Do You Speak British or American English? - Take This Quiz to Know

This is not about how good you are in English, but about your style (word usage) of speaking. Do you speak British or American English? Take this quiz. Who knows! You might just be surprised.

The Americans are identical to the British in all respects except, of course, language.
― Oscar Wilde

English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. If you have traveled to different countries, you’d know that it is impossible to learn the language of every place you visit, but knowing English would at least get you somewhere.

Though English is spoken everywhere, there are some differences according to region. Take for example Americans, who have different accents according to the location in the States. In the United Kingdom, as you travel around, you’ll notice that not only does the accent change, but also different words are used for the same things, which makes it more of a difference in dialect. Then there is Australian English, South African English, and numerous others, depending on which region you belong to.

Leaving the accent aside, American English and British English are the most widely spoken types around the globe. Most Commonwealth countries follow British English. The rest of the world pretty much follows American English, with a few exceptions here and there. The world is a much smaller place now, with the advancements in technology and lifestyle, so like other things, language too has merged together in many ways.

Now, if you want to know whether your speak the American type of English or the British type, simply take the quiz that follows, and you’ll have your answer. Make sure you select a choice for every statement to get your results. Also, in some statements, it might happen that you are used to saying both options. In such cases, simply choose the one that you would use more often than the other.

American Vs. British English: QUIZ

Take the Quiz

1i. I would love a banger or two with these eggs.
1ii. I would love a sausage or two with these eggs.

2i. We could stuff all of this into the boot of my car.
2ii. We could stuff all of this into the trunk of my car.

3i. You really need to talk to that guy about his behavior.
3ii. You really need to talk to that bloke about his behaviour.

4i. Please make sure that nothing is thrown outside the bin.
4ii. Please make sure that nothing is thrown outside the trash can.

5i. These cookies are really good. Could I have some more please?
5ii. These biscuits are really good. Could I have some more please?

6i. Right now I am busy, but I’ll meet you in the car park sharp at 7 pm.
6ii. Right now I am busy, but I’ll meet you in the parking lot sharp at 7 pm.

7i. He will be able to help you with that. He is a qualified pharmacist.
7ii. He will be able to help you with that. He is a qualified chemist.

8i. These fries are all that you’re going to get for dinner tonight.
8ii. These chips are all that you’re going to get for dinner tonight.

9i. He never left home without wearing a pair of braces.
9ii. He never left home without wearing a pair of suspenders.

10i. He stays just on the other side of that flyover.
10ii. He stays just on the other side of that overpass.

11i. It’s pretty cold there. You’ll need to wear a sweater to stay warm.
11ii. It’s pretty cold there. You’ll need to wear a jumper to stay warm.

12i. I’m going to cook up some delicious chopped beef for dinner tonight.
12ii. I’m going to cook up some delicious mince for dinner tonight.

13i. It has rained so much, that even the pavements are submerged under water.
13ii. It has rained so much, that even the sidewalks are submerged under water.

14i. There was a lot of food, but strangely they ran out of serviettes.
14ii. There was a lot of food, but strangely they ran out of napkins.

15i. We’ll need to hire the services of an experienced solicitor to get you out of this mess.
15ii. We’ll need to hire the services of an experienced lawyer to get you out of this mess.

16i. When you approach the intersection, look out for a red building. That’s where the store is.
16ii. When you approach the crossroad, look out for a red building. That’s where the store is.

17i. The new hoarding come up at the end of the road is really creative.
17ii. The new billboard come up at the end of the road is really creative.

18i. Would you like to have some oatmeal before leaving for school?
18ii. Would you like to have some porridge before leaving for school?

19i. This toy will have to be put together with some Scotch tape to start working again.
19ii. This toy will have to be put together with some Sellotape to start working again.

20i. I love to relax in my yard to come home to in the evening after a hard day’s work.
20ii. I love to relax in my garden to come home to in the evening after a hard day’s work.

21i. There is a lot of unwanted items that you need to get rid of from your cupboard.
21ii. There is a lot of unwanted items that you need to get rid of from your closet.

22i. As things stand, only a post mortem can determine the actual cause of his death.
22ii. As things stand, only an autopsy can determine the actual cause of his death.

23i. You can wait in the lobby until he arrives, and meet him regarding the new project.
23ii. You can wait at the reception until he arrives, and meet him regarding the new project.

