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Brirish or American English for content?

by yordanov
22 replies
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Hello,
Which language do you prefer for content to your site: British or American English?
#american #brirish #content #english
  • Profile picture of the author BudaBrit
    Not really the right place...

    But, unless you're targeting a British, Australian or Canadian audience, you're gonna want to use US English.

    If you're targeting an international audience, just US English.
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    • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
      Originally Posted by BudaBrit View Post

      If you're targeting an international audience, just US English.
      As someone from the States, I'd say it makes absolutely no difference, as long as they're a Native English speaker... and yea, totally the wrong forum for this lol
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      • Profile picture of the author BudaBrit
        Originally Posted by Cam Connor View Post

        As someone from the States, I'd say it makes absolutely no difference, as long as they're a Native English speaker... and yea, totally the wrong forum for this lol
        You see, I thought there was a study done on this, and US English came out tops.

        I'll go digging to see if I can find it.
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        • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
          Originally Posted by BudaBrit View Post

          You see, I thought there was a study done on this, and US English came out tops.

          I'll go digging to see if I can find it.
          I doubt that's a good use of your time.
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          • Profile picture of the author BudaBrit
            Originally Posted by Cam Connor View Post

            I doubt that's a good use of your time.
            You're right, I gave up.

            I do, however, feel American slang has been popularised more than British slang. If you were to use American slang to a Brit, they would likely identify it as such. The other way round, though?

            In the office I currently work in, we have an American guy and a couple of Brits. When he says anything in slang, nearly every time we all get it. When we say something in slang, we often have to explain to him afterwards...
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            • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
              Originally Posted by BudaBrit View Post

              You're right, I gave up.

              I do, however, feel American slang has been popularised more than British slang. If you were to use American slang to a Brit, they would likely identify it as such. The other way round, though?

              In the office I currently work in, we have an American guy and a couple of Brits. When he says anything in slang, nearly every time we all get it. When we say something in slang, we often have to explain to him afterwards...
              True. But that also means Brits can use American slang when they want to. But yea, I've experienced this too when talking to Brits, they usually know our slang, but not the other way around, so I hear you, but they can use our slang if you tell them to.
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  • Profile picture of the author HelpingYouBeAnExpert
    I notice most villains now in movies are British, the last StarTrek for example. Just my 2 cents, but I vote American.
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    • Profile picture of the author wordwizard
      I vote for American English too.

      Then again, when it comes to British slang, I believe Harry Potter has done a lot for increasing people's familiarity with British colloquialisms around the world. Well, at least the English speaking world.
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      • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
        Originally Posted by wordwizard View Post

        I vote for American English too.

        Then again, when it comes to British slang, I believe Harry Potter has done a lot for increasing people's familiarity with British colloquialisms around the world. Well, at least the English speaking world.
        Catch up!

        [click in]

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  • Profile picture of the author JamesDLayton
    I'm a Limey. Future wife is a Washington girl. Ass/arse sandwich/sarnie jam/jelly jelly/jello boot/trunk bonnet/hood condom/rubber rubber/eraser chips/fries chips/crisps sidewalk/pavement freeway/motorway ATM/cashpoint store/shop ...... just a few differences I can remember.

    James
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
      Originally Posted by JamesDLayton View Post

      ATM/cashpoint
      I've never known that to be a British / US divide.

      I've heard British people use both terms regularly.
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      • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
        Originally Posted by Daniel Evans View Post

        I've never known that to be a British / US divide.

        I've heard British people use both terms regularly.
        And of course "Hole in the wall".
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  • Profile picture of the author JamesDLayton
    Oh and if you call a Limey a fag...... you just called him a cigarette.
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    "We are what we think about
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    One of the easiest transformations I ever undertook as a copywriter was reading that quote every day.
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  • Profile picture of the author joomdev
    There are many differences between American and British English, including:

    Spelling: color vs. colour, behavior vs. behaviour, theater vs. theatre.
    Terminology: truck vs. lorry, cart vs. trolley, two weeks vs. a fortnight.
    Concepts: what is football anyway — American football, soccer, or (for the truly brave) Aussie rules?
    Slang: do you call this sport "footie"?
    Abbreviations: do readers know that PA=Pennsylvania? Not if they're outside the U.S.
    So, which version of English should you use on your website? There's no simple answer, but usability studies do provide two firm insights:
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    There are a few reasons why I would say American, even though "British" covers more countries. MOST of the differences have changed elsewhere anyway. And the british are probably more likely to allow English than the other way, though youtube shows they are about as much at a loss.

    Maybe it is best to try doing it in a neutral way. Get rid of slang, culture, and area references, and words spelled differently, and write in a way where nobody even KNOWS your actual language.

    Steve
    "
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
    In his "Under Acheivers" course Frank Kern said: "For some reason, Americans think that anyone with a British accent is automatically smarter than us."

    So, when marketing to the rest of the world, use American English.
    When marketing to the U.S. use British.

    Anyone that watches U.S. TV will testify that more and more commercials are using British English.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by lcombs View Post

      In his "Under Acheivers" course Frank Kern said: "For some reason, Americans think that anyone with a British accent is automatically smarter than us."

      So, when marketing to the rest of the world, use American English.
      When marketing to the U.S. use British.

      Anyone that watches U.S. TV will testify that more and more commercials are using British English.
      GIVE ME A BREAK! That only works with the spoken word. And YEAH, that is weird. But I bet a lot of people would refuse to by from a company that can't even spell color "correctly"!

      As for relative intelligence, have you checked out what group X doesn't get about Americans? It is often WRONG! They talk about ONE american interpretation, or a HIGHLY SPECIFIC case. They might as well say it about their own group, since it is about as likely to be true. And sometimes it is about different circumstances here.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author WFDUDE
    What the F is BRIRISH?....lol
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by WFDUDE View Post

      What the F is BRIRISH?....lol
      GOOD POINT! I often refer to INGLISH, and INGLISH is NOT ENGLISH. So who knows?

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author HarryBajwa
    I would like to go with American english because my target country is US to het more business and traffic on website.
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  • Profile picture of the author socialentry
    Monthy Python Enlgihs
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