Suppose you have to choose between UK or US university, let us see the details of their academic languages. American English and British English have lots of dissimilarities in accent, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar. As our blog is dedicated to academic writing help, we will leave the first item for you to research by yourself and focus on the writing differences.
British vs American English Spelling Differences
Your professor will understand you regardless what variant of English you use, but it can be considered as a mistake if even a single letter does not match. Find below examples of the most common spelling peculiarities in AE or BE. The differences are easily observed and repeated in words with an a similar structure:
| AE | BE |
|---|---|
| acknowledgment | acknowledgement |
| aging | ageing |
| aluminum | aluminium |
| artifact | artefact |
| behavior | behaviour |
| caliber | calibre |
| capitalize | capitalise |
| cooperation | co-operation |
| defense | defence |
| endeavor | endeavour |
| enroll | enrol |
| estrogen | oestrogen |
| fulfill | fulfil |
| gray | grey |
| honor | honour |
| inquire | enquire |
| judgment | judgement |
| maneuver | manoeuvre |
| mold | mould |
| paralyze | paralyse |
| plow | plough |
| program | programme (but program if computer-related) |
| skeptical | sceptical |
| sulfur | sulphur |
| tire | tyre |
An explanation of spelling peculiarities can be found in this video: watch video
-Or vs -Our
One of the most noticeable differences is the "or" versus "our" ending in words. In American English, the "u" is typically dropped in words that might end in "our" in British English. This doesn't always mean one is right and the other wrong, as both variants accept some words. Some examples will help you understand the differences between British and American English.
Examples
- AmE behavior / BrE behaviour
- AmE color / BrE colour
Exceptions
Some words keep the "ou" in both versions, especially when the pronunciation differs from the "o" sound, like in "contour" or "troubadour." When it comes to derived or inflected forms in British English, the "u" isn't always retained, as seen in "honorary" from "honour." Also, numbers like "four" and "fourteen" always include the "u."
-Ize vs -Ise
The battle of "ize" versus "ise" is rooted in ancient languages. American English favors "ize," following Greek origins, whereas British English leans towards "ise," echoing the French spelling. However, British English shows more flexibility in these spellings, especially in different style guides.
Examples
- AmE organize, organizing / BrE organise, organising
- AmE colonize, colonization / BrE colonise, colonisation
Exceptions
Some words sidestep this rule, maintaining a standard spelling across both dialects. Words like "advertise" and "demise" are spelled with "ise" regardless of the dialect.
-Yze vs -Yse
The distinction between "yze" and "yse" is straightforward but vital. American English uses "yze" for verbs, while British English opts for "yse." This rule is consistent across all forms of the verb.
American vs British English: Examples
- AmE analyze, analyzing / BrE analyse, analysing
- AmE paralyze, paralyzed / BrE paralyse, paralysed
British vs American English Vocabulary Differences
Different words are used to express different meaning in some cases in the USA and UK. Here are a few illustrations:
| AE | BE |
|---|---|
| apartment | flat |
| band-aid | plaster |
| cookie | biscuit |
| chips | crisps |
| drugstore | chemist’s |
| (french) fries | chips |
| mailbox | postbox |
| sneakers / tennis shoes | trainers |
| soccer | soccer |
| soda / pop / coke / soft drink | soft drink / fizzy drink |
| sweater | jumper |
| the movies | the cinema |
| vacation | holiday |
Watch the video for more examples
British vs American English Grammar Differences
Dissimilarities of grammar are often neglected by foreign students. Learn our list and do not be one of them:
- Double quotation marks (“word”) are used in American English instead of single (‘word’) in British English
- In BE, a collective noun (like the staff, team, government, etc.) tends to be plural highlighting the members of the group. On the contrary, such nouns in the US are always singular, considering the group as a whole entity.
- Punctuation appears within quotation marks (e.g. “The moral is,” he said) in American English, while they are written outside the quotation marks (e.g. ‘The moral is’, he said) in British English.
- Most title abbreviations are followed by a period (e.g. Dr., Mrs., Hon., Ave.) in AE. A title abbreviation takes a period only if it does not end with the last letter of the full word (e.g. Dr, Mrs but Hon., Ave.) in BE.
- Many irregular verbs in British English (leapt, burnt, dreamt, learnt) were made regular in American English (leaped, burned, dreamed, learned).
If you ask how to remember all the differences between British and American English, we will give you 3 pieces of advice: learn, practice, and set your text editor to the UK or US English.Watch the video to supplement your understanding of grammar differences: watch video
Single Quotation Marks vs Double Quotation Marks
One notable difference is the choice between single and double quotation marks. American English prefers using “double quotation marks” for various purposes such as dialogue, direct quotations, and indicating irony. On the other hand, British English tends to use "single quotation marks" for similar purposes. However, some British guides adopt double quotation marks.
American vs British English: Examples
- American English: “Please get me a drink,” he said.
- British English: ‘Please get me a drink,’ he said.
- American English: “My sister just told me ‘never drink wine on an empty stomach.’”
- British English: ‘My sister just told me “never drink wine on an empty stomach”.’
Oxford/Serial Commas
The Oxford comma is a tiny punctuation mark that can make a sentence. It comes after the second to the last item of the list, with three or more items before "and" or "or" are used. However, the word's usage is the opposite of what one would expect based on geographical names.
American English tends to include the Oxford comma, making it more common in lists to ensure clarity. Conversely, British English usually omits this comma, except when its absence would lead to confusion.
Examples
- American Grammar: At the pub, please get me liquor, juice, ginger, and a lemon.
- British Grammar: At the pub, please get me liquor, juice, ginger and a lemon.
Should you write not in your style?
Your university probably has a preference which variant to use, so check your school’s website for guidance. If there are no specific rules, pick the most natural one to you. But do not mix two styles. The usage of the wrong variant of English can impact the quality of your work and your score greatly. Ideally, your paper should be checked by an experienced proofreader to eliminate this kind of mistakes.
Academic Grading Systems Peculiarities
Terms and differences in the education grading systems of the USA and UK can puzzle you. The description of the common systems is presented below. But remember that your school can have slight differences, so consult the website of your college to make sure.
What You Should Know about the Grading System in the USA
Students in the USA get letter grades: A, B, C, D, F where A means “excellent” and F “failed“. Each letter represents a certain grade percentage. It reflects how well you meet requirements of the assignment, cover the given topic or how many questions of a test you answer correctly. Besides, each grade has a quality point - a number from 4.0 to 0.0. Finally, a student’s overall academic career is shown by a Grade Point Average (GPA). This extremely important number is used for graduating, applying for scholarships, joining clubs, applying to other schools. The GPA is determined according to a formula: a sum of the quality point from each grade divided by the number of course credits a student attempted. All the relations are described by the table:
| Letter Grade | Percentage | GPA |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90%-100% | 4.0 |
| B | 80%-89% | 3.0 |
| C | 70%-79% | 2.0 |
| D | 60%-69% | 1.0 |
| F | 0%-59% | 0.0 |
What You Should Know about the Grading System in the UK
A 100 point grading scale is accepted in the United Kingdom where 100 is the best. Then the average value is calculated that is based on the grades you gained in exams and other assessments during the last academic years (the first is not counted). If you apply for a Bachelor's degree, you can get a regular degree - “BA” or a degree with honours - “BA (Hons)”. Relations are described by a table:
| Class | Grade |
|---|---|
| First class honours (1) | 70-100% |
| Upper second class honours (2:1) | 60-69% |
| Lower second class honours (2:2) | 50-59% |
| Third class honours (3) | 40-49% |
| Ordinary degree | 30-39% |
| Failed | 0-29% |
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