Section 1: Spelling

1. The colour / color group

Most BrE words end in (–our), while AmE ends in (-or).

2. The centre / center group

Most BrE words end in (-tre), usually deriving from French, while AmE ends in (-ter).

3. The realise / realize group

In this group, differences between BrE and AmE spelling are far from systematic. Some verbs, regardless of a specific dialect, can only have (-ize) (capsize, seize), while in others only (-ise) is possible (advertise, advise, surprise).

4. The oedema / edema group

In words of Greek origin, BrE has (oe-), where AmE has (e-) or less commonly (oe-). Similarly, words with an (-ae) combination in BrE (orthopaedics, anaesthesia) are spelt without (a) in AmE.

5. The fulfill / fulfil group

A certain number of disyllabic verbs stressed on the second syllable are written in BrE with a single (-l) but in AmE with (–ll).

In American spelling, when you add a suffix like (-ing, -ed, or –er) to a word, you double the final consonant only if the stress falls on the second syllable of the root word.

6. One letter differences

An interesting group is comprised of words which AmE spelt with a single different or additional letter.

7. Miscellaneous

Important spelling differences not already noted are listed below.

Section 2: Pronunciation

Phonologists have identified 16 modern dialect regions in England alone (with others in Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and 26 in the United States.

Pronunciation of ‘r’

The most obvious difference between standard American (AmE) and standard British (BrE) is the omission of ‘r’ in BrE:

1. Vowel Sounds

Many of the 20 vowel sounds very similar in American and British pronunciation, however, there are 8 sounds that significantly change:

A- /ɒ/ to /ɑ/

B- /a/ to /ɛ/

C- /əː/ to /ɜr/

D- /ɔː/ to /ɔr/ & /ɑ/

E- /ɑː/ to /ɑr/ & /a/

F- /ɛː/ to /ɛr/

G- /ɪə/ to /ɪr/

H- /əʊ/ to /oʊ/

I- Vowel Length (/ː/)

There is a common difference between BrE and AmE in the length of vowel sounds of the same word. Some of them are pronounced in BrE significantly longer than their American counterparts. Part of this difference is owing to the pronunciation of ‘r’ in many American words and not pronouncing it in their British counterparts.

2. Consonant Sounds

Pronunciation of consonants is same in BrE  and AmE. However, there are some variations as follows:

• /t/

When /t/ appears after a stressed vowel and before a weak vowel, such as, WATER, FIGHTER, GOT IT.

• /r/

For example, RIGHT, ARROW

• Yod (/j/) Dropping

Where /j/ appears after /t, d, n, l, s, z/ (the alveolar consonants), it is pronounced in BrE and omitted in AmE:

3. Stress & Intonation

A- Word Stress

Some words are stressed in AmE differently from BrE, particularly those of French origin. Whereas, American keeps the last syllable stress and British goes for first syllable:

Though, this is reversed in the following words:

B- Intonation

The melody of BrE and AmE is quite different, though the structure of speech is very similar.

Section 3: Vocabulary

There are some key vocabulary differences between both BrE and AmE. The list blow shows some of these differences.

In addition, different slang words are sometimes used in BrE and AmE to refer to the same things.

Section 4: Grammar

Aside from spelling and vocabulary, there are certain grammar differences between BrE and AmE.

• Irregular verbs

A number of verbs can be either regular or irregular in the Past Simple. However, the forms most commonly used are not the same in BrE and AmE. The regular form is usually preferred in AmE, and the irregular one is preferred in BrE.

• Auxiliary and modal verbs

In BrE and AmE, it is possible to use can and could with verbs of perception, i.e. see, hear, feel, smell, and taste, but this practice is much more common in BrE than AmE.

• Collective nouns.

For example, government, staff, committee, family, team, etc.,

Section 5: Punctuation

• Dates

There are some key differences in both between BrE and AmE in connection to writing dates.

• Titles

• Quote Marks

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the differences between BrE and AmE is crucial for anyone who wants to communicate effectively in English. While both versions are similar, they have significant differences in terms of spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. By mastering both varieties, you can effectively communicate with people from both sides of the Atlantic and become fluent in English.

References:

1- A to zed, a to zee a guide to the differences between British and American English, written by Glenn Darragh

2- Differences Between British and American English (enago)

3- https://pronunciationstudio.com/american-vs-british-pronunciation/

4- https://dictionary.cambridge.org/

5- https://www.ldoceonline.com/

6-https://www.englishclub.com/efl/articles/3-main-differences-between-british-and-american-english/

7- https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/british-american.php

8-https://www.britishcouncilfoundation.id/en/english/articles/british-and-american-english