| American and British English are very similar. | | | | Before a noun with a determiner (e.g. the, this, |
| There are, however, a few differences of | | | | my), both and both of are both possible in British |
| grammar, vocabulary and usage. The following | | | | English. In American English, both of is usual. |
| guide is meant to point out the principal | | | | Both (of) my parents like riding. (GB) |
| differences between American and British English. | | | | Both of my parents like riding. (US) |
| Differences in usage | | | | In after negatives and superlatives |
| Abbreviations | | | | After negatives and superlatives, in can be used |
| We usually write abbreviations without full stops in | | | | to talk about duration. This is especially common in |
| modern British English. Full stops (US 'periods') are | | | | American English. |
| normal in American English. | | | | I haven't seen him for/in months. |
| Mr (US Mr.) = Mister | | | | It was the worst storm for/in ten years. |
| Dr (US Dr.) = Doctor | | | | In British English, in is not normally used with this |
| Ltd (US Ltd.) = Limited (company) | | | | meaning. |
| Kg (US kg.) = kilogram | | | | I haven't seen him for months. (GB) |
| All and all of | | | | Shan't |
| Before a noun with a determiner (e.g. the, this, | | | | In British English, I shan't is sometimes used in |
| my), all and all of are both possible in British | | | | refusals. This is very unusual in American English. |
| English. American English usually has all of. | | | | I don't care what you say, I won't/ shan't do it. |
| She has eaten all (of) the cake. (GB) | | | | (GB) |
| She has eaten all of the cake. (US) | | | | I don't care what you say, I won't do it. (US) |
| All (of) my friends like riding. (GB) | | | | Shall |
| All of my friends like riding. (US) | | | | Questions with shall I/we are used (especially in |
| Expressions with prepositions and particles | | | | British English) to ask for instructions or decisions, |
| Different from/than (US) | | | | to offer services and to make suggestions. This is |
| Different from/to (GB) | | | | not common in American English. |
| Check something (out) (US) | | | | Shall I open the window? |
| Check something (GB) | | | | Shall we go out for a meal? |
| Do something over/again (US) | | | | Will |
| Do something again (GB) | | | | We often use will in threats and promises. Shall is |
| Live on X street (US) | | | | also possible in British English, especially after I and |
| Live in X street (GB) | | | | we. In American English, shall is not used in threats |
| On a team (US) | | | | and promises. |
| In a team (GB) | | | | I will/shall give you a teddy bear for your |
| Monday through/to Friday (US) | | | | birthday. (GB) |
| Monday to Friday (GB) | | | | I will give you a teddy bear for your birthday. |
| Informal use of like | | | | (US) |
| In an informal style, like is often used instead of | | | | Have (got) + infinitive |
| as if/though, especially in American English. This is | | | | Have (got) + infinitive can be used, like must, to |
| not considered correct in a formal style. | | | | express certainty. This is mainly an American |
| It seems like it is going to rain. | | | | English structure, but it is now becoming more |
| He sat there smiling like it was his birthday. | | | | common in British English. |
| On | | | | I don't believe you. You have (got) to be joking. |
| In American English, it is common to leave out on | | | | (= You must be joking.) |
| before the days of the week. | | | | Would and should |
| I am seeing her Sunday morning. (US) | | | | After I and we, should can be used in British |
| British people say at the weekend; Americans say | | | | English with the same meaning as would. |
| on the weekend. | | | | If we had a map we would/should be able to get |
| What did you do at the weekend? (GB) | | | | out of here. (GB) |
| What did you do on the weekend? (US) | | | | If we had a map we would we able to get out of |
| In and for | | | | here. (US) |
| In American English, in can be used, like for, to | | | | Conditional would is sometimes used in both |
| talk about periods up to the present. (British | | | | clauses of an if-sentence. This is common in |
| English only for). | | | | spoken American English. |
| I haven't seen her in years. (US) | | | | It would be better if they would tell everybody in |
| Both and both of | | | | advance. |