英语、美语第二项最明显的差异，就是使用的单字。同样的东西，在美国与英国的称呼不一样。以下举一些最常见的例子:
| American English 美语 | British English 英语 | |
| 公寓 | apartment | flat |
| 洗手间 | bathroom/restroom | toilet |
| 罐头 | can | tin |
| 糖果 | candy | sweets |
| 洋芋片 | chips | crisps |
| 饼干 | cookie | biscuit |
| 玉米 | corn | maize |
| 对方付费电话 | collect call | reverse charge call |
| 婴儿床 | crib | cot |
| 尿布 | diaper | nappy |
| 电梯 | elevator | lift |
| 橡皮擦 | eraser | rubber |
| 一楼 | first floor | ground floor |
| 手电筒 | flashlight | torch |
| 薯条 | french fries | chips |
| 垃圾桶 | garbage can | dustbin |
| 汽油 | gas, gasoline | petrol |
| 果酱 | jelly | jam |
| 汽车的引擎盖 | hood | bonnet |
| 生气 | mad | angry |
| 数学 | math | maths |
| 餐巾、擦嘴巾 | napkin | serviette |
| 丝袜 | panty-hose, pantihose | tights |
| 薯片 | potato chips | crisp |
| 手提包 | purse/pocketbook | handbag |
| 足球 | soccer | football |
| 来回票 | roundtrip | return |
| 人行道 | sidewalk | pavement |
| 炉子 | stove | cooker |
| 毛衣 | sweater | jersey, jumper |
| 卡车 | truck | lorry |
| 汽车后面的行李箱 | trunk | boot |
| 假期 | vacation | holiday |
拼字的差异比较小，以下是一些例子：
| American English 美语 | British English 英语 | |
| 考古学 | archeology | archaeology |
| 目录 | catalog | catalogue |
| 文明 | civilization | civilisation |
| 颜色 | color | colour |
| 马路牙子 | curb | kerb |
| 抵抗 | defense | defence |
| 草稿 | draft | draught |
| 最爱 | favorite | favourite |
| 荣誉 | honor | honour |
| 珠宝 | jewelry | jewllery |
| 组织 | organization | organisation |
| 练习 | practice | practise |
| 轮胎 | tire | tyre |