Everything you need to know about the key spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation differences between British and American English, with exam practice.
British and American English are the same language with two established standards, differing in spelling, some vocabulary, occasional grammar patterns, and a few punctuation conventions. Since Elite Language Solutions teaches British English (the standard for UK exams including SELT, Cambridge and most UK-based IELTS preparation), this guide focuses on knowing the differences well enough to stay consistent, not on switching between the two.
| Pattern | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| -our vs -or | colour, favour, honour | color, favor, honor |
| -ise vs -ize | organise, realise, recognise | organize, realize, recognize |
| -re vs -er | centre, theatre, metre | center, theater, meter |
| -ogue vs -og | dialogue, catalogue | dialog, catalog |
| Doubling consonants | travelled, cancelled | traveled, canceled |
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| flat | apartment |
| lift | elevator |
| holiday | vacation |
| rubbish | trash / garbage |
| chips | fries (British "chips" = American "fries"; British "crisps" = American "chips") |
| autumn | fall |
| trousers | pants |
| mobile phone | cell phone |
| pavement | sidewalk |
| queue | line |
| Point | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Present perfect for recent news | I've just eaten. (present perfect preferred) | I just ate. (past simple commonly accepted) |
| have got vs have | I've got a car. (very common) | I have a car. (more common than "have got") |
| Collective nouns | The team are playing well. (plural verb often used) | The team is playing well. (singular verb standard) |
| shall | I shall call you later. (still used, more formal) | Rarely used; "will" is standard |
| at the weekend / on the weekend | at the weekend | on the weekend |
| Point | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation marks | Single quotes often preferred: 'like this' | Double quotes standard: "like this" |
| Punctuation with quotes | Punctuation usually goes outside closing quotes unless part of the quote | Punctuation usually goes inside closing quotes |
| Dates | day/month/year: 16 July 2026 | month/day/year: July 16, 2026 |
For the full general rules behind these punctuation marks, see our guide to Punctuation in English.
| Context | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| SELT (Trinity GESE/ISE), UK visa applications | British English, this is the standard UK context |
| Cambridge exams (PET, FCE, CAE) | British English is standard and expected, though American spelling is not usually penalised if used consistently |
| IELTS | Either is accepted, but consistency throughout your writing matters more than which one you choose |
| Living or working in the UK | British English, for natural everyday communication |
| ❌ Inconsistent | ✅ Consistent (British) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I organized my colour-coded files. | I organised my colour-coded files. | Mixing -ize (American) with -our (British) in the same sentence looks like a mistake, not a style choice. |
| The team are playing in the elevator... wait, no | The team are playing well. / The lift is broken. | Choose British vocabulary and grammar throughout, don't mix in American vocabulary. |
| I just ate, and I've organised the files. | I've just eaten, and I've organised the files. (British consistency) | Mixing American-style past simple for recent news with British spelling elsewhere is inconsistent. |
| Exam | How This Is Relevant | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge B1 Preliminary / B2 First / C1 Advanced | British English is the expected standard throughout all Cambridge exams. | Use British spelling and vocabulary consistently in Writing. |
| IELTS | Both standards are accepted, examiners are trained for both. | Pick one standard and stay fully consistent, mixing is what loses marks, not which one you choose. |
| Trinity GESE/ISE (SELT) | British English is the standard for this UK-based test. | British vocabulary and grammar patterns are the safest, most natural choice. |
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