Style Guide - The Economist 2018

American and British English

The differences between English as written and spoken in America and English as used in Britain are considerable, as is the potential for misunderstanding, even offence, when using words or phrases that are unfamiliar or that mean something else on the other side of the Atlantic. This section highlights the important differences between American and British English syntax and punctuation, spelling and usage. (There are also differences between American and Canadian English, but these are not covered here.)

A number of subjects call for detailed, specialised guidance beyond the scope of this book, though some of the vocabulary is dealt with here. These include food and cookery (different names for ingredients and equipment, different systems of measurement); medicine and health care (different professional titles, drug names, therapies); human anatomy; and gardening (different seasons and plants). Many crafts and hobbies also use different terms for equipment, materials and techniques. See also Americanisms in Part 1.

Grammar and syntax

Written American English tends to be more declarative than its British counterpart, and adverbs and some modifying phrases are frequently positioned differently. British English also tends to use more modifying phrases, while American English prefers to go with simpler sentence structure.

In British English, doctors and lawyers are to be found in Harley Street or Wall Street, not on it. And they rest from their labours at weekends, not on them. During the week their children are at school, not in it.

Words may also be inserted or omitted in some standard phrases. British English goes to hospital, American English to the hospital. British English chooses one or other thing; American English chooses one thing or the other. Americans tend to meet with and partner with; Britons merely meet and partner.

Punctuation

commas in lists The use of a comma before the final and in a list is called the serial or Oxford comma: eggs, bacon, potatoes, and cheese. Most American writers and publishers use the serial comma; most British writers and publishers use the serial comma only when necessary to avoid ambiguity: eggs, bacon, potatoes and cheese but The musicals were by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Sondheim, and Lerner and Loewe.

full stops (periods) The American convention is to use full stops (periods) at the end of almost all abbreviations and contractions; specifically, full stops with abbreviations in lower case, a.m., p.m., and no full stops with abbreviations in capitals, US, UN, CEO. The British convention is to use full stops after abbreviations — eg, abbr., adj., co. — but not after contractions — eg, Dr, Mr, Mrs, St.

hyphens American English is far readier than British English to accept compound words. In particular, many nouns made of two separate nouns are spelt as one word in American English, while in British English they either remain separate or are joined by a hyphen: eg, applesauce, newborn, commonsense (hyphenated or two words in British English).

British English also tends, more than American English, to use hyphens as pronunciation aids, to separate repeated vowels in words such as pre-empt and re-examine, and to join some prefixes to nouns — eg, pseudo-science. Americans tend to get rid of hyphens more rapidly than the British, as new editions of dictionaries reflect.

In British English, hyphens are more frequently used in compound adjectives or adjectival phrases than in American English. See also hyphens in Part 1.

quotation marks In American publications and those of some Commonwealth countries, and also international publications like The Economist, the convention is to use double quotation marks, reserving single quotation marks for quotes within quotes. In many British publications (excluding The Economist), the convention is the reverse: single quotation marks are used first, then double.

With other punctuation the relative position of quotation marks and other punctuation also differs. The British convention is to place such punctuation according to sense. The American convention is simpler but less logical: all commas and full stops precede the final quotation mark (or, if there is a quote within a quote, the first final quotation mark). Other punctuation — colons, semi-colons, question and exclamation marks — is placed according to sense. The following examples illustrate these differences.

British

The words on the magazine’s cover, ’The link between coffee and cholesterol’, caught his eye.

’You’re eating too much,’ she told him. ’You’ll soon look like your father.’

’Have you seen this article, “The link between coffee and cholesterol”?’ he asked.

’It was as if’, he explained, ’I had swallowed a toad, and it kept croaking “ribbut, ribbut”, from deep in my belly.’

She particularly enjoyed the article ’Looking for the “New Man”’.

American

The words on the magazine’s cover, “The link between coffee and cholesterol,” caught his eye.

“You’re eating too much,” she told him. “You’ll soon look like your father.”

“Have you seen this article, ’The link between coffee and cholesterol’?” he asked.

“It was as if,” he explained, “I had swallowed a toad, and it kept croaking ’Ribbut, ribbut,’ from deep in my stomach.”

She particularly enjoyed the article “Looking for the ’New Man.’”

Spelling

Some words are spelt differently in American English and British English. Often the American spelling is a survival of 18th-century British usage. The spellings are sufficiently similar to identify the word, but the unfamiliar form may still disturb the reader. If you are writing for an international audience, the American form is now much more likely to be recognised.

American English is more obviously phonetic than British English. The word cosy becomes cozy, aesthetic becomes esthetic, sizeable becomes sizable, arbour becomes arbor, theatre becomes theater.

Main spelling differences

-ae/-oe Although it is now common in British English to write medieval rather than mediaeval, other words — often scientific terms such as aeon, diarrhoea, anaesthetic, gynaecology, homoeopathy — retain their classical composite vowel. In American English, the composite vowel is replaced by a single e; thus, eon, diarrhea, anesthetic, gynecology, homeopathy. There are exceptions to this in scientific publications. Fetus is the preferred spelling on both sides of the Atlantic (not foetus), and oestrogen generally becomes estrogen, if only to ensure that the hormone appears in the same place in alphabetical lists in both countries.

