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12 September 2008: Differences between British English and American English

The summer we never had is coming to an end and the autumn is definitely on the way. Ramadan started last week and it is earlier than usual this year so it is harder for the Muslim students to fast during daylight hours because the days are still relatively long. They seem to be doing very well though and not feeling too tired and falling asleep during the afternoon lessons.

I was listening to a TOEIC test the other day and thought that we'd never covered any of the differences between British English and American English. So, I thought that today we might think about some of the words and expressions which are used differently on the other side of the Atlantic.

In England the postman brings you your letters, while in America they wait for the mailman to come. (Perhaps we should be more politically correct and talk about post-person and mail-person? What do you think?) In Britain you buy sweets when you want to cheer yourself up but in America you go to get some candy.

The word this week is the verb: pussyfoot which is to avoid saying or doing anything definite because you are nervous and don't know what to do.

"I wish he would stop pussyfooting around and make up his mind whether he wants to marry her or not."

Have a good time and good luck with the new semester if you are studying or teaching.
Love from all at English in Chester

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