Regional and structural variationa exist in English.
Understanding English language is essential.
English speaking skills are as important as understanding english.
An example,
Code of conduct for Judges
Code of Judicial conduct for Judges.
Both these statements are correct. Listener, reader from corporate world communicating in english to everyday non corporate english user is going to understand.
At the same time, in case anyone has prejudged mind set, prejudice, he may give flawed excuse,
Code of conduct for Judges
wasn't written as
Code of judicial conduct for Judges.
Another example,
I will call you up
I will call up you
One of these statements is gramatically incorrect, however, listener, reader from corporate world communicating in english to everyday non corporate english user is going to understand.
In present globalized world, english is going to vary within America, within continents, from continent to continent, however, this is important, context isn't changed and listener, reader understands, at the same time keeping spelling and grammer in such a manner not to change context and contents.
While above after real world experience in America came out and tested, verified.
Later a report came out, which is yet to be verified.
"His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was reported by The Times as complaining to a British Council audience that American English is very corrupting."
Pending Australian, African, South American, South Asian, East European experience with American english.
At present comparatively Bristish, American and Canadian english and later, Australian, African, South American, South Asian, East European experience with American english.
Generally American English -or as a word ending is equivalent to -our in British English,
American -er as a word ending is sometimes equivalent to -re in British English.
In American English the final e is removed from verbs before adding -ing, in correct British English this is not done giving "routeing" (British) and "routing" (American),
however the American practice of dropping the "e" is becoming quite common in British English. If a verb ends in a single 'l' then the American -ing, -ed and -er forms also have a single 'l' whereas the British forms have a double 'll'.
For example American English has signaler, signaling and signaled whereas
British English has signaller, signalling and signalled.
American English tends to prefer -ize and -ization whereas
British English prefers -ise and -isation contrary to statements by certain well-known British authorities and much spell checking software.
Canadian spelling seems to be intermediate between the British and American (US) forms. There are variations from province to province. A quiet half-hour spent perusing the Vancouver Yellow Pages suggested that "aluminium", "gauge", "jewellery" and "mould" are preferred. [OK - I know there are better things to do in Vancouver !]. Some Business, professionals and correspondents have suggested that Canadians normally use "aluminum".
There are, of course, exceptions to the above rules. American usage is "glamour" not "glamor" and "advertising" not "advertizing". British usage has "honorary" and "honorific" without the "u". Several correspondents have also noted that the British usages "centre" and "theatre" are displacing the American usages, particularly where the establishment in question wants to suggest that it is of superior quality.
When spelling out words (and 'phone numbers) it is British practice to say things such as "double e" for "ee" and "treble 3" for "333".
Please note that "tonne" is not a British spelling of "ton" but a quite separate metric unit equal to 1000 kg as distinct from the British ton of 2240 lbs (= 1016.96 kg).
As I receive more information from American correspondents it is becoming clearer that there are quite widespread regional variations in both the US and Canada.
The second part of the list shows common differences in usage. I.e. those cases where different words are used to describe the same thing. The primary purpose of this list is to indicate American usages that would be unfamiliar to speakers of British English. The following indications appear alongside some of the American and Canadian usages.
Differences Between American and British English
While there are certainly many more varieties of English, American and British English are the two varieties that are taught in most ESL/EFL programs. Generally, it is agreed that no one version is "correct" however, there are certainly preferences in use. The most important rule of thumb is to try to be consistent in your usage. If you decide that you want to use American English spellings then be consistent in your spelling (i.e. The color of the orange is also its flavour - color is American spelling and flavour is British), this is of course not always easy - or possible. The following guide is meant to point out the principal differences between these two varieties of English.
Use of the Present Perfect
In British English the present perfect is used to express an action that has occurred in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment. For example:
I've lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
In American English the following is also possible:
I lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
In British English the above would be considered incorrect. However, both forms are generally accepted in standard American English. Other differences involving the use of the present perfect in British English and simple past in American English include already, just and yet.
