{"id":3893,"date":"2017-12-06T11:17:12","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T11:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlinelegaltranslations.com\/5-differences-between-uk-and-us-english-part-1\/"},"modified":"2020-11-23T20:51:24","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T20:51:24","slug":"5-differences-between-uk-and-us-english-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlinelegaltranslations.com\/it\/5-differences-between-uk-and-us-english-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Differences between UK and US English \u2013 Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

5 Differences between\u00a0UK and US English<\/h2>\n

PART\u00a01<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Looks like the USA and England won\u2019t be matching up in the\u00a0World Cup\u00a0<\/a>this time around.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look instead, at some of the linguistic differences between these\u00a0\u201ctwo countries separated by a common language.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Spelling<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0While there are many spelling differences in the two countries, many of which will be discussed in future segments of this blog series, some of the most frequently occurring spelling differences are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK Version<\/strong><\/td>\nUS Version<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u201c-ise\u201d as in finalise<\/em>, organise<\/em>, and realise<\/em><\/td>\n\u201c-ize\u201d as in finalize<\/em>, organize<\/em> and realize<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
honour, colour<\/td>\nhonor, color<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
centre, theatre<\/td>\ncenter, theater<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

But beware: Americans also use advertise<\/em>, compromise<\/em>\u00a0and exercise<\/em>, so there is clearly no \u201chard and fast\u201d rule for any of these versions.<\/p>\n

Punctuation<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 \u00a0In addition to date format and punctuation when next to quotation marks, abbreviations in the UK do not require a period\/full stop if they begin and end with the first and last letters of the full word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK Version<\/strong><\/td>\nUS Version<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dr\/Mr, but Prof.<\/td>\nDr.\/Mr.\/Prof.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u201cwords in quotes\u201d.<\/td>\n\u201cwords in quotes.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25\/12\/2017 and 25 December 2017<\/td>\n12\/25\/2017 and December 25, 2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\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 between common phrases in the US and the UK.\u00a0 Here are some examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK Version<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0US Version<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
in respect of\u2026<\/td>\nwith respect to\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What am I\u00a0meant to<\/em>\u00a0do now?<\/td>\nWhat am I\u00a0supposed to<\/em>\u00a0do now?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ABC, Ltd.\u00a0do<\/em>\u00a0not test on animals.<\/td>\nABC Ltd.\u00a0does<\/em>\u00a0not test on animals.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Terminology<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0From food items to car parts, these differences can be a lot of fun. Car parts have many strange names in both languages\u2014\u201dboot\/trunk,\u201d \u201chood\/bonnet,\u201d etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK Version<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0US Version<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
biscuit, crisps, chips<\/td>\ncookies, chips, french fries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
car boot sale<\/td>\nflea market<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
full stop<\/td>\nperiod (the punctuation)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u201cCrisps\u201d are \u201cchips\u201d in the US, and \u201cbiscuits\u201d in the US are cookies while \u201cbiscuits\u201d in the US are a savory, flaky bread product, yet strangely enough, Americans call \u201cfish and chips\u201d \u201cfish and chips.\u201d Again, there are no rigid rules\u2013but with time and experience, it is possible to learn the idiosyncratic differences in usage that distinguish these two dialects.<\/p>\n

Legalese (with a funny accent)<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0The language of the law differs quite a bit between the two countries.\u00a0 As with all legal writing, it is very important to use the correct wording when translating into either version of the language.\u00a0 For instance, in general, the UK has two major types of lawyers: \u201cbarristers\u201d and \u201csolicitors,\u201d with differences in where and how they may practice.\u00a0 In the US, there is just one basic type of lawyer, and the terms \u201clawyer\u201d and \u201cattorney\u201d are used interchangeably to describe these professionals.\u00a0 These differences among lawyers in each country, including specializations, will be discussed in a future segment, so come back soon.\u00a0\u00a0For now, one word: \u201cwigs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following are some examples of other areas in which legal language differs between the UK and US versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK Version<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0US Version<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
[deleted]<\/td>\n[redacted]<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
satisfactory quality<\/td>\nmerchantable quality<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
estate agent<\/td>\nrealtor, real estate agent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Bear in mind that there are exceptions within all of these areas.\u00a0 As we all know, languages are constantly evolving, sometimes even advancing and regressing in their so-called \u201crules.\u201d\u00a0 Check out the\u00a0evolution of \u201cmyriad\u201d vs. \u201ca myriad of.\u201d\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Globalization is a simple reality of the time in which we are living, so the more a translator familiarizes him or herself with the differences between UK and US English, the more they can understand where these dialects do and do not differ, and the more they learn about and deliver their clients\u2019 preferences, the more successful that translator will be.<\/p>\n

Although English is generally considered a single language, a translator can become a better business person and demonstrate his or her polish and professional acumen if they are able to seamlessly switch back and forth between these two \u201cdialects\u201d\u2013and their clients will appreciate it.<\/p>\n

Check back soon for more discussions of the differences between UK and US English, including the differences in types of lawyers and courts as well as a bonus in Part 3.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

5 Differences between\u00a0UK and US English PART\u00a01 Looks like the USA and England won\u2019t be matching up in the\u00a0World Cup\u00a0this time around. Let\u2019s take a look instead, at some of the linguistic differences between these\u00a0\u201ctwo countries separated by a common language.\u201d Spelling\u00a0\u2013\u00a0While there are many spelling differences in the two countries, many of which will be discussed in future segments of this blog series, some of the most frequently occurring spelling differences are as follows: UK Version US Version \u201c-ise\u201d as in finalise, organise, and realise \u201c-ize\u201d as in finalize, organize and realize honour, colour honor, color centre, theatre center,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[127],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 Differences between UK and US English \u2013 Part 1 - 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-differences-between-uk-and-us-english-part-1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"it_IT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Differences between UK and US English \u2013 Part 1 - Online Legal Translations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"5 Differences between\u00a0UK and US English PART\u00a01 Looks like the USA and England won\u2019t be matching up in the\u00a0World Cup\u00a0this time around. 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