Translate into English: Differences between US English and UK English

Choosing to have your content written in or translated into English is a big step towards reaching and engaging with a wider audience. That being said, it is important to make sure you are putting your best foot forward, and part of that involves choosing which English to use.

Many people are unaware of the fact that there are actually two standardised (or standardized) versions of English: UK English and US English. Which English you decide to use is entirely up to you, your brand, and the audience with which you want to connect.

However, this article will explain the differences between the two, and the importance of clarifying with your translator or writer about which English you want to use. The two are far more different than you realise. Even this word, for example, would seem incorrect to a US English speaker, and I will explain to you why that is in this article.

The history behind UK vs. US English

Before we get into the differences, let’s talk about why they exist in the first place. How did there become such a thing as US and UK English?

The story begins in the 16th and 17th centuries, when English was brought to the Americas through British colonisation, thus becoming the common tongue for those who lived there at the time.  As the United States began to establish its independence, the language itself also diverged in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.

The 18th century brought with it the standardisation of spelling and grammar, which is when the two different versions of the English language became official. UK English (referring to that spoken in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe) was standardised by London-based scholars, while US English (adopted in the United States and parts of Canada) was standardised by a man called Noah Webster.

Allegedly, the differences between the two were adopted as a symbol of autonomy for the United States, in a sense declaring themselves independent from Britain.

The two standardisations are what became culturally accepted in their respective regions of the globe, and to this day, native US English and UK English have culturally distinct versions of English.

Breaking down the differences between US and UK English

A common misconception is that the difference between US and UK English is just a couple of vocabulary preferences. For example, we all know that a UK speaker would put something in the “boot” of their car while a US speaker would be putting it in the “trunk”.

However, the distinction between US and UK English actually takes place at multiple linguistic levels, including vocabulary, word-structure, semantics (word meaning), and grammar rules. In this section, I will explain in more detail what these differences are and provide some examples.

Spelling differences between American English and British English

Imagine that a boy from England has moved to the United States and made some friends at school. One weekend, he decides to text his friends and ask if they would like to go to the “theatre”. The boys who grew up in the United States clearly understand what he is asking, but they may assume that his spelling was a typo. So, his friend corrects him, “you mean the theater?”. The boy from England is confused, why are they spelling it like that?

What the boys do not know is that UK English and US English have different spelling rules, and this is an example of one of them. Both of the boys are correct, they are just using different versions of English. In this case, it is an example of the distinction between “-re vs. -er” spelling, but there are also many other spelling differences.

For example:

• -t, vs. -ed

UK English: She burnt the toast.

US English: She burned the toast.

• -ence vs. -ense

UK English: That team had great defence.

US English: That team had great defense.

• -ise vs. -ize

UK English: Would you like an appetiser?

US English: Would you like an appetizer?

These are just a few examples of the spelling differences. The differences may seem subtle, but for those who have been using a certain spelling for their entire lives, a change in spelling will stand out like a sore thumb.

US English speakers will have to stop and do a double take if they are reading material that is tailored towards UK English speakers’ spelling rules.

TIP: A helpful hint is to change the spell check on Word or Pages to either US or UK English and the spell check will automatically correct you to the English version of your preference. Or, if you are still unsure, check out the Macmillan Dictionary, which will not only double check your spelling but also make sure that you are using the correct word for the cultural context.

Vocabulary differences between UK and US English

Unlike spelling differences, vocabulary differences are far less subtle, and they may even lead to misunderstandings. Differences in vocabulary are typically due to words that were developed after the United States gained independence from Britain, such as terms for cars, food, or sports. Since then, culture has perpetuated the differences so that what is accepted as the norm in one country is not necessarily the word used in another.

For example, a UK speaker will be disappointed if he orders “chips” expecting what US speakers call “fries”, and instead gets a bag of “crisps”, which is what US speakers consider “chips”. Or perhaps a UK speaker is invited to play some “football”,  and he shows up wearing a jersey and shin guards rather than pads and a helmet.

Because of misunderstandings like these, it is important to be aware of the word preferences between US and UK English.

To give you an idea of just how many differences there are, here are just a few more examples.

To check out a more comprehensive list of vocabulary differences, visit Lexico, an Oxford Dictionary that encompasses both US and UK English terms. It is extremely important to be aware of the vocabulary differences in US English and UK English so as to avoid any words that may cause confusion and ensure that your audience clearly understands everything you are trying to say.

Semantic differences in the UK and the US

As previously mentioned, there are cases in which UK and US English use different words to mean the same thing, but there are also instances in which the opposite occurs. UK and US English may share a word, but the meaning of the word may be different. This is called semantics, and like vocabulary differences, it can also lead to serious misunderstandings.

For example, in US English, “pants” refers to a piece of clothing that covers you from your waist to your ankles. “Pants” in UK English is used to describe underwear. So, if you say that a man went out wearing just his pants, UK speakers would imagine a man wearing just his underwear, whereas US speakers would imagine a man wearing jeans or khakis.

Grammar differences in British English and American English

Writing that follows proper grammar rules is especially important for those of us whose businesses survive off of well-written marketing content. That being said, grammar preferences between UK and US English are not always the same. To give you an idea, here are some examples of how sentence structure and grammar shift between UK and US English.

• Collective Nouns (Singular vs. Plural)

US English treats collective nouns as singular while UK English prefers plural, but accepts both. For example:

US English: The team is winning.

UK English: The team is/are losing.

• Present Perfect Tense

While it is used in both US and UK English, UK English tends to use it far more often than US English, which would typically use the simple past tense. For example:

US English: I went to the store already.

UK English: I have gone to the story already.

Why does translating into US English or UK English matter?

As you can see, there are many  differences between UK and US English. Knowing and understanding all the proper spelling, vocabulary, semantics, and grammar to use in accordance with either US or UK cultural contexts requires either native proficiency or serious commitment. It is not easy to memorise and apply all of these differences consistently and correctly.

That being said, it is worth it. Inconsistencies will not only stick out and make the text sound awkward to the native speaker, they may impede your reader’s understanding of the message.

If you are choosing to write for a UK audience, US English spelling, vocabulary, grammar structure or even references will throw off your reader. They may even assume that the content is not written for them and stop reading altogether. Therefore, content that is geared toward UK or US English speakers needs to be converted to the appropriate version of English.

This is why it is important to have a translator that is proficient in the version of English that you wish to use. It will ensure that your contents sound natural to your audience and that your message is communicated correctly and effectively.

Let us help you with your translations into English

If this seems overwhelming or you have any questions about UK vs. US English, please reach out to us and we will be more than happy to help. At Núria Masdeu’s translation agency, we have a team of professionals who are proficient in both versions of English and are passionate about helping you communicate effectively with your target audience.

And if you need information about translation rates, read our blog post How much does a translation cost?

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