Differences Between British and American English in Literary Writing

As an Australian, I often feel at ease when reading pieces written in either British or American styles. However, the differences can be more subtle than first met when it comes to formal and serious journalism. This article explores the nuances of British and American English in literary writing, focusing on word choice, phraseology, and cultural context.

Subtle Differences in Literary Writing

Consider the following excerpt from a British article relating to the Man Booker literature prize:

Great efforts are made to ensure that the judging panel is balanced in terms of gender and professions within the industry so that a writer, a critic, an editor, and an academic are chosen along with a well-known person from wider society. However, when the panel of judges has been finalized, they are left to make their own decisions without any further involvement or interference from the prize sponsor.

While there might be a slight preference in spelling choices, such as finalise over finalize or vise versa, it is often challenging to discern whether a piece is written in British English (BE) or American English (AE) based solely on the writing style.

For instance, the Quora answer below, serves as an example of how a writer might avoid obvious regionalisms:

Great efforts are made to ensure that the judging panel is balanced in terms of gender and professions within the industry so that a writer, a critic, an editor, and an academic are chosen along with a well-known person from wider society. However, when the panel of judges has been finalized, they are left to make their own decisions without any further involvement or interference from the prize sponsor.

Verbal and Cultural Nuances

While standard British and American English can be quite similar, regional and cultural-based influences often lead to significant differences. For example, an urban African American dialog would be vastly different from that of a Texan of European heritage. Similarly, a Glaswegian would use different forms of language compared to a BE educated resident of Mumbai or Karachi.

Word Choice and Spelling

It is also worth noting that certain words and phrases may not be used interchangeably across British and American English. For instance, a Yank might not write a bit of a sticky wicket or bollocks. These distinctive phrases are often culture-specific and help identify the source of the writing.

British and American authors may also choose to include significant amounts of vernacular language that is more native to their regions. For example, if writing about the apparent hue of something, a British author might write colour (spelled as c-o-l-o-u-r) while an American might opt for color (spelled with two 'l' and one 'u'). Such spelling differences can be a dead giveaway that the piece is written in American English.

More formal language, such as scepter or sceptre, cannot be omitted easily. It is a clear indicator of which version of English is being used.

In conclusion, while British and American English share many similarities, they can be distinguished through word choice, regionalisms, and cultural context. Understanding these differences is crucial for writers, editors, and readers alike who are navigating the nuanced and evolving landscape of literary writing.