{"id":3891,"date":"2018-01-03T11:18:29","date_gmt":"2018-01-03T11:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlinelegaltranslations.com\/5-more-differences-between-uk-and-us-english-part-2\/"},"modified":"2020-11-23T20:50:32","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T20:50:32","slug":"5-more-differences-between-uk-and-us-english-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlinelegaltranslations.com\/it\/5-more-differences-between-uk-and-us-english-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"5 (More) Differences between UK and US English \u2013 Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Five (More) Differences between UK English and US English \u2013 PART 2<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Since The US and the UK soccer\/football teams won\u2019t be matching up in the World Cup this time around, let\u2019s take a look instead, at some more of the linguistic differences between these\u00a0\u201ctwo countries separated by a common language.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In\u00a0Part 1<\/a>\u00a0of this series, we discussed some basic differences between UK and US English.\u00a0 Today we are going to delve a little deeper.<\/em><\/p>\n

Spelling<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0While there are UK-US spelling variations, one type that many translation professionals encounter is medical terms.\u00a0 Here, along with some other tricky spelling variations, are a few examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK version<\/strong><\/td>\nUS version<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
paediatrician, oestrogen, foetus<\/td>\npediatrician, estrogen, fetus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
defence, licence, offence<\/td>\ndefense, license, offense<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
jewellery, traveller, fuelled, catalogue<\/td>\njewelry, traveler, fueled, catalog<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Again, these \u201crules\u201d have many exceptions, such as Americans\u2019 customary use of the ending \u201c-gue\u201d in spelling the word \u201cdialogue,\u201d but, inexplicably not with the American spelling of the word \u201ccatalog,\u201d or where the American \u201cprogram\u201d is \u201cprogramme\u201d in the UK, except when referencing computer \u201cprograms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Measurements<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 \u00a0In addition to the obvious difference between Pounds (\u00a3) and Dollars ($), other linguistic differences can be found in time notation, spelling of measuring units and indeed the units used to measure different things. To make matters worse, units of measure with the same name<\/em>\u00a0and the\u00a0same spelling\u00a0<\/em>may actually represent differing, but deceptively similar, amounts.\u00a0 See the \u201cgallon\u201d example below. There is a lot more going on in the numbers than spelling variations, and it pays to be alert, especially in translation work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK version<\/strong><\/td>\nUS version<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“10.30 this evening”<\/td>\n“10:30 this evening”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
metres, litres<\/td>\nmeters, liters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
gallon (38.43<\/strong>\u00a0US ounces, 38.99 UK ounces)<\/td>\ngallon (32<\/strong>\u00a0US ounces, 33.30 UK ounces)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

While the metric system is more commonly used in the UK than the US, the most popular unit of driving distance in both countries is still the\u00a0mile<\/em>.\u00a0 Thankfully, in 1959, the UK and US, along with several other English-speaking nations, agreed on a uniform distance for the mile.<\/p>\n

Phrases<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0If you watch enough British TV (or \u201cAmerican telly\u201d if you are from the UK), you will begin to notice and understand the differences among common phrases in these two countries.\u00a0 Here are some examples to add to those in\u00a0Part I\u00a0<\/a>of this series:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK version<\/strong><\/td>\nUS version<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
at the weekend, worked it out<\/td>\non the weekend, figured it out<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
keeps himself to himself<\/td>\nkeeps to himself<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
home from home<\/td>\nhome away from home<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Again, there seems to be no discernible rule here\u2014sometimes there are more words in the UK version of a phrase, sometimes fewer.\u00a0 Only through use and practice can a translator or other language practitioner become confident and skilled in such subtle code-switching.<\/p>\n

Terminology<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Some of the more interesting terminology variations are found in the areas of cuisine and automotive matters.\u00a0 Days off from work can be very confusing, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK version<\/strong><\/td>\nUS version<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
silverside, mangetout, aubergine, marrow, double-cream, icing sugar<\/td>\nrump roast, snow peas, eggplant, zucchini, heavy cream, confectioners\u2019 sugar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wing, silencer, roundabout<\/td>\nfender, muffler, traffic circle or rotary<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
holiday, bank holiday<\/td>\nvacation, federal\/state holiday<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

At times, there seem to be more exceptions than rules. The food known as \u201cfish fingers\u201d in the UK is called \u201cfish sticks\u201d in the USA, yet Americans call a very similar dish made with chicken \u201cchicken fingers.\u201d As they say in American dialect, \u201cgo figure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Legalese (with a funny accent)<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Besides UK having those cool wigs and much fancier judges\u2019 regalia, other differences in the two systems can be found between contractual and legal language.\u00a0 Here are a few more examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK version<\/strong><\/td>\nUS version<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
break clause<\/td>\ntermination clause<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
amnesty<\/td>\nimmunity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
attachment of earnings<\/td>\ngarnishment of wages<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The documents known as \u201cannual reports\u201d in the US are called \u201cannual returns\u201d in the UK.\u00a0 The term \u201cannual return\u201d probably sounds too similar to the annual tax filings required of\u00a0 businesses in the US.\u00a0 \u201cGarnishment\u201d of wages sounds a bit strange in any country\u2013 will a sprig of parsley and a radish rose be served with said wages?\u2013\u201cattachment\u201d sounds more formal, and legal.<\/p>\n

English language practitioners should familiarize themselves with these and the countless other differences between the two dialects in order to seamlessly switch back and forth, according to their clients\u2019 preferences.<\/p>\n

Check back soon for future discussions of the differences between UK and US English, including a discussion of the differences in types of lawyers and courts, as well as a segment about naughty-sounding words.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a9Dygert, LLC 2017<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Five (More) Differences between UK English and US English \u2013 PART 2 Since The US and the UK soccer\/football teams won\u2019t be matching up in the World Cup this time around, let\u2019s take a look instead, at some more of the linguistic differences between these\u00a0\u201ctwo countries separated by a common language.\u201d In\u00a0Part 1\u00a0of this series, we discussed some basic differences between UK and US English.\u00a0 Today we are going to delve a little deeper. Spelling\u00a0\u2013\u00a0While there are UK-US spelling variations, one type that many translation professionals encounter is medical terms.\u00a0 Here, along with some other tricky spelling variations, are a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3771,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[127],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 (More) Differences between UK and US English \u2013 Part 2 - Online Legal Translations<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/onlinelegaltranslations.com\/it\/5-more-differences-between-uk-and-us-english-part-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"it_IT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 (More) Differences between UK and US English \u2013 Part 2 - Online Legal Translations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Five (More) Differences between UK English and US English \u2013 PART 2 Since The US and the UK soccer\/football teams won\u2019t be matching up in the World Cup this time around, let\u2019s take a look instead, at some more of the linguistic differences between these\u00a0\u201ctwo countries separated by a common language.\u201d In\u00a0Part 1\u00a0of this series, we discussed some basic differences between UK and US English.\u00a0 Today we are going to delve a little deeper. 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