipper | zip |