Top British to American English Mistakes: Avoid These Common Errors

Topic

American English (US)

British English (UK)

rubber

a rubber is a condom

a rubber is an eraser

Are you alright?

It implies that something is wrong.

Meaning:

Person is sick something like that

Are you alright?

Meaning: How are you doing or what’s up?

It is a polite greeting.

Answers May be:

Yeah.

I’m good, thanks.

Yeah, you?

Yeah, I’m alright. How are you?

Publish School

In the US, publish schools are the ones funded by the government.

In the UK, a public school is a private school.

State schools are founded by the government.

Chips

In the US, chips are potato chips like Lays and Pringles.

In the UK, Potato chips are called Crisps.

In the UK, chips = French fries.

American English (US)

British English (UK)

An Eggplant

An aubergine.

Flashlight

Torch

Cart

Trolley

Cookie

Biscuit

fall

autumn

Sidewalk

Pavement

Oven/stove

Cooker /hob

Fancy

Posh

For rent

To let

Rest room/ bathroom

Toilet, the loo, lavatory

Bullshit

Rubbish

An idea or thought isn’t good or something is not worth thinking about, something’s really terrible.

That’s it.

You’re all set.

There you are.

Bob’s your uncle

Meaning:

That’s it you’re all set, there you have it.

Is often used to conclude an easy or simple set of instructions.