British or American English?

 
Most students realise that there are some variations between the English used in London and in Washington. But how important are the differences, and which version of English are students meant to use?

Some international students find the differences between British and American English quite confusing.But generally speaking there are bigger differences in the spoken language than the written. You do not need to worry about pronunciation in an essay! The most significant differences for writers concern spelling, vocabulary and style. However, it should be said that most American teachers understand English vocabulary, and vice versa. You are unlikely to be criticised for writing 'program', for example, instead of 'programme' if you are in Britain. Here are some examples of the main differences:

British English                                  American English

Spelling
colour                                                 color                        (+ other -our words)
defence                                              defense                   ( + other -ce words)                     
centre                                                 center                     ( + other -er words)

Vocabulary
autumn                                              fall
full stop                                              period
motorway                                           freeway

NB Most vocabulary differences are in everyday words, rather than academic language.

Style
Quotations in British English are marked by single quotation marks, in American by double:

'All you need is love'                           "All you need is love"

Students studying in countries such as Singapore, Australia or New Zealand will normally be expected to write in British English, while those in North or South America and parts of the Middle East generally use American English.