Everyone who has studied English as a second language knows that there are differences between British and American English. Some people want to learn the correct English, but which one is correct?
That is a decision that everyone who studies English must make for themselves. Mostly there are two variation of English, British and American, and not, for instance Canadian, Australian, too.
American English evolved from British English which in turn evolved mostly from German. In fact, America as a new country over two hundred years ago voted in English as the official language by only one vote of Congress. English has a huge vocabulary, probably the largest in the world. Often there are several synonyms for one word. This is common in any language and, at this point, I will begin our search for those differences that separate British and American English. Take the
two words: STORE (Am) and SHOP (Br). The word store as a verb means to set aside things in reserve. As a noun it is a place to shop or buy things. Shop is also a verb and noun which means a place where things are offered for sale or to shop for things in order to buy. As far as understanding the two words, I would venture to say that there is not a single person on either side of the Atlantic Ocean who would not know what you were talking about, no matter which word you used. How about CANDY (Am) and SWEETS (Br). Candy is a noun and verb with emphassis on the use of sugar. Sugar is sweet, so candy and sweets are used interchangeably. In fact, the word sweetie is used to describe a loved one, but then again, so is sugar.
SIDEWALK (Am) and PAVEMENT (Br). Sidewalk is the walk at/on the side of the street. To pave means to lay or cover with material, as stone or concrete, that forms a firm level surface for travel. Hence pavement is a paved surface. In American English pavement is the actual street, usually made of asphalt or concrete. But sidewalks and streets both paved so it shouldn't take a genius to figure out that sidewalk is the walk at the side of something.
A problem is between I LIVE IN LITTLE STREET or I LIVE ON LITTLE STREET.
An American means, in the street, houses are actually in the street which could be very dangerous, whereas a house, on the street, could be anywhere as long it is touching the street. People's property usually borders the street's right-of-way.
They are still many different examples.