British or American English A handbook of word and grammar patterns

About British or American English

British or American English A handbook of word and grammar patterns is a reference handbook comparing British and American English. It lists the words, spellings and grammar patterns that differ between the two varieties, side by side.

Anyone who writes, edits or teaches across the Atlantic meets these differences daily — lift or elevator, organise or organize, have you got or do you have. British or American English A handbook of word and grammar patterns answers them all in one place.

British or American English: A Handbook of Word and Grammar Patterns

British or American English is a handbook of word and grammar patterns that compares the two main varieties of English. It shows where British and American English choose different words, spellings and grammar, a reference for advanced learners, teachers and writers.

Keep British or American English as a desk reference: check it whenever a word or structure could be British or American, and note the patterns your own writing needs. The book is a free PDF on Google Drive, linked from the button below. For spoken American English, see American Accent Training.

British or American English A handbook of word and grammar patterns

Keep British or American English A handbook of word and grammar patterns beside you when writing for readers in the other variety: one quick check prevents a hundred small misunderstandings. The download is linked from the button on this page.

One Language, Two Varieties in British or American English A handbook of word and grammar patterns

English is one language with two great standard varieties, and the differences hide in everyday words. British or American English A handbook of word and grammar patterns maps those differences completely, from vocabulary to grammar.

Words that Differ

Hundreds of everyday things carry different names in London and New York: trousers and pants, holiday and vacation, lorry and truck. The handbook in British or American English A handbook of word and grammar patterns collects them in clear themed lists that are a pleasure to browse.

Grammar Patterns that Differ

Grammar differs too — in collective nouns, past tenses, prepositions and the present perfect. British or American English A handbook of word and grammar patterns shows each pattern with examples from both varieties, so editors and teachers can choose deliberately instead of guessing.

Who Needs this Handbook

Translators localising a text, teachers answering a student’s “but my book says…”, writers publishing internationally — all of them reach for British or American English A handbook of word and grammar patterns. It turns an endless argument into a quick lookup. The spoken side of the variety question is trained in AMERICAN ACCENT TRAINING.

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