Grammar:
This topic includes the grammatical difference in British
and American writing. We need to consider these grammar points while making
document for the audience based in US or UK.
Use of Tense:
For an action started
and finished at a specific time in the past-
British
English
|
American
English
|
Use Present perfect tense (have/has +
past participle)
|
Simple past tense OR Present perfect
tense
|
I have eaten my apple.
|
I ate my apple
|
I haven't see Jenny in the party. Have you seen her?
|
I didn't see Jenny in the party. Did you
see her?
|
Jenny has gone home.
|
Jenny went home.
|
In British/American English, people also use the words like-
already, just and yet to talk about an action started and finished at a
specific time in the past. For example:-
- Jenny has just gone home.
- I have already seen the movie.
- Jenny didn’t come yet.
Use of Verbs:
If you check the forms of verbs, you will find few
differences between simple past and past participle forms in American and
British English. Irregular forms of verbs are rarely used in American English whereas
irregular and regular both the forms can be used in British English. Exceptional
case in American English for irregular past forms of verbs are burnt, dreamt
and spoilt.
For example:
British English
|
American English
|
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Prepositions:
In both the writing, prepositions are used differently. One
of my friends told me few tips to recognize the writing by checking the use
of preposition. I would also like to share it with my writer friends. Here are
few examples:
- For the word “Talk”- In British writing, they prefer using the preposition “to” whereas in American writing they prefer using “with”.
- For Time span- In British writing, they prefer using the preposition “to” whereas in American writing they prefer using “through”.
- For time expressions (weekends) - In British writing, they prefer using the preposition “at” whereas in American writing they prefer using “on”.
- For universities or other institutions- In British writing, they prefer using the preposition “at” whereas in American writing they prefer using “in”.
S.
No.
|
British
English
|
American
English
|
1
|
I will talk to John
|
I will talk with John
|
2
|
January to December
|
January through December
|
3
|
We like to party at weekends.
|
We like to party on weekends.
|
4
|
I have done technical writing course at
System Domain.
|
I have studied English Literature in
Bangur University.
|
Note: In American English,
avoid using preposition after few verbs. For example:-
- US Writing: John claimed the insurance.
- UK Writing: John claimed for his insurance.
My job involves writing. I always get confused while writing
for UK/US based audience. I keep browsing on search engines to make my concept clearer.
In these posts, I am making effort to put light on few differences between UK
and US English writing.
For more detail, my
writer friends can view the link-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_American_and_British_English#Grammar
