You may have heard people describe certain words or spellings as “American English.” But what exactly is American English? And how do you avoid errors in your writing when using it? Let us explain.
American English is the English dialect (or set of dialects) used in the United States. It is also known as US English, AmE, AmEng, or en-US, and is specific to the US, not North America in general. Canadian English, for instance, is nearer to British English in some ways.
Having said that, American English is also used internationally due to the country’s influence overseas. As such, many “Americanisms” are now common in other English dialects.
But what makes American English unique? As we’re all about writing at Proofed, we’ll ignore pronunciation for now. But it does differ from other major English dialects in various ways:
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
The key is to be aware of these differences when writing for a US audience.
We won’t attempt a definitive rundown of everything that makes American English unique here. But we will offer a few helpful guidelines that you can follow when using US English:
Finally, you can have your work proofread by someone who knows American English, especially if you are less familiar with this dialect, as a native speaker may spot things you have missed.
Δ
3-minute read
Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...
2-minute read
If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...
5-minute read
Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...
Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...
4-minute read
Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...
Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...