The Efficiency of (the) American English Language
As I've come to learn while living in the US, the American English language is more efficient than its British English cousin. The difference between the two languages is more than just fonetic phonetic simplification - the general rule seems to be about using fewer letters and words as a whole. Here are some of the examples I've bumped into:
American English |
British English |
Diff count |
Links to notes |
Four hundred twenty |
Four hundred and twenty |
3 |
notes |
Delimiter |
Deliminator |
2 |
notes |
Oriented |
Orientated |
2 |
notes |
I use less words than you |
You use fewer words than me |
1 |
notes |
anesthetist |
anaesthetist |
1 |
notes |
color |
colour |
1 |
notes |
program |
programme |
2 |
notes |
aluminum |
aluminium |
1 |
notes |
donut |
doughnut |
3 |
notes |
yogurt |
yoghurt |
2 |
notes |
ass |
arse |
1 |
notes |
Duh! |
Of course |
4 |
notes |
As we know, most rules have an exception, and the "using fewer letters and words" rule is no exception:
American English |
British English |
Diff count |
Links to notes |
Triple 2% grande double mocha vanilla extra hot latte add non-fat whipped cream |
Cup of tea |
-67 |
notes |
(pic from Color vs. Colour - The Great Spelling Battle)