24i. Traffic is at its peak at 6 pm, so take the tube and come over to my place.
24ii. Traffic is at its peak at 6 pm, so take the subway and come over to my place.

25i. I’ve applied for a job as a flight attendant in United Airlines.
25ii. I’ve applied for a job as an air hostess in United Airlines.

26i. Every one hour, a freight train passes through this unmanned crossing.
26ii. Every one hour, a goods train passes through this unmanned crossing.

27i. I’ll buy the tickets online. Let’s go to watch the match this Sunday.
27ii. I’ll buy the tickets online. Let’s go to watch the game this Sunday.

28i. I need to buy a new mixer. The one I have is pretty old and giving problems.
28ii. I need to buy a new blender. The one I have is pretty old and giving problems.

29i. They both got into an argument for the most pettiest thing that you could imagine.
29ii. They both got into a quarrel for the most pettiest thing that you could imagine.

30i. Some white curtains on that window would really go well with the décor in this room.
30ii. Some white drapes on that window would really go well with the décor in this room.

31i. He works as a valuer in a reputed company, but had to travel a fair distance to get to work.
31ii. He works as an appraiser in a reputed company, but had to travel a fair distance to get to work.

32i. We could stop by at the bookstall on our way back from work.
32ii. We could stop by at the newsstand on our way back from work.

33i. I just need to leave my baggage in my room before we go for the show.
33ii. I just need to leave my luggage in my room before we go for the show.

34i. He is the best compere that we have ever had, and we don’t intend on replacing him.
34ii. He is the best emcee that we have ever had, and we don’t intend on replacing him.

35i. The session in Congress was adjourned till the next day.
35ii. The session in Parliament was adjourned till the next day.

36i. The fender of your bike is broken and needs to be replaced.
36ii. The mudguard of your bike is broken and needs to be replaced.

37i. Whatever we do in life, good or bad, we eventually end up in a casket, after which we are answerable to God.
37ii. Whatever we do in life, good or bad, we eventually end up in a coffin, after which we are answerable to God.

38i. It’s a kids’ party, so we definitely need to have some candyfloss for them.
38ii. It’s a kids’ party, so we definitely need to have some cotton candy for them.

39i. If you have some spare time, please help me with this calculations.
39ii. If you have some free time, please help me with this calculations.

40i. This motor seems to be running on paraffin, that’s why the smell.
40ii. This motor seems to be running on kerosene, that’s why the smell.

41i. That airplane flying over the horizon during sunset is such a lovely sight.
41ii. That aeroplane flying over the horizon during sunset is such a lovely sight.

42i. He was loved by all his pupils, and they were extremely sad when he retired.
42ii. He was loved by all his students, and they were extremely sad when he retired.

43i. A 2-minute stir in the skillet would be the last step in making this dish.
43ii. A 2-minute stir in the frying-pan would be the last step in making this dish.

44i. The line at the billing counter is always long at this place.
44ii. The queue at the billing counter is always long at this place.

45i. I think it is about time we started investing in some shares, since we have some extra savings now.
45ii. I think it is about time we started investing in some stocks, since we have some extra savings now.

46i. This small torch isn’t going to be of any use on our trip.
46ii. This small flashlight isn’t going to be of any use on our trip.

47i. If you write down your postal code on the package, it would get there faster.
47ii. If you could write down your zip code on the package, it would get there faster.

48i. The head lamps seem to have stopped working. We need to get them fixed at the earliest.
48ii. The headlights seem to have stopped working. We need to get them fixed at the earliest.

49i. Use this eraser for whatever you want to change on your answer sheet.
49ii. Use this rubber for whatever you want to change on your answer sheet.

50i. I’d really love to buy some property downtown, but the rates that side are really high.
50ii. I’d really love to buy some real estate downtown, but the rates that side are really high.

Besides many American English words being different from British English words for saying the same thing, another difference is British and American spellings. American English leaves out the ‘u’ in many words like colour, neighbour, favourite, etc. Also, in many cases, the construction of a sentence may differ, even though the end meaning is the same. For example, using American English one would ask, ‘Do you have any brothers?’. The same thing asked in British English would go like, ‘Have you got any brothers?’. In BE, one would say, ‘I am going to have a nap’, while in AE it would be said like, ‘I am going to take a nap’. I can go on and on with such examples, but let’s leave that to another day and page.