Language style (US, UK, ESL)
American and British English are two of the most widely spoken dialects of the English language. Although the two dialects share the same linguistic roots, there are significant differences between them that can impact communication, especially in written form.
In this article, we will first explore the key differences between American and British English to help you better understand each dialect and improve your writing skills and move on to ESL (English as a second language) explanation. Dive in!
UK/US Punctuation Differences
| Punctuation Rule | UK English Example | US English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation Marks | She said, ‘I like your shoes.’ | She said, “I like your shoes.” |
| Use of Commas in Dates | 11 May 2023 | May 11, 2023 |
| Use of Commas in Large Numbers | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Use of Full Stops (Periods) | Mr. Smith | Mr Smith |
| Use of Exclamation Marks | Well done! | Well done! |
| Use of Question Marks | How are you? | How are you? |
| Use of Colons | Please bring the following: a pencil, pen | Please bring the following: a pencil, pen |
| Use of Semi-Colons | I have lived in London; it’s a great city | I have lived in London; it’s a great city |
| Use of Parentheses | The results (see Table 1) indicate that… | The results (see Table 1) indicate that… |
| Use of Ellipses (Three Dots) | I’m not sure what to say… | I’m not sure what to say… |
Key takeaways
In UK English, single quotation marks are used for direct speech, whereas in US English, double quotation marks are preferred. UK English also generally follows the day-month-year date format, while US English uses the month-day-year format. Commas are used in large numbers in UK English, while they are not used as frequently in US English. Full stops (periods) are not typically used in UK English titles, whereas in US English, they are often used. Both UK and US English use exclamation marks and question marks in a similar way, but they may differ in their usage of colons, semi-colons, parentheses, and ellipses.
UK/US Spelling Differences
| Spelling Rule | UK English Example | US English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Use of ‘-our’ and ‘-or’ | Colour, honour | Color, honor |
| Use of ‘-re’ and ‘-er’ | Centre, metre | Center, meter |
| Use of ‘-ce’ and ‘-se’ | Defence, licence | Defense, license |
| Use of ‘-ise’ and ‘-ize’ | Organise, realise | Organize, realize |
| Use of ‘-ogue’ and ‘-og’ | Dialogue, catalogue | Dialog, catalog |
| Use of ‘-yse’ and ‘-yze’ | Analyse, paralyse | Analyze, paralyze |
| Use of ‘-ll’ and ‘-l’ | Enrol, labelled | Enroll, labeled |
| Use of ‘-tre’ and ‘-ter’ | Theatre, metre | Theater, meter |
| Use of ‘-ence’ and ‘-ense’ | Defence, offence | Defense, offense |
| Use of ‘-ourne’ and ‘-orne’ | Bourne, forborne | Borne, forbear |
Key takeaways
UK English has a number of spelling differences compared to US English. For example, UK English often uses ‘-our’ at the end of words where US English would use ‘-or’. Similarly, UK English often uses ‘-re’ in words where US English uses ‘-er’. There are also differences in the usage of ‘-ce’ and ‘-se’, ‘-ise’ and ‘-ize’, ‘-ogue’ and ‘-og’, ‘-yse’ and ‘-yze’, ‘-ll’ and ‘-l’, ‘-tre’ and ‘-ter’, and ‘-ence’ and ‘-ense’.
While these differences in spelling may seem minor, they can sometimes cause confusion and misunderstanding between speakers of UK and US English.
UK/US Conjugation Differences
| Conjugation Rule | UK English Example | US English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Use of the Present Perfect Tense | I’ve just finished my homework. | I just finished my homework. |
| Use of the Past Simple Tense | I travelled to Spain last year. | I traveled to Spain last year. |
| Use of the Present Continuous Tense | She’s eating breakfast. | She’s eating breakfast. |
| Use of the Past Continuous Tense | We were walking in the park. | We were walking in the park. |
| Use of the Future Tense | They will be arriving soon. | They will be arriving soon. |
| Use of the Conditional Tense | If I were you, I would go. | If I were you, I would go. |
| Use of Modal Verbs | I must go to bed early tonight. | I have to go to bed early tonight. |
| Use of Gerunds | I enjoy swimming. | I enjoy swimming. |
| Use of Infinitives | He wants to play football. | He wants to play football. |
| Use of Participles | The man standing over there… | The man standing over there… |
Key takeaways
While there are not many differences in verb conjugation between UK and US English, there are some subtle differences in the usage of certain tenses and verb forms. For example, UK English tends to use the present perfect tense more often than US English. Additionally, modal verbs such as ‘must’ and ‘have to’ are used interchangeably in US and UK English. Finally, there may be differences in the usage of gerunds, infinitives, and participles, although these differences are generally not significant.
What is ESL and How to Write Like a Native
English as a Second Language (ESL) is a specific style of writing used by non-native English speakers. ESL writing is different from traditional English writing in several ways. Let’s look at some examples.
| Traditional English Writing | ESL Writing |
|---|---|
| Uses complex sentence structures and grammar rules | Uses simple sentence structures and avoids complex grammar rules |
| Uses a wide range of vocabulary | Uses common words and phrases |
| Often includes long paragraphs | Includes short paragraphs and bullet points |
| Assumes a high level of English proficiency in the reader | Assumes a lower level of English proficiency in the reader |
To illustrate the features of ESL writing further, consider the following example:
Traditional English Writing: “The precipitation of the monsoon season is expected to increase significantly this year, resulting in potential flooding and other related hazards in low-lying areas.”
ESL Writing: “There will be a lot of rain this year during the monsoon season, which could cause flooding in some areas.”
Improving writing style as an ESL student can be challenging, but with practice and effort, it is possible to make significant progress. Here are some tips and examples to help ESL students improve their writing style.
1. Read extensively in English
Reading in English is an excellent way to improve vocabulary, grammar, and writing style. It exposes you to different writing styles and helps you identify common writing patterns and structures. You can read books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other online materials to improve your reading skills.
2. Write regularly
Writing regularly is essential to improving your writing style. It helps you to practice and apply the writing skills you learn from reading and other sources. You can write in a journal, blog, or any other format that you find comfortable. Start small, and gradually increase the length and complexity of your writing.
3. Use online writing tools
There are many online writing tools that can help you improve your writing style. Tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, and ProWritingAid can help you identify common errors, improve grammar, and simplify your writing.
4. Practice sentence variety
Sentence variety is an essential aspect of writing style. It helps to keep the reader engaged and interested in your writing. You can achieve sentence variety by using different sentence structures, lengths, and types. Here is an example:
Original: The weather was hot. We went to the beach.
Improved: Despite the hot weather, we decided to head to the beach for a swim.
5. Use active voice
Active voice is more engaging and makes your writing more concise. It also makes your writing more direct and clear. Here is an example:
Original: The test was passed by the student.
Improved: The student passed the test.
6. Pay attention to word choice
Word choice is a critical aspect of writing style. It helps to create a tone, convey emotions, and express ideas effectively. You should avoid using complex vocabulary and focus on using common words and phrases that are easy to understand. Here is an example:
Original: I am ecstatic about the news.
Improved: I am very happy about the news.
Improving writing style as an ESL student requires practice, effort, and a willingness to learn. By following these tips and using examples, you will eventually write clearer in English and improve your language skills in general.
To Sum Up
Understanding the differences between American and British English is crucial, especially in written communication. While both dialects share the same linguistic roots, there are significant differences in spelling, vocabulary, and grammar that can impact communication. In academic writing, it’s essential to know your audience and cater to their dialect to ensure effective communication. By keeping these differences in mind, you can improve your communication skills and avoid misunderstandings.