Canadians does your spelling conform more with U.S. or UK usage?
440661
I would say it's closer to UK usage.\n\nWikipedia says: "Canadian English spelling is a mixture of American, British, and unique Canadianisms. Canadian vocabulary is similar to American English, yet with key differences and local variations."
818991
You don't say where you're from, but Vancouver people speak like Americans.  No offense to Canadians, but it's true.  I know many Canadians.\n\nWhatever makes you think that Canadians speak like the people of Hong Kong?  There is no British or Queen's English in Canada - it's North American and pretty hard to distinguish from much of the U.S.  Just listen to Michael J. Fox, Sarah McLaughlin, or Nelly Furtado if you don't believe it - not to mention Alex Trebek.
214912
Canadians are actually known for saying "eh" at the end of sentences...however, I'm a Canadian and have yet to ever do that. Stereotype? I think so. Some do, most don't. Depends on which part of Canada you live in.
441714
Wheee!!! Really looking to stick it to Americans... until we look at your written mechanics. LMAO!!!\n\nNo capital letters, internal comma is missing, hmmmm....\n\nGotta love it!
625163
Yes, people in the UK use 'ain't'!!\n\nBut I think you'll have trouble proving that it's an American expression - cockney kids have been saying it for centuries!!
467642
In the U.S. the preferred past tense is "spelled," although "spelt" is not incorrect. "Spelt" is chiefly British.
1082469
I'm not Canadian but i am a Brit who has a British husband serving the us
1140786
The short answer is that spelling conventions like -our (colour, flavour) and -re (centre, theatre) came from French, which was introduced into England in the Norman Conquest of 1066. After that, French became, in effect, the "official language" of England, and dramatically influenced (and enriched) the English language.\n\nHowever, spelling conventions in Britain and America were not codified until the 18th and 19th centuries. The British chose to keep the French influence, while the Americans, newly independent, chose to drop the "u", as a way of differentiating themselves from the former "mother country." Noah Webster, the dictionary author, had a lot to do with this, though he didn't invent it -- it was already taking place. He just chose to call it "correct."\n\nAs for why non-native English speakers in Europe and elsewhere use British spellings, it's because most countries consider British English the "correct" or "authentic" form of English. In fact, many foreign countries still teach students to speak English with an English accent, which often produces an odd effect.
542085
Definitely eh, eh.\nKnow how they came up with the name Canada?\nThey started with a C, eh...then an N, eh... :)
542821
I think people need a 'dose' of better spelling too.  And please don't blame us Canadians for that one too.
366950
The main Canadian accent has a slight quirk that makes it unique in the world. I never thought I said 'aboot' either until I started to study linguistics. Of course, Canadians don't say 'aboot', but what we do say sounds to American ears like 'aboot' (yes, cutenucguy, if you're Canadian the chances are 95% that you say it).\n\nThe issue is diphthongs before unvoices consonants. That shouldn't mean anything, but as a quick example, consider the phrase 'out loud'. The two-vowel sound (diphthong) in the middle is the same, but one word ends with an 'unvoiced'\n/t/, the other with a 'voiced' /d/. If you're American, you should pronounce the 'ou' in 'loud' longer than the one in 'out'. Similarly, you should take longer saying 'ride' than 'write' (this is actually the main way we distinguish between the two.\n\nIf you're Canadian, though, not only will 'out' and 'write' be shorter than 'loud' and 'ride', but the vowel sound will be different. There's a good chance that the vowel in 'loud' with be '(open your mouth and say) aaah' followed by 'ooh', while in 'out' it will be 'uhhh...' followed by 'ooh'. (Well, I'm oversimplifying but that's it essentially). Another pair you can think about is 'house' and its plural 'houses'. If you're a Canadian you can almost be sure that you open your mouth more to say 'houses' than to say 'house'.\n\nThere's nothing wrong with this! Wear it as a badge of pride! And if we go to war with the States, it can be our shibboleth!
714295
LOL @ Jennifer F's response...\n\nMy sister lives in Pittsburgh, and says "huhn"...  Since she was born and raised in Canada, she used to say "Eh" so I guess she has adapted to her surroundings.  I live about 120 km north of Toronto and occasionally find myself using "eh."  The closer you go to the Ottawa Valley, the more often you hear it.  The use of "eh" is pretty much exclusive to the east coast, Ontario and Alberta.  It is rare to hear other Canadians use it.\n\nAs for "lark" yes, it is a common word...  Normally used in the context of expressing an action taken on a whim.\n\nFlack is very common....  Usually refers directly to shards of metal from anti-aircraft guns.  Generally, it is used as an expression when one is receiving adverse criticism.... "My boss gave me some flack over being late again..."
622521
12 answers and only j_smith's actually says anything. Yes, a lot of vocabulary differences - like the ones j_smith listed. Also significant spelling differences mostly instituted by Noah Webster in an attempt to simplify the language (colour, centre, realise, tire, many others). Accents are different but there are a million in the USA and a million in the UK so that's not worth speaking about. A few very slight grammatical differences (have gotten).\n\nSome Americanisms are actually preserved older forms of the language (gotten is an example - Shakespeare said it, and he spelt 'labour' without the 'u' too) and some are changes that have come about since. Neither is better, or more comprehensible, or more accurate, or more genuine, or more legitimate, than the other.\n\nBoth of them are equally inferior to Canadian English, which takes the best of both!
889607
Yes I think you made a spelling error. \n\nFace it you aren't the best speller since American, what   & is are all mis-spelled
603598
If you are Canadian, yes.
1162368
Americans say "Math" while Britons say "Maths"
835386
Yes. You can also use misspelled.