When it comes to writing historical novels, accuracy is vital, no matter the genre, for the simple reason that anachronisms jump out at the reader as if they'd been written in big bold letters. And believe me, readers are bound to notice if one of your characters uses the wrong form of address or mentions an item that wasn't yet invented at the time in which your story takes place.
Attending British schools for twelve years has definitely been of great value to my writing. Yes, I've made mistakes, but I've always done my best to use the British term rather than the American term when necessary. This has proved to be a bit of a contradictory experience since spelling has to be American, using color instead of colour. My most challenging word - the one I probably get wrong most often, is the color gray which I instinctively write as grey.
But, these are just a few minor differences. A few greater ones are as follows, courtesy of the www.oxforddictionaries.com
| British English | American English |
| accommodation | accommodations |
| action replay | instant replay |
| aerofoil | airfoil |
| aeroplane | airplane |
| agony aunt | advice columnist |
| Allen key | Allen wrench |
| aluminium | aluminum |
| aniseed | anise |
| anticlockwise | counterclockwise |
| articulated lorry | tractor-trailer |
| asymmetric bars | uneven bars |
| aubergine | eggplant |
| baking tray | cookie sheet |
| bank holiday | legal holiday |
| beetroot | beet(s) |
| bill | check |
| biscuit | cookie; cracker |
| black economy | underground economy |
| blanket bath | sponge bath |
| blind | (window) shade |
| block of flats | apartment building |
| boiler suit | coveralls |
| bonnet (of a car) | hood |
| boob tube | tube top |
| boot (of a car) | trunk |
| bottom drawer | hope chest |
| bowls | lawn bowling |
| braces | suspenders |
| brawn (the food) | headcheese |
| breakdown van | tow truck |
| breeze block | cinder block |
| bridging loan | bridge loan |
| bumbag | fanny pack |
| candyfloss | cotton candy |
| car park | parking lot |
| casualty | emergency room |
| catapult | slingshot |
| central reservation | median strip |
| chemist | drugstore |
| chips | French fries |
| cinema | movie theater; the movies |
| cling film | plastic wrap |
| common seal | harbor seal |
| consumer durables | durable goods |
| cornflour | cornstarch |
| cos (lettuce) | Romaine |
| cot | crib |
| cot death | crib death |
| cotton bud | cotton swab |
| cotton wool | absorbent cotton |
| council estate | (housing) project |
| courgette | zucchini |
| court card | face card |
| crash barrier | guardrail |
| crisps | chips; potato chips |
| crocodile clip | alligator clip |
| cross-ply | bias-ply |
| crotchet (music) | quarter note |
| current account | checking account |
| danger money | hazard pay |
| demister (in a car) | defroster |
| dialling tone | dial tone |
| diamante | rhinestone |
| double cream | heavy cream |
| draughts (game) | checkers |
| drawing pin | thumbtack |
| dressing gown | robe; bathrobe |
| drink-driving | drunk driving |
| drinks cupboard | liquor cabinet |
| drinks party | cocktail party |
| driving licence | driver’s license |
| dual carriageway | divided highway |
| dummy (for a baby) | pacifier |
| dust sheet | drop cloth |
| dustbin | garbage can |
| earth (electrical) | ground |
| engaged (of a phone) | busy |
| estate agent | real estate agent, realtor (trademark) |
| estate car | station wagon |
| ex-directory | unlisted |
| faith school | parochial school |
| financial year | fiscal year |
| fire brigade/service | fire company/department |
| first floor | second floor |
| fish finger | fish stick |
| fitted carpet | wall-to-wall carpeting |
| flannel | washcloth |
| flat | apartment |
| flexitime | flextime |
| flick knife | switchblade |
| flyover | overpass |
| football | soccer |
| footway | sidewalk |
| fringe (hair) | bangs |
| full board (in hotels) | American plan |
| full stop (punctuation) | period |
| garden | yard; lawn |
| gearing (finance) | leverage |
| gear lever | gearshift |
| goods train | freight train |
| greaseproof paper | wax paper/waxed paper |
| green fingers | green thumb |
| grill (noun) | broiler |
| grill (verb) | broil |
| ground floor | first floor |
| groundsman | groundskeeper |
| hairslide | barrette |
| hatstand | hatrack |
| hen night | bachelorette party |
| hire purchase | installment plan |
| hoarding | billboard |
| hob | stovetop |
| holdall | carryall |
| holiday | vacation |
| holidaymaker | vacationer |
| homely | homey |
| hosepipe | (garden) hose |
| in hospital | in the hospital |
| hot flush | hot flash |
| housing estate | housing development |
| hundreds and thousands | sprinkles (for ice cream) |
| ice lolly | Popsicle (trademark) |
| icing sugar | confectioners’ sugar |
| indicator (on a car) | turn signal |
| inside leg | inseam |
| jelly babies | jelly beans |
| Joe Bloggs | Joe Blow |
