Anglais britannique…ou américain ?

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Un petit texte en anglais… Un bon exercice pour vous

Globalisation and faster communications have smoothed away many of the differences between British English and US English in the business and financial worlds. Business vocabulary is converging on both sides of the Atlantic as companies and financial analysts publish documents aimed at readers from both countries. A growing number of UK companies now publish Income Statements rather than Profit & Loss Accounts and the differences between annual reports published in the UK and US are gradually becoming fewer.

Differences in style and usage are more noticeable in market analysis and business reports. American usage can seem very odd to British readers - in the UK one posts a letter but not earnings; one can grow cabbages or hair but not a company; a hike is a country walk not an increase, to slate means to criticise severely and not to predict or to nominate; you meet people rather than meet with people, something is likely or probable when it is on the cards not in the cards, a promise is kept not delivered on, etc.

Everyday vocabulary can be very different. Here below, is a small glossary for your convenience:

English	American
articulated lorry	tractor trailer truck/semi
autumn	fall
bank holiday	legal holiday
bank note	bill
bill	check (restaurant)
bill/account	account
book (v.)	make a reservation
car park	parking lot
caretaker/porter	janitor
centre (city/business)	downtown
chairman (business)	president
chemist's shop	pharmacy/drug store
cinema	movie house/theater
current account	checking account
directory enquiries	directory assistance
district	precinct, neighbourhood
diversion	detour
driver (train)	engineer
dual carriageway	divided highway
estate agent	realtor
filling station	gas station
first floor	second floor
fortnight	two weeks
full-stop (punctuation)	period
goods truck (railway)	freight truck
guard (train)	conductor
hire purchase	installment plan
holiday	vacation
interval	intermission
label	tag
leader: leading article in newspaper	editorial
let	lease/rent
lift	elevator
limited (company)	incorporated
lorry	truck
mileometer	odometer
motorway	freeway/throughway/super highway
nought	zero
number plate	license plate
paraffin	kerosene
parcel	package
petrol	gas
post	mail
postal code	zip code
postman	mailman
postponement	raincheck
public school	private school
put down/entered (goods bought)	charged
put through (telephone)	connect
queue (n.)	line
queue (v.)	stand in line/line up
reception (hotel)	front desk
return ticket	round trip ticket
reverse charges	call collect
ring up	call/phone
solicitor	lawyer/attorney
stand (for public office)	run
state school	public school
surgery (doctor's/dentist's)	office
time-table	schedule
trunk call	long distance
tube/underground	subway
unit trust	mutual fund
van	delivery truck

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