Have You Ever Noticed the Differences in English Variants? Issue #070

As we communicate more on a global scale, understanding the differences between various types of English is becoming increasingly important, especially in writing. For those of us in New Zealand, it can be helpful to know how our version of English differs from others.

Spelling Differences

New Zealand English follows British English in terms of spelling, with words like “colour,” “organisation,” and “theatre.” In contrast, American English opts for simplified versions like “color,” “organization,” and “theater.”

Vocabulary

While New Zealand shares a lot of vocabulary with British and Australian English, we also have unique terms. For example, in New Zealand, we say “dairy” for a convenience store, while Americans use “corner store,” and Brits say “newsagent.” These variations extend to everyday items like “jandals” (flip-flops) and “togs” (swimsuit).

Grammar and Punctuation

Like British English, New Zealand English typically uses single quotation marks (‘like this’), whereas American English prefers double quotation marks (“like this”). We also follow British conventions for grammar, like treating collective nouns as plural. For example, “The team are playing well” is standard here, whereas American English would use “The team is playing well.”

For proofreaders like me it is important to know which version my clients prefer or need in their writing.

Interesting, isn’t it?

What tripped you off in the past?