-ce/-se In British English, the verb that relates to a noun ending in -ce is sometimes given the ending -se; thus, advice (noun), advise (verb), device/devise, licence/license, practice/practise. In the first two instances, the spelling change is accompanied by a slight change in the sound of the word; but in the other two instances, noun and verb are pronounced the same way, and American English spelling reflects this, by using the same spelling for both noun and verb: thus, license/license and practise/practise. It also extends the use of -se to other nouns that in British English are spelt -ce: thus, defense, offense, pretense.

-e/-ue The final silent e or ue of several words is omitted in American English but retained in British English: thus, analog/ analogue, ax/axe, catalog/catalogue.

-eable/-able The silent e, created when forming some adjectives with this suffix, is more often omitted in American English; thus, likeable is spelt likable, unshakeable is spelt unshakable. But the e is sometimes retained in American English where it affects the sound of the preceding consonant; thus, traceable and manageable.

-ize/-ise The American convention is to spell with z many words that some British people and publishers (including The Economist) spell with s. The z spelling is, of course, also a correct British form. Remember, though, that some words must end in -ise, whichever spelling convention is being followed. These include:

advertise

advise

apprise

arise

chastise

circumcise

comprise

compromise

demise

despise

devise

disguise

emprise

enfranchise

excise

exercise

franchise

improvise

incise

merchandise

premise

prise

revise

supervise

surmise

surprise

televise

Words with the ending -lyse in British English, such as analyse and paralyse, are spelt -lyze in American English.

-ll/-l In British English, when words ending in the consonant l are given a suffix beginning with a vowel (eg, the suffixes -able, -ed, -ing, -ous, -y), the l is doubled; thus, annul/annulled, model/ modelling, quarrel/quarrelling, rebel/rebellious, wool/woolly. This is inconsistent with the general rule in British English that the final consonant is doubled before the suffix only when the preceding vowel carries the main stress: thus, the word regret becomes regretted, or regrettable; but the word billet becomes billeted. American English mostly does not have this inconsistency. So if the stress does not fall on the preceding vowel, the l is not doubled: thus, model/modeling, travel/traveler; but annul/annulled.

Several words that end in a single l in British English — eg, appal, fulfil — take a double ll in American English. In British English the l stays single when the word takes a suffix beginning with a consonant (eg, the suffixes -ful, -fully, -ment): thus, fulfil/ fulfilment. Words ending in -ll usually lose one l when taking one of these suffixes: thus, skill/skilful, will/wilfully. In American English, words ending in -ll usually remain intact, whatever the suffix: thus, skill/skillful, will/willfully.

-m/-mme American English tends to use the shorter form of ending, thus gram and program, and British English tends to use the longer: gramme and programme (but program when referring to a computer program).

-our/-or Most British English words ending in -our — ardour, behaviour, candour, demeanour, favour, valour and the like — lose the u in American English: thus, ardor, candor, etc. The major exception, though even this is broken, is glamour, which retains its u (but loses it in both types of English for the adjective glamorous). Note, however, that squalor is spelt the same on both sides of the Atlantic.

-re/-er Most British English words ending in -re — such as centre, fibre, metre, theatre — end in -er in American English: thus, center, fiber, etc. Exceptions include: acre, cadre, lucre, massacre, mediocre, ogre.

-t/-ed Although this seems to be a mere difference in spelling the past tense of some verbs, it is really a different form; see ’Verbs: past tenses’ below.

Other common spelling differences

Usage

dates Americans are at odds with the rest of the world in the way they express dates in numerical form. In Britain and elsewhere, the order is always: day, month, year — eg, 7/9/2008 for September 7th 2008. In the United States, it is: month, day, year — eg, 9/7/2008. This can lead to misunderstanding — not least with the common term “9/11” to refer to the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11th 2001, which the rest of the world will automatically translate as November 9th.

exclusivity What is familiar in one culture may be entirely alien in another. British English exploits terms and phrases borrowed from the game of cricket; American English uses baseball terms. Those writing for readers in both markets use either set of terms at their peril. Do not make references or assumptions that are geographically exclusive, for example by specifying months or seasons when referring to seasonal patterns, by using north or south to imply a type of climate, or by making geographical references that give a state’s name followed by USA, as in Wyoming, USA. You can help to avoid confusion: Cambridge, England; Cambridge, MA.

race and sex The difficulties that arise in Europe as a result of references to race and sex (see ethnic groups, political correctness) are even greater in America. When referring to Americans whose ancestors came from Africa, most people use the adjective African-American rather than black. Other groups are referred to by their specific ethnicity; for instance, Hispanics, who are also Latinos/ Latinas.

