because Americans prefer to use the singular form when you describe a group.

3                       Adverbs

3.1                Use

We use an adverb to modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb. An adverb gives us information about the manner, time, circumstances of the activity denoted by the verb. In non-formal American English we can use adjectives as an adverb, for example a real good game. However this is spoken language. In formal American English or British English we use adverbs, for example a really good game.

There are a few differences between the use of adverbs in American English and British English. For example the word with can in American English also be used as an adverb: I will come with instead I will come along, in British English it is not possible. In American English you can freely add the suffix -s to morning, Sunday, night, day to form an adverb. This rule has roots in old English but is now considered as American English.

You can also use adverbs in American English, which are more freely to position. They can either be placed in front of auxiliary verbs or behind them, while the meaning of the sentences remains the same. For example, we can either say: We never will be late or We will never be late. In British English adverbs are usually placed behind the first auxiliary verb. For example: We will never be late.

4                       Adjectives

4.1                Use

The difference between American English and British English is not that they use different adjectives but some adjectives have a different meaning, for example “quite”. When Americans use “quite” before an adjective they mean “very”, but when a Brit uses “quite” he means “somewhat”. Another example: In British English, “to” and “from” are used with the adjective different, e.g. This house looks different to anything else. In American English “from” and “than” are used with the adjective different, e. g. This house looks different than anything else.

5                       Possession

There are two ways to express possession in English: you could either use have or have got. Both forms are accepted in American English and British English, but have got is preferred in British English while Americans prefer to use have. For example a Brit would say: I have got a cat while an American would say I have a cat. 

The same is also true when we talk about obligation. For example in British English you would say I have got to go to the meeting while in American English you would say I have to go to the meeting.

6                       Spelling

There is no doubt that there are general spelling differences between American English and British English. Many of these differences occurred when England was under the reign of a French King who forced his language upon the British people. Americans chose to spell words more based on how they phonetically sound, as well as leave some letters out.

In British English it is more likely to find words with -our than in American English where words tend to be written instead with -or. Thus leaving the u out. For example the words colour, humour and honour in British English will be found in American English written like color, humor and honor.

The same stands for the British words ending with -re as in centimetre, theatre and centre. These endings are written with -e in American English and so become centimeter, theater and center.

Two or three vowels huddled together are often simplified in American English. Take for example the word gynaecology. The -ae in the British spelling will be simplified in the American spelling and become gynecology with only an -e.

This system works the same for the British English -oe and -oeu, so making them -o and -eu in American English. Two fitting examples: the British oestregon and manoeuvre becoming American estrogen and maneuver.

The British -ogue is almost never found in the American English spelling, for it turns into -og. Take for instance the following words: catalogue and dialogue turn into the simplified words catalog and dialog. The spelling differences become extremely difficult when both dialects use both forms of difference. This can be applied to the British -ise as in apologise, analyse and colonisation versus the American -ize as in apologize, analyze and colonization. The Brits as well as the Americans use both forms of spelling in this situation, but tend to go with the -ise form. Except when this difference can be found in the end of the word or prior to an -y, then the Americans will choose the -ize form.

Another s-sounding difference can be seen in the British words ending with -ence as in defence and pretence. These will be written with an -s, making it defense and pretense in the American spelling. When to use one -l or a double -ll was tricky enough when thinking only of the English spelling, but in American spelling a single -l always turns into a double -ll. One exception on this rule occurs when the last syllable is stressed as in traveling.

You know by now that there are many spelling differences between British English and American English, but we haven’t been over them all. In America they won’t say judgement day with -dge or arguement with

-gue, but rather say judgment day with -dg and argument with -gu. In England they won’t say a bank with a -k or a check with -ck as they do in America, but they will write them as banque and cheque with -que. While Americans watch a program written as –gram, Brits will turn on the telly to watch their programme written as -gramme.

Next to the general differences that can be found, there is also talk of miscellaneous spelling differences. Like the word mum in British English is written with an -o in American English turning the word into mom.  Ageing with -ge doesn’t happen in America, but aging with only a -g does.

7                       Prepositions

7.1                Use

The use of prepositions is different if you use British English or American English. Small words like "at", "to", or "from" will be changed for other small words.

In British English the word "at" is used with many expressions indicating time. For example the British would say at Christmas, at five 'o' clock or at the weekend. While in America the English speaking population would rather use the word "on" when they are talking about a time indication.

Another example: Will they still be there on the weekend? or She'll be coming home on weekends.

When talking about places like universities or institutions in British English the word used is "at", but in American English "at" is often changed for "in". How they would say She studied chemistry at university. In America is as followed She studied chemistry in university.

In British English "to" and "from" are used with the adjective different. So when having a conversation about a place difference, it will be said as This place is different from/to anything I've seen before. "To" and "from" are not used in American English if the adjective is different, they would insert the words "from" and "than". Making the sentence as followed: This place is different from/than anything I've seen before.

To place the word "to" after the verb write is normal in British English, but not in American English. There you don’t have to place the "to". So in American English the British English sentence I promised to write to her every day. Will become I promised to write her every day. The same counts for the British expression stay at home becoming the shorter American version stay home. The reverse counts for American English check something out, visit with somebody and He is in the hospital  will simply become in British English check something, visit somebody and He is in hospital.

When talking about sports in the United Kingdom, you won’t be saying Shaquille O'Neal is on the basketball team, but rather say Shaquille is in the basketball team.

In American English the word "through" can mean "up to" and "including" as in Monday through Friday. While in British English Monday to Friday means "including.

If you use the word heat as in the meaning of mating season, it is used in British English with "on" as in In spring animals are on heat, but in American English with "in" as in In spring animals are in heat.

The verb enroll is in British English matched up with "on" and in American English with "in". For example He enrolls on a course will be He enrolls in a course in American English.

Other differences between the two English forms can be found when talking about time:

In England they will say a quarter past one, while an American will say a quarter after one. The British a quarter to two will become a quarter of two in America.

7.2                Order

The difference in order of the prepositions in British English and American English is not that major. But in the old days before 1960 British English speaking gentlemen would frequently utter the sentence I have a coat on, while in American English they would rather say I have on a coat. Nowadays both sentences are spoken in either British or American English, only I have a coat on can be found on a more frequent basis in the United Kingdom.

8                       Punctuation

A very important difference between American English and British English is the use of question marks. In British English you can only use single question marks (‘x’) for primary quotes while in American English you use double question marks (“x”) for primary quotes.

To make things more difficult, for quotes within quotes Americans use single question marks (‘x’) and British use double question marks (“x”).

Even more confusing is the use of commas and periods inside question marks. In British English commas and periods are outside closing quotes and in American English are they placed inside closing quotes.

For example in British English you would write: My sister said, ‘You should go out’. When you want to write the same sentence in American English you have to write: My sister said, ”You should go out”.

For example in British English you would write: My sister said, ‘You should go out’. When you want to write the same sentence in American English you have to write: My sister said, ”You should go out”.

Another difference appears when writing a letter. When you write an informal letter in American English a comma follows after the salutation, for example (Dear James,). When you want to write an formal letter in American English a colon follows (Dear James: ). In British English a comma follows in both cases, after the salutation of an informal or a formal letter.

A lot of people like to use “e.g.” and “i.e.”. They both have a different meaning “e.g.” means for example and “i.e.” means that is. In American English a comma follows after you use one of the abbreviations. In British English there is no comma used.

When we talk about abbreviations they are also different in American English and British English. After a abbreviation you use a period in American English for example (Mr. and Mrs.). But in British English you don’t use a comma for example (Mr and Mrs).

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