British English:
I've just had lunch
I've already seen that film
Have you finished your homework yet?
American English:
I just had lunch or I've just had lunch
I've already seen that film or I already saw that film.
Have you finished your homework yet? or Did you finish your homework yet?
Possession
There are two forms to express possession in English. Have or Have got
Do you have a car?
Have you got a car?
She hasn't got any friends.
She doesn't have any friends.
He has a beautiful new home.
He's got a beautiful new home.
While both forms are correct (and accepted in both British and American English), have got (have you got, he hasn't got, etc.) is generally the preferred form in British English while most speakers of American English employ the have (do you have, he doesn't have etc.)
The Verb Get
The past participle of the verb get is gotten in American English. Example He's gotten much better at playing football. British English - He's got much better at playing football.
Vocabulary
Probably the major differences between British and American English lies in the choice of vocabulary. Some words mean different things in the two varieties for example:
Mean: (American English - angry, bad humored, British English - not generous, tight fisted)
Rubber: (American English - condom, British English - tool used to erase pencil markings)
There are many more examples (too many for me to list here). If there is a difference in usage, your dictionary will note the different meanings in its definition of the term. Many vocabulary items are also used in one form and not in the other. One of the best examples of this is the terminology used for automobiles.
American English - hood
British English - bonnet
American English - trunk
British English - boot
American English - truck
British English - lorry
Once again, your dictionary should list whether the term is used in British English or American English.
Prepositions
There are also a few differences in preposition use including the following:
American English - on the weekend
British English - at the weekend
American English - on a team
British English - in a team
American English - please write me soon
British English - please write to me soon
Past Simple/Past Participles
The following verbs have two acceptable forms of the past simple/past participle in both American and British English, however, the irregular form is generally more common in British English (the first form of the two) and the regular form is more common to American English.
Burn Burnt or burned
Dream dreamt or dreamed
Lean leant or leaned
Learn learnt or learned
Smell smelt or smelled
Spell spelt or spelled
Spill spilt or spilled
Spoil spoilt or spoiled
Spelling
Here are some general differences between British and American spellings:
Words ending in -or (American) -our (British) color, colour, humor, humour, flavor, flavour etc.
Words ending in -ize (American) -ise (British) recognize, recognise, patronize, patronise etc.
Again, in present globalized world, english is going to vary within America, within continents, from continent to continent, however, this is important, context isn't changed and listener, reader understands, at the same time keeping spelling and grammer in such a manner not to change context and contents.
This is for those who may be allured to pay higher costs. Ascertain yourself,
An example:
University of Illinois - Chicago
Intensive English
Comparatively
Fees
Fees based on a session length of 13 weeks.
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Included means that this service is provided at no extra charge, as per them
Application Fee: $100.00
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Accommodations
Apartment: $600-1200
Than come to www.qureshiuniversity.com
Their aim may be to extract money from you, our aim is to help you improve your english and their english and understanding. As understanding english is more important than spoken english.
Qureshi University
We will offer better than what they have to offer.
Now real world American experience
Above some examples of grammer, now vocabulary.
What's renowned in ohio?
They didn't understand
What's renowned in ohio?
Again, they didn't understand.
What's famous in ohio?
Now they could understand, famous was easy for them to understand,
"Renowned" was heavy weight vocabulary for them.
Later, ohio became notorious for obvious reasons.
It's a quarter past seven.
It's a quarter after seven.
I think I've lost my camera.
I think I lost my camera.
Thanks, but I've already eaten.
Thanks, but I already ate.
The shop is open from Monday to Saturday.
The shop is open Monday through Saturday.
within America, Regional and structural variations exist in English.
For example:
How much cloth do I need for a pair of pants?
How much fabric is required for a pair of Pants I would like made?
How much cloth do I need for a shirt?
How much fabric is required for a Shirt I would like made?
Would you like to add anything?
Can you make me wiser? How?
Can you make us wiser? How?
Would you like to print Dr. Qureshi's English?
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