Two nations divided by a common language” – an expression variously attributed to Oscar Wilde & George Bernard Shaw seems to rather aptly sum up some of the ‘infuriating’ differences between “our version of English” and that of our American cousins across the pond. Here at guernseyDonkey.com we hold our council as to which we think is the “correct version”, but in this article we present just some of the subtle, and not so subtle, differences in our (not so) common tongue.



  British English  American English
AutumnFall
BillCheck
BiscuitCookie
Boot (Of A Car) Trunk
CaravanTrailer
CaretakerJanitor
CarPark, Parking Lot
Chips(French) Fries
CrispsChips
CurtainsDrapes
CvRésumé
Driving Licence Driver’s License
Engaged (Telephone Line)(Telephone Line) Busy
Father ChristmasSanta Claus
FilmMovie
FlatApartment
FortnightTwo Weeks
Full StopPeriod
Ground FloorFirst Floor
BlokeGuy
HandbagPurse
HolidayVacation
LiftElevator
Lift (In A Car) Ride
LorryTruck
MathsMath
Mobile (Phone) Cell (Phone)
MumMom