# American vs. British English: brainstorm **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 24, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985 "2003-06-24T09:55:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![parlo\_americano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b19c9b/32.png) [@parlo\_americano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parlo_americano)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/161 "2003-07-09T07:34:57Z")
\<- I’m an English teacher and the language I teach is “American”. Small grammar differences really got me at first. Like I’ve got 3 sisters instead of I have 3 sisters. Here’s a site to help you with that: > **[What's the Difference Between American and British English?](https://www.thoughtco.com/differences-between-american-and-british-english-1212216)** > > A discussion of the differences between standard American and British English in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar with examples. I heard in Canada they “drive” a bike. Is that true in GB too? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/162 "2003-07-09T07:47:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by parlo americano \* > \*\* > I heard in Canada they “drive” a bike. Is that true in GB too? \*\* Nope. We ride them. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/163 "2003-07-09T07:50:48Z")
We ride them in Canada too ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/164 "2003-07-09T12:03:19Z")
When you say “alphabet” in England, do you mean “letter of the alphabet?” Because my teacher asked a question the other day that, going by our American usage of alphabet, meant “how many alphabets does English have,” which naturally confused this shit out of us since there are three Americans and no Brits in class. Again, bad Hong Kong English or craaaazy but correct British English? Is it still common for people to say “go Dutch” in England? I’ve gotten in arguments several times with people who just won’t believe that this expression is understood by many, but I rarely if ever hear it, and it’s probably on its way out. The British guy I asked had never even heard it before. ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/165 "2003-07-09T12:27:43Z")
Alphabets; we have one. Starts at ‘a’ and ends at ‘z’ (that’s zed of course, not zee). Not sure what your teacher was getting at. ‘Going Dutch’ - most people I know would understand the term, although I can’t say I’ve heard it much over the last few years (but that might be as much to do with the fact that I’m married and have been out of the dating scene for quite a while than the fact that its usage has diminished). ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/166 "2003-07-09T20:50:46Z")
A few more that come to mind: **American / British** German Shepherd Dog / Alsatian Expressway (US/Canada East) / Motorway Freeway (US/Canada West) / Motorway Collect call / Reverse charges Apartment / Flat (River name) River / River (river name) (i.e. Mississippi River, River Thames) Main Street / High Street AM radio / Mediumwave radio Minister / Vickar Mall, plaza, shopping center / Out-of-town shopping Shit / Shite Testicles / Bollocks City government / City council Billboard / Holding Law / Bylaw Liberal / Socialist Socialist / Communist ---
**Author:** ![Ninas\_grandpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/54ee81/32.png) [@Ninas\_grandpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ninas_grandpa)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/167 "2003-07-09T22:11:07Z")
First, on the ROBIN hood v robin HOOD theme, what is it about GIVE a damn rather than give a DAMN (was it just Gone with the wind?) Secondly I remember seeing a reference to biscuits and gravy, which were both said to mean something entirely different in the US to the UK. Biscuit(UK) = Cookie(US) Gravy(UK) = brown sauce made with meat juices served with meat. Can some helpful soul tell me what these are in US? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/168 "2003-07-09T22:21:30Z")
A few slight corrections to **elmwood** ’s post. **Minister/Vickar** Apart from the fact it’s spelled “vicar”, it’s specific more to the religion (Church of England) rather than the country per se. There are ministers (and pastors too) in the UK for some of the other Protestant denominations. **Mall, Plaza, Shopping Centre/Out-of-Town Shopping** That’s a new one on me. “Mall” means something different in the UK, but there are “shopping centres” which look just like US malls (only smaller ;)) **Testicles/Bollocks** A better comparison is “Balls/Bollocks”; “testicles” is the proper term in either country. It’s probably worth adding “Ass/Arse” here as well. **Billboard/Holding** I think that should be “Hoarding”. **Law/Bylaw** A by-law is a law (or regulation) made by a local authority (i.e. a small-scale governmental body, like a county or district). They’re still “laws” on a national scale. **Liberal/Socialist Socialist/Communist** Not quite. Liberals are liberal, socialists are socialist, communists are communist. The first two don’t have the same level of negative connotation in the UK as in the US (and the communists are generally perceived more as being misguided than evil), but there remains a distinction between the three. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/169 "2003-07-09T22:26:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ninas grandpa \* > \*\*First, on the ROBIN hood v robin HOOD theme, what is it about GIVE a damn rather than give a DAMN (was it just Gone with the wind?) > Secondly I remember seeing a reference to biscuits and gravy, which were both said to mean something entirely different in the US to the UK. > Biscuit(UK) = Cookie(US) > Gravy(UK) = brown sauce made with meat juices served with meat. > Can some helpful soul tell me what these are in US? \*\* Gravy is pretty much the same as you describe it. “Biscuits” in a “Biscuits and gravy” context are basically unsweetened scones. They serve much the same function as Yorkshire pudding – a baked starchy thing to eat with the meat and gravy – except they’re more commonly served with chicken (rather than beef), and the gravy is quite thick and creamy. Does that answer your question? ---
