During the last several weeks we’ve covered some meaningful ground about the language we share with our friends across the water. For us, it’s been fun to reflect on what we have in common as well as how each dialect varies its voice.<\/p>\n
So far, we’ve examined spelling<\/a>, vocabulary<\/a>, and points of grammar<\/a>. We’ll conclude our review with more interesting differences between American and British English, particularly as they concern punctuation.<\/p>\n American and British English Punctuation<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n British and American English draw from the same well of words, and the dialects continue converging with time. However, some variations in punctuation remain.<\/p>\n The following are a few of the most prevalent differences.<\/p>\n Quotation marks.<\/strong> American English places periods and commas inside double quotation marks. British English places them outside single quotation marks.<\/p>\n Examples:<\/em><\/strong> For questions and exclamations, both U.S. and U.K. punctuation follow logic.<\/span> Quotations within quotations.<\/strong> American English applies double marks (“\u2026”) for an initial quotation and single marks (‘\u2026’) for a quotation within it. British English applies single marks for an initial quotation and double marks for a quotation within it.<\/p>\n Examples:<\/em><\/strong> Titles. <\/strong>In American English, all abbreviated personal or professional titles have a period (or a full stop<\/em> in British English). Commonwealth usage does not include a period when a title ends with the same letter as the full version (e.g., Mister, Doctor<\/em>). It does add the period when the ending letter is different from the full version (e.g., Prof.<\/em> for Professor<\/em>).<\/p>\n Examples:<\/em><\/strong> Time.<\/strong> American English includes a colon (:) for time. British English applies a full stop <\/em>(.)<\/p>\n Examples<\/em><\/strong> American and British English: More Verb Variety<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n(U.S.) “We have no time for an extended debate or a decision by committee,” Rory said.
\n(U.K.) ‘We have no time for an extended debate or a decision by committee’, Rory said.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nExamples:<\/em><\/strong>
\n(U.S.) “Do we have time for an extended debate or a decision by committee?” Rory asked.
\n(U.K.) ‘Do we have time for an extended debate or a decision by committee?’ Rory asked.<\/span>
\n(U.S.) Do you agree with the statement, “All’s fair in love and war”?
\n(U.K.) Do you agree with the statement, ‘All’s fair in love and war’?<\/span><\/p>\n
\n(U.S.) “We have no time for an extended debate or, as the department head railed against, ‘decision by committee,’ ” Rory said. (GrammarBook.com style supports clarity and identification by including a space between single and double quotation marks.<\/em>)
\n(U.K.) ‘We have no time for an extended debate or, as the department head railed against, “decision by committee”‘, Rory said.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n(U.S.) Mr. and Mrs. Malik are going to see Dr. Rabin this afternoon and then Prof. Winningham tomorrow morning.
\n(U.K.) Mr and Mrs Malik are going to see Dr Rabin this afternoon and then Prof. Winningham tomorrow morning.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n(U.S.) The Armstrongs will arrive at 3:00 p.m.
\n(U.K.) The Armstrongs will arrive at 3.00 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n