What is the difference and similarity between American and British English?

Question

I need full explanation on both and examples on each.

Answer 1

there are 3 main differences spelling, pronunciation, and usage. Canadian is somewhere in between but closer to British. Some common examples are in Britain whiskey is scotch, Canada it is rye, and US it is bourbon. In Brit and Can chips are deep fried potatoes, in US potatoe chips like Lays. Words are spelt differently colour vs color, gray vs grey, tyre (brit) vs tire etc. The our and or in words is one of the most common. In brit and can we say zed, in us they say zee. Dialects are too different to detail. But have you ever noticed that the Major TV new stations all sound like they went to school in Canada? Just remember the onus is on you to know the difference as Canadians are usually taught differences in school, whereas Canada is pretty much ignored. Most good Canadian dictionaries (I don't know about American ones) will provide both spellings and definitions.

Answer 2

A full explanation! This could take a while. So here are some links I went and fished up (the latter of the two sort of overdoes it, almost all British people now understand American variations of English words). Man I feel lazy.

Answer 3

To answer this we have to go back to the history of both these countries. The countries conquered by american intruders spread their language to those countries (same with the british). The language were influenced by the victim countries and changed a bit. Like in American english, they use the word lorry while in british they use truck. In American - candy , In british - toffee. Not a major change in writing style.

Answer 4

.Worst case scenario (Actual) A question in homework about the word aluminium or aluminum, asker had spent several weeks on the project, then proofread the question, and found the spelling inconsistancy. Now I'm Australian, for matters concerning the english language have referred to an "ENGLISH" dictionary. America it seems is not content with just adapting the pronunciation of a word, the bastardisation of the spelling, they TEACH!!
Beyond me??? Forgive them I say, again and again, for they know not what they do!

The spellcheck by the way was quick to alter aluminium but would have let dictionery pass---- Your call mate!

Answer 5

some different in composition. can't think of an example now. if you observe closely the way the american and the british writes, you will see the difference.

Answer 6

similarity is that both of them are forms of the same language

difference is that american english is more of a slang version of the language with change of spellings, inclusion of new words etc.

Answer 7

Americans and Brits spell some words differently.
There is also some difference in the way they pronounce some words.
Eg.for spelling-- analyze/analyse.Colour/Color.
Pronounciation - representative(stress on ENT) (stress on TAT).

Answer 8

They both sound like english but the words have different meanings. In the USA, a *** is a homosexual while in the UK it is a cigarette, so if someone says light my ***. In the UK they are having a tobacco break but in the deep south, it is a hate crime.

elevator - lift
trunk - bonnet
drunk - pissed

Answer 9

Australian English is correct

Answer 10

i would just like to point out it is just the accents and some pronunciations that are different such as mom and mum

What bout Australia :P