If you are arriving in the USA or have been here a while, you have probably noticed that Americans do a surprising number of things differently from the rest of the world. Some of these differences are minor, and some of them will trip you up in real life.
This visual guide covers 15 of the most notable differences across sports, measurements, language, social systems, and everyday formats. All facts verified.
Also read: Do this immediately after arriving in USA - a practical checklist for newcomers on getting set up from day one.
This visual guide covers 15 of the most notable differences across sports, measurements, language, social systems, and everyday formats. All facts verified.
Also read: Do this immediately after arriving in USA - a practical checklist for newcomers on getting set up from day one.
Cultural Differences Explained
USA
VS
World
When America does it differently. And it usually does.
3
Not on Metric
75
Left-drive Nations
15
Differences here
195
Countries worldwide
Sports
USA calls it
Soccer
11 players, round ball
VS
World calls it
Football
The planet's sport
Trivia: Soccer is a British shortening of Association Football. England dropped it in the 1980s. America never did.
USA's game
Baseball
Innings, home runs
VS
Commonwealth's game
Cricket
Wickets, centuries
Scale: Cricket has over 2.5 billion fans across South Asia, UK, Australia, and the Caribbean.
USA plays
Pool
Pocket billiards, 8 ball
VS
UK and World play
Billiards
Snooker preferred in UK
History: Pool comes from 19th century American pool rooms where people placed bets on horse racing.
Measurements
USA uses
Miles
1 mile = 1.609 km
VS
World uses
Kilometers
Clean metric standard
Outliers: Only USA, Liberia, and Myanmar have not mandated the metric system.
USA reads
Fahrenheit
Freezes at 32 degrees F
VS
World reads
Celsius
Freezes at 0 degrees C
Context: Fahrenheit proposed in 1724. Celsius in 1742. The world chose Celsius. America did not.
USA pumps
Gallons
1 US gallon = 3.785 L
VS
World fills
Litres
Clean decimal metric
Bonus: UK imperial gallon = 4.546 litres. Even gallons are not the same size between USA and UK.
Language and Words
USA says
Gasoline
Shortened to gas
VS
World says
Petrol
Short for petroleum
Caution: Telling a British person you ran out of gas will confuse them. Gas means natural gas there.
USA spells
Color
Also: Favor, Honor, Humor
VS
World spells
Colour
Also: Favour, Honour, Humour
Origin: Noah Webster simplified English spelling in his 1828 American Dictionary to forge a distinct national identity.
USA buys
Candy
Also: cookies, chips, fries
VS
World buys
Sweets
Also: biscuits, crisps, chips
Guide: USA cookies = UK biscuits. USA chips = UK crisps. USA fries = UK chips. All confusing.
Systems and Society
USA ground level
First Floor
Buttons: 1, 2, 3
VS
World ground level
Ground Floor
Buttons: G, 1, 2
Impact: Hotel room 101 is on the ground floor in the USA. In the UK it is one floor up. Guests miss breakfast daily.
USA drives with
Steering Left
Right side of road
VS
Some nations drive with
Steering Right
Left side of road
Numbers: 165 countries drive on the right. About 75 (UK, India, Japan, Australia) drive on the left.
USA has a
President
Head of state and government
VS
Many nations have a
Prime Minister
Parliamentary system
Note: Over 50 countries use a Prime Minister as head of government under a parliamentary system.
Formats and Conventions
USA writes dates
MM/DD/YYYY
Month first, always
VS
World writes dates
DD/MM/YYYY
Day first, logically
Consequence: 04/06 is April 6 in the USA and June 4 everywhere else. International deadlines get missed constantly.
USA prints on
US Letter
8.5 x 11 inches standard
VS
World prints on
ISO A4
210 x 297 mm global standard
Issue: Printing a US Letter document in Europe cuts off margins and vice versa. Not interchangeable.
USA restaurant
Tip: Required
15 to 20 percent expected
VS
World restaurant
Tip: Optional
Service often included
Why: US federal law allows tipped employees to earn as little as $2.13 per hour in base wage. Tips are not generosity; they are the wage.
www.devharsh.me
All facts independently verified
If you are planning to move to the USA or just arrived, the differences above are more than trivia. Date formats will affect your paperwork, floor numbering will affect your hotel bookings, and tipping culture will affect your daily budget.
Related: Do this immediately after arriving in USA covers the practical checklist: phone plan, bank account, ID card, insurance, and more for newcomers arriving in the USA for work or study.
Related: Do this immediately after arriving in USA covers the practical checklist: phone plan, bank account, ID card, insurance, and more for newcomers arriving in the USA for work or study.
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