**Author:** ![Ninas\_grandpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/54ee81/32.png) [@Ninas\_grandpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ninas_grandpa)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/170 "2003-07-09T22:31:08Z")
Yes. Thanks jr8. (You didn’t explain GIVE a damn though) ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/171 "2003-07-09T22:44:06Z")
**Ninas grandpa** - GIVE a damn is because at the time that film was made, it was considered quite controversial to use the word ‘damn,’ so Clark Gable put the emphasis on the ‘give’ to attempt to distract people from the ‘damn.’ ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/172 "2003-07-09T22:52:02Z")
Biscuits and gravy, in some parts of the US, is a popular breakfast dish, except in this sense it’s a sauce made with milk, starch, spicy pork sausage bits, and black pepper. Served over the aforementioned unsweetened scones. What is called “pickle” in the U.K. is sometimes called “chutney” in the U.S. One more I’ve noticed: British “tinned” vs. U.S. “canned”. I didn’t see it mentioned yet. Also: British “somewhat” instead of U.S. “something”, or is that just slang? Here’s one I’ve been wondering about: “The bank **are** proposing a new style of cheques.” In the U.S., we would say “The bank **is** …” Are there other institutions in the U.K. that inexplicably (to me) take a plural verb form? Can anyone explain why there is a difference? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/173 "2003-07-09T23:12:04Z")
**elemenopy** - ‘somewhat’ means ‘to a certain limited degree,’ (a n adverbial modifier) it’s not a synonym for ‘something.’ For example, you could say that this thread is somewhat interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/174 "2003-07-09T23:29:14Z")
> [@](#): > > elemenopy - ‘somewhat’ means ‘to a certain limited degree,’ (a n adverbial modifier) it’s not a synonym for ‘something.’ For example, you could say that this thread is somewhat interesting. I’m aware of the adverb form. However, for example, in Harry Potter, Hagrid would say things like “I’ve got somewhat to show you.” I’ve heard this in other contexts, assumed it was regional dialect or slang, but never knew if it were common. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/175 "2003-07-09T23:50:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Elemenopy \* > \*\*I’m aware of the adverb form. However, for example, in Harry Potter, Hagrid would say things like “I’ve got somewhat to show you.” I’ve heard this in other contexts, assumed it was regional dialect or slang, but never knew if it were common. \*\* I think that’s to add a rustic flavor to Hagrid’s speech (and I think it’s usually presented as “summat”). It’s not really a British thing. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/176 "2003-07-10T01:28:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* > **Testicles/Bollocks** > A better comparison is “Balls/Bollocks”; “testicles” is the proper term in either country. Oh well. I think it would be rather cool to hear a doctor say “Mate, you have a problem with your bollocks.” What about US hungry / UK peckish? ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/177 "2003-07-10T03:03:45Z")
How about “resume” versus “CV?” Am I right or did I just never happen to run into this in the US? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/178 "2003-07-10T07:28:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elmwood \* > \*\* > Shit / Shite \*\* “Shite” is a lesser-used variant in British English. It may even be regional. “Shit” is still more common (IMHO, I have never read a study regarding the usage of “shit” and “shite”!). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/179 "2003-07-10T08:22:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Vampire \* > **When you say “alphabet” in England, do you mean “letter of the alphabet?” Because my teacher asked a question the other day that, going by our American usage of alphabet, meant “how many alphabets does English have,” which naturally confused this shit out of us since there are three Americans and no Brits in class. Again, bad Hong Kong English or craaaazy but correct British English?** I’ve never heard anyone other than a very small children use ‘alphabet’ to mean ‘character’ (and then only because they were wrong). I can only imagine that the teacher’s intention was to contrast the English language (which only has one alphabet) with another language which has more than one (is it not true that the various versions of simplified chinese character sets are called ‘alphabets’?) ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/180 "2003-07-10T09:40:49Z")
> [@](#): > > However, for example, in Harry Potter, Hagrid would say things like “I’ve got somewhat to show you.” I’ve heard this in other contexts, assumed it was regional dialect or slang, but never knew if it were common. Oh, I’ve never heard that. I have heard ‘summat,’ like **jr8** said. That’s a West Country variation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985.md?page=10)