INSTEAD OF ▸ SIMPLE WRITERS GUIDE

XIX. Writing British Accent/Dialect

Simple grammar that's different in the UK: 

(Disclaimer: I'm NOT an expert at this, I'm just summarizing stuff I've found helpful. Do not take my tips as 100% knowledge. I'm neither British or American.)

•Use At instead of In, for example: "I read that back when I studied AT the university," instead of "I read that back when I was studying IN college," as you would say in an American accent. 

•Add TO in front of THE, "We live near to the school," instead of "We live near the school." 

•In the UK they use the world Shall a lot instead of Will, but do not overuse it. Example, "I shall bring the food over tomorrow," or "Shall we go to the pub tonight?" 

•A word that they use in the UK is, "needn't" that means "Don't need to." Example: "You needn't come with me to the doctor's appointment." 

•Passed tense: In the UK you can add a "t" at the end of a past tense action instead of the more common "ed". Example: burnt, spilt, learnt, dreamt. 

Word/expressions only used in the UK and the meaning of them: 

But I would advise you to use these expressions and words with care, do spread them out in your writing, otherwise, it'll just seem forced. The first word is the UK one, the second the American one.

•One of the most important ones; Biscuit = Cookie. 

•a block of flats = apartment building

•Braces= suspenders

•candyfloss= cotton candy 

•car park= parking lot

•casualty= emergency room

•chemist= drug store

•chips= french fries

•cinema= movie theatre

•cot= crib

•crisps= chips; potato chips 

•dressing gown= robe

•drink-driving= drunk driving

•drinks-cupboard= liquor cabinet 

•dummy (for a baby)= pacifier 

•dustbin= garbage can

•flat= apartment 

•football= soccer 

•footway= sidewalk

•garden= yard; lawn. 

•fringe (hair)= bangs 

•holiday= vacation

•jumper= sweater 

•junior school= elementary school 

•lift= elevator 

•mobile phone = cellphone 

•motorway= highway 

•mum/mummy=mom/mommy

•pavement= sidewalk 

•polo-neck= turtleneck 

•postbox= mailbox

•pushchair= stroller

•roundabout= traffic circle

•starter= appateizer 

•sweets= candy

•takeaway= take out (food)

•trainers= sneakers 

•underground= subway

•wagon (on a train)= car

•wardrobe= closet

More expressions in next chapter!