British English versus American English

Today’s English
September 28th, 2017

There is subtle difference between British English and American English in spelling, pronunciation, meaning and usage. Indians who earlier used British English are now gradually  switching over to American English. The chief examples are the use of American terms rest room, battery and movie instead of toilet,  cell and cinema which are British terms.  The following is a list of words in which the first one is British English and the second one is American English:
(British English.  -  American English)
1. Action replay – instant replay
2.Anticlockwise – counterclockwise
3.Autumn – fall
4.Bank holiday – legal holiday
5.Biscuit – cookie, cracker
6.Biro – ballpoint pen
7.Black economy – underground economy
8.Bottom drawer- hope chest
9.Brinjal – eggplant
10.Brolly – umbrella
11.Car park – parking lot
12.Casualty – emergency room
13.Cell – battery
14.Chemist – drug store
15.Chips – French fries
16.Cinema – movie
17.Cot – crib
18.Current account – checking account
19.Dressing gown – bathrobe
20.Drinks party – cocktail party
21.Driving licence – driver’s licence
22.Dustbin – garbage can
23.Earth – ground
24.Financial year – fiscal year
25.Fire service – fire department
26.First floor – second floor
27.Flat – apartment
28.Flyover – overpass
29.Football – soccer
30.Footway/pavement – sidewalk
31.Fridge – refrigerator
32.Full stop – period
33.Garden – yard, lawn
34.Goods – freight
35.Grill – broiler
36.Ground floor – First floor
37.Groundnuts – peanuts
38.Holiday – vacation
39.Hotel – restaurant
40.Indicator – turn signal
41.Interval- intermission
42.Level crossing – grade crossing
43. jumper - sweater
44.Ladybird – lady bug
45.Lift – elevator
46.Lolly – lollipop
47.Lorry – truck
48.Mate/close friend – buddy
49.Marks - grade
50.Mobile phone- cell phone
51.Motor way – highway
52.Nail cutter - clippers
53.Number plate – licence plate
54.Pedestrian crossing / zebra crossing– crosswalk
55.Petrol – gas
56.Plaster - bandage
57.Postal vote – absentee ballot
58.Post-box – mailbox
59.Postal code – zip code
60.Power point – electrical outlet
61.Public school- private school
62.Queue – line
63.Railway – railroad
64.Rubber – eraser
65.Tablets - pills
66.Toilet /loo– restroom/ washroom
67.Towel – napkin
68.Share – stock
69.Trolley – cart
70.Trousers - pants
71.Skipping rope- jump rope
72.Sleeping partner – silent partner
73.Snakes and ladders – chutes and ladders
74.Solicitor – lawyer
75.Stag night – bachelor party
76.Starter – appetizer
77.State school – public school
78.Super market – grocery store
79.Sweets – candy
80.Tea towel – dish towel
81.Tablets - pills
82.Trade union – Labor union
83.Trainers / sports shoes– sneakers
84.Underground – subway
85.Wagon – car
86.Wardrobe – closet
87.Zip – zipper

“God created war so that Americans would learn geography.”
- Mark Twain