| Joe Public | John Q. Public |
| jumble sale | rummage sale |
| jump lead | jumper cable |
| jumper | sweater |
| junior school | elementary school |
| kennel | doghouse |
| ladybird | ladybug |
| a lettuce | a head of lettuce |
| level crossing | grade crossing |
| lift | elevator |
| lolly | Popsicle (trademark) |
| lollipop lady (or man) | crossing guard |
| loo (toilet) | john |
| loose cover | slipcover |
| lorry | truck |
| loudhailer | bullhorn |
| low loader | flatbed truck |
| lucky dip | grab bag |
| luggage van | baggage car |
| maize | corn |
| mangetout | snow pea |
| market garden | truck farm |
| marshalling yard | railroad yard |
| maths | math |
| metalled road | paved road |
| milometer | odometer |
| minim (music) | half note |
| mobile phone | cell phone |
| monkey tricks | monkeyshines |
| motorway | expressway; highway |
| mum/mummy | mom/mommy |
| nappy | diaper |
| needlecord | pinwale |
| newsreader | newscaster |
| noughts and crosses | tic-tac-toe |
| number plate | license plate |
| off-licence | liquor store; package store |
| opencast mining | open-pit mining |
| ordinary share | common stock |
| oven glove | oven mitt |
| paddling pool | wading pool |
| paracetamol | acetaminophen |
| parting (in hair) | part |
| patience | solitaire |
| pavement | sidewalk |
| pay packet | pay envelope |
| pedestrian crossing | crosswalk |
| peg | clothespin |
| pelmet | valance |
| petrol | gas; gasoline |
| physiotherapy | physical therapy |
| pinafore dress | jumper |
| plain chocolate | dark chocolate |
| plain flour | all-purpose flour |
| polo neck | turtleneck |
| positive discrimination | reverse discrimination |
| postal vote | absentee ballot |
| postbox | mailbox |
| postcode | zip code |
| potato crisp | potato chip |
| power point | electrical outlet |
| pram | baby carriage; stroller |
| press stud | snap |
| press-up | pushup |
| private soldier | GI |
| public school | private school |
| public transport | public transportation |
| punchbag | punching bag |
| pushchair | stroller |
| pylon | utility pole |
| quantity surveyor | estimator |
| quaver (music) | eighth note |
| queue | line |
| racing car | race car |
| railway | railroad |
| real tennis | court tennis |
| recorded delivery | certified mail |
| registration plate | license plate |
| remould (tyre) | retread |
| reverse the charges | call collect |
| reversing lights | back-up lights |
| right-angled triangle | right triangle |
| ring road | beltway |
| room only | European plan |
| roundabout (at a fair) | carousel |
| roundabout (in road) | traffic circle |
| rowing boat | rowboat |
| sailing boat | sailboat |
| saloon (car) | sedan |
| sandpit | sandbox |
| sandwich cake | layer cake |
| sanitary towel | sanitary napkin |
| self-raising flour | self-rising flour |
| semibreve (music) | whole note |
| semitone (music) | half step |
| share option | stock option |
| shopping trolley | shopping cart |
| show house/home | model home |
| silencer (on a car) | muffler |
| silverside | rump roast |
| skeleton in the cupboard | skeleton in the closet |
| skimmed milk | skim milk |
| skipping rope | jump rope |
| skirting board | baseboard |
| sledge | sled |
| sleeper | railroad tie |
| sleeping partner | silent partner |
| slowcoach | slowpoke |
| snakes and ladders | chutes and ladders |
| solicitor | lawyer |
| soya/soya bean | soy/soybean |
| splashback | backsplash |
| spring onion | green onion |
| stag night | bachelor party |
| Stanley knife | utility knife |
| starter | appetizer |
| state school | public school |
| storm in a teacup | tempest in a teapot |
| surtitle | supertitle |
| swede | rutabaga |
| sweet(s) | candy |
| takeaway (food) | takeout; to go |
| taxi rank | taxi stand |
| tea towel | dish towel |
| terrace house | row house |
| tick | check mark |
| ticket tout | scalper |
| tights | pantyhose |
| timber | lumber |
| titbit | tidbit |
| toffee apple | candy apple |
| touch wood | knock on wood |
| trade union | labor union |
| trading estate | industrial park |
| trainers | sneakers |
| tram | streetcar; cable car |
| transport cafe | truck stop |
| trolley | shopping cart |
| twelve-bore | twelve-gauge |
| unalike | unlike |
| underground | subway |
| vacuum flask | thermos bottle |
| verge (of a road) | shoulder |
| vest | undershirt |
| veterinary surgeon | veterinarian |
| wagon (on a train) | car |
| waistcoat | vest |
| walking frame | walker |
| wardrobe | closet |
| water ice | Italian ice |
| weatherboard | clapboard |
| white coffee | coffee with cream |
| white spirit | mineral spirits |
| wholemeal bread | wholewheat bread |
| windcheater | windbreaker |
| windscreen | windshield |
| wing (of a car) | fender |
| worktop | countertop |
| Yale lock | cylinder lock |
| zebra crossing | crosswalk |
| zed (letter Z) | zee |
| zip | zipper |
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