When America gets it right.

[popcornwizard]

Most of their spelling and grammar differences are just wrong, but occasionally something it works, and works even better than our version! Dear reader I give you the 'cell' or 'cellphone'. It is much easier and more pleasant than the 'mobile phone' that we linguistically haul around. Is it the only one?

The absolute worst worst thing ever I've heard here was my lovely midwife describing her 2 year old son to me as 'so lovely and full of spunk'.

I literally spat out my coffee and looked at Dh horrified who was desperately avoiding my looks knowing damn well what spunk tends to mean in the UK.

Zucchini is the Italian word for courgette - at a guess I'd say Italian migrants took courgettes to the USA.

In America they say you are going on a showing when viewing a house for sale. So emphasis is on the person selling the house.

Also I have seen mention to European style bathrooms which are something to do with the layout of bath and shower - but I have no clue what makes it European. Yes I do watch a lot of U.S property renovation shows. Not sure what the difference between plaster board and dry wall is though.

I’m baffled by “pocket book” rather than “handbag”.

@User5trillion in the US you are likely to have an agent who is showing you different houses/apartments. So you have a relationship with the person showing you around, unlike in the UK.

I’m in my mid-thirties and I can’t imagine anyone my age using the term pocketbook!

I prefer the American pronunciation of ‘schedule’. I worked with an American company many moons ago and hadn’t used the word (I’d have used ‘timetable’). When I returned to the British and Irish English speaking word shed-ju-ul was all over the place (don’t know where the timetables went). Still think sked-du-ul reads more logically.

I've never understood Americans using "seeing eye dog" instead of guide dog. I get that it's more descriptive but it's really jarring to say.

Most of the differences are fine but they always seem to say ' I could care less' when they really mean ' I couldn't care.less' or ' I could not care less'

I has the opposite meaning so why can't they just say what they mean? All for the sake is saving one syllable!

I like quite a lot of American English, though not always when it seeps in over here for no reason (mac and cheese?? It's macaroni cheese!!)

I like that they use 'seniors' instead of pensioners, using a descriptor that puts value on their status in society rather than their financial state or actual age.

And i don't know why but I like 'purse' instead of 'handbag'. Love it!

We need to import the word "ornery" . It's like mardy, with added stubborn, and would fill a gap in our vocabulary, particularly when it comes to our toddlers and teenagers!

OTOH, I can't get over calling all pasta noodles. Penne is in no way noodle shaped.

We have "thrawn" in Scotland which is a special kind of stubborn. I love the mood descriptive words and we should import them all! :)

I have always liked the term “sidewalk”. I couldn’t use it in England though as to me it conjures up images of big, wide American-style concrete walkways. I love it though, it’s evocative for me.

Americans I work with (global company). Love the American-isms

Get out of dodge

Rowter instead of router

Rowt instead of route

Do you have any breaks in your day

Soda instead of coke, sprite etc. 'I'm just gonna grab a soda'

They call me ma'am and men sir

Oh and they tend to refer people by their surname 'you see Smith over there'

I have always liked the term “sidewalk”. I couldn’t use it in England though as to me it conjures up images of big, wide American-style concrete walkways. I love it though, it’s evocative for me

Sergeant it wasn’t until I was studying for my Texan driving license test that realised the reason Americans say “sidewalk” is that “pavement” is technically used to refer to the road. (Although I’ve never heard anyone actually use in in real life)

oh yes, soda is a better term than fizzy drink, which is what we always said!

The word bangs for a fringe always strands out for me. It makes no sense at all.

*stands out

Very, very arrogant to suggest their spelling and grammar is "wrong". It's right for them.

Their spelling was a political act, an attempt to remove American English from the fabulous language it is. It completely ignores the origin of words from other languages or words that have come into English in their foreign form.

Cell refers to cellular network, not battery cell

It can refer to either.

We need to import the word "ornery"

Ornery is fab and a close cousin to grumpy, with a bit more stabby. We need to import "stabby" and "cocklodger".

OTOH, I can't get over calling all pasta noodles. Penne is in no way noodle shaped

We don't do that, at least in New York. Noodles refers to egg noodles.

More later, I'm sure. It's still very early here. Brilliant thread popcornwizard, thanks for starting it.

Floral it’s a bit like “pony tail”.

Bang was originally a description for cutting a horses tail straight across. (Bang tail)

Thanks Copper.
That makes sense now!

PickAChew We need to import the word "ornery" . It's like mardy, with added stubborn, and would fill a gap in our vocabulary, particularly when it comes to our toddlers and teenagers!

Ditto "conniption fit". I have never heard this term used by anyone other than an American (unless they picked it up off an American!)

Critter is a good word too.

We use it when either of the cats are being a bit skittish - or to refer to any wildlife in the garden!