How to Recognize the Similarities in American and British Grammar
British grammar has more of a Shakespearean flare about it than does American wording of a similar sort. Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules to recognize which is which without personal knowledge. Because British and American grammar is so similar, learning the differences is basically the same as learning the similarities.
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Instructions
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Look at collective nouns such as "government" or "group." These use a plural verb in British grammar instead of the singular version used in American English usage. This would make "the government is..." change to "the government are...." Try that in your American grammar checker.
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Compare "cosy" (UK) and "cozy (US). Consonants are mostly the same in both countries, but the American "z" shows as an "s" in the British version of the word.
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Peruse a book on English and British translations such as, "A Handbook of Word and Grammar Patterns." There are subtle differences, such as "neither do I" in American English or "nor do I" in the British language.
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Flex your language muscles. The "s" in British grammar and the "z" in American grammar interchange due to a verb-forming suffix.
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View terms such as "color" in the American language and "colour" in British. Norman-derived words such as these, take on their own version of grammar in each language. This rule applies to several common words used by both cultures. American words ending in "er" such as "theater" and "center" become "theatre" and "centre" when used in British text.
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Use the version of the word that agrees with the topic. If you are discussing the hues of an English forest, then those are colours, not colors.
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Increase your meager linguistic skills by learning a new rule every day. Soon you will be a pro at the art of American/British grammar determination.
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