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Speakers of another language trying to learn English are often confused between American English and British English; even those of American or British birth can become confused, if attempting to use either American or British English in the correct context. In some instances, both American English and British English words may mean the same and have the same spelling but the pronunciation may be different. Moreover, an American English word might have an entirely different interpretation in the British English language, leading to confusion, misunderstandings or embarrassment.
The Origins of American English
American English was naturally influenced by the the first immigrants to the USA; in the seventeenth century, the majority of immigrants to the East Coast of America were British, with a small number of French and German immigrants. English was therefore chosen as the common American language and regional English dialects eventually disappeared as the new immigrants worked together to create a 'new' country.
Native American Indians also influenced the development of an American English language through interaction with the new immigrants and the inclusion of Native American words into everyday American language. In the eighteenth century, American English developed further through the inclusion of French, Dutch and German words and a varied pronunciation of British English words by Scottish and Irish settlers. As more and more immigrants arrived in America from countries such as Mexico and China, American English began to separate from traditional British English.