American Indians are usually called Native Americans, not least to distinguish them from the ever-growing numbers of Indian-Americans. It is unacceptable to refer to them as red. It can also cause offence to describe the original inhabitants of the lands stretching from Greenland to Alaska as Eskimos; this was a corruption of a Cree word meaning raw-flesh eater. The people themselves are distributed among at least three major tribal groupings. Alaskan natives are usually called Native Americans in Alaska. Inuit should be used only to refer to people of that tribe.

units of measurement In British publications measurements are now largely expressed in SI units (the modern form of metric units), although imperial measures are still used in certain contexts. In American publications measurements may be expressed in SI units, but imperial units are still more common.

Although the British imperial and American standard measures are usually identical, there are some important exceptions, eg, the number of fluid ounces in a pint: 16 in the American system and 20 in the British. This difference has a knock-on effect in the volumes of gallons, which are smaller in America than in Britain. Americans also use the measure quart (one-quarter of a gallon), which is now considered archaic in Britain.

Some measures are peculiar to one or other national system, particularly units of mass relating to agriculture. See also measures in Part 3.

verbs: past tenses -t/-ed Both forms of ending are acceptable in British English, but the -t form is dominant — burnt, learnt, spelt — whereas American English uses -ed: burned, learned, spelled. Contrarily, British English uses —ed for the past tense and past participle of certain verbs — quitted, sweated — while American English uses the infinitive spelling — quit, sweat. Some verbs have a different form of past tense and past participle, eg, the past tense of dive is dived in British English but dove in American English, and the past tense of fit is always fit in American English, not fitted, as in British English. Although loaned is still sometimes used as the past tense of lend in American English, it is not standard.

Vocabulary

Sometimes the same word has gradually taken on different meanings on the two sides of the Atlantic, creating an opportunity for misunderstanding. The word homely, for example, means simple or informal in British English, but plain or unattractive in American English.

This also applies to figures of speech. It went like a bomb in British English means it was a great success; it bombed in American English means it was a disaster. To table something in British English means to bring it forward for action; but in American English it means the opposite, ie, to shelve.

One writer’s slang is another’s lively use of words; formal language to one is pomposity to another. This is the trickiest area to negotiate when writing for both British and American readers. At its best, distinctively American English is more direct and vivid than its British English equivalent. Many American words and expressions have passed into British English because they are shorter or more to the point: eg, lay off is preferable to make redundant, and fire is preferable to dismiss. But American English also has a contrary tendency to lengthen words, creating a (to British readers) pompous tone: for instance, transportation (in British English, transport).

British English is slower than American English to accept new words and suspicious of short cuts, and sometimes it resists the use of nouns as verbs (see grammar and syntax in Part 1).

The following lists draw attention to commonly used words and idioms that are spelt differently or have different meanings in American English and British English. When you do not want to produce a single version, follow one or other convention and, if this means using a word that will mystify or mislead one group of readers, provide a translation. The lists do not cover slang or colloquialisms.

accounting, banking and finance

baby items

clothes

food, cooking and eating

homes and other buildings

people, professions and politics

travel, transport and pedestrians

other words and phrases

Below is a list of words that are acceptable in both American and British English, for use when you want to produce a single version of written material for both categories of reader.

ambience not ambiance

among not amongst

annex not annexe

artifact not artefact

backward not backwards

baptistry not baptistery

Bible, not bible (for Scriptures)

burned not burnt

bus not coach

canvases not canvasses

car rental not car hire

cater to not cater for (for needs)

custom-made not bespoke

development not estate (for housing)

diesel fuel not DERV

disc not disk (except in computing)

dispatch not despatch

encyclopedia not encyclopaedia

except for not save

farther not further (for distance)

first name not Christian name

flip not toss (for coins, etc)

focusing, focused, etc

forward not forwards

fuel not petrol (UK) or gasoline (US)

(eye)glasses not spectacles

gypsy not gipsy

hairdryer not hairdrier

horse-racing not just racing

insurance coverage not insurance cover

intermission not interval

jail not gaol

learned not learnt

line not queue

location not situation

maid not chambermaid

mathematics not maths (UK) or math (US)

motorcycle not motorbike

neat not spruce or tidy

news-stand not kiosk

nightgown not nightdress

orangeade/lemonade not orange/lemon squash

package not parcel

parking spaces/garage not car park (UK) or parking lot (US)

phoney not phony

refrigerator not fridge

railway not railroad

raincoat not mac, mackintosh

rent not hire (except for people)

reservation, reserve (seats, etc) not booking, book

retired person not old-age pensioner (UK) or retiree (US)

slowdown not go-slow (in production)

soccer not football (except for American football)

spelled not spelt

spoiled not spoilt

street musician not busker

swap not swop

swimming not bathing

team not side (in sport)

tearoom not teashop

thread not cotton

toilet not lavatory

toll-free not free of charge (for telephone numbers)

tuna not tunny

underwear not pants or knickers (or use lingerie for women’s underwear)

unmistakable not unmistakeable

unspoiled not unspoilt

while not whilst

yogurt not yoghourt or yoghurt

zero not nought