Losing conversions because your English doesn’t resonate locally?
You’re not alone. Even though English now reaches about 1.53 billion speakers across 67 countries – and rules the AI-powered business world – buyers still click away the moment a “colour/color” mismatch or unfamiliar idiom breaks their flow.
How Many People Speak English?
With ≈ 400 million native speakers and more than 1.53 bn total (2025) total speakers, English is the most widely spoken language in the world and has therefore become a lingua franca for international business.
As it is spoken in very different parts of the world, the English language has become influenced by social, political and cultural aspects, resulting in a language with loads of local variants.
Despite the fact that English is an official language in over 60 countries around the world, there are only 6 countries where it is actually spoken as a native language by the majority of the population.
Sometimes collectively referred to as the Anglosphere, these countries are also home to the most widely accepted variants of the English language, (though there are also significant numbers of native speakers in several other countries such as South Africa, Singapore and Nigeria, as well as many Caribbean countries).
Which Type of English Should you Choose?
Choosing the right English variant for your content is a strategic decision that requires careful consideration—and it goes far beyond spelling differences. At Acolad, we combine specialist English-translation expertise with our Multilingual SEO & Global Marketing service to make sure the variant you pick also wins search intent. Keyword research often surfaces different high-value terms in en-US (“color palette”) versus en-GB (“colour palette”), so aligning SEO strategy with language choice is critical for visibility and conversions.
Once you have settled on an approach, ensure everyone in your organisation follows the same style guide. If you’re translating into English, this consistency also drives the brief for your interpreter or translator.
When it comes to written English, the various forms differ in spelling, grammar and vocabulary. Terminology is even more crucial for certified translations. Although standard forms are mutually intelligible, a native US English reader may not identify with a text written in UK English—and vice versa.
Therefore, your decision should hinge on the connection you want to build with the reader. Ask yourself:
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Which countries are you targeting?
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What is the objective of your content? Is it primarily informative (e.g., technical documentation) or persuasive (e.g., marketing copy, social media)?
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Where are your main competitors based, and which English variant do they use?
Once you answer these questions—and factor in keyword differences uncovered by Multilingual SEO research—you can confidently choose between the two most recognised variants.
British vs American English: Key Differences
British English Translation & Localization (UK English)
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UK English refers to the dialect of English that is spoken and written in the United Kingdom.
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UK English is the preferred variant in most European countries as well as in English-speaking countries in Africa and South Asia (i.e. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh).
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However, regional accents and dialects differ greatly even within the United Kingdom – for example, an Irish person sounds quite different from someone from the North of England.
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For many of us, when we think of UK English we think of ‘the Queen’s English’.
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The Queen’s accent is known as ‘Received Pronunciation’ and is actually only used by 2 % of the population!
American English Localization & Translation (US English)
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United States English is the variant of English spoken in the United States.
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US English is the preferred variant in Latin America and East Asia (i.e. China, Japan, the Philippines).
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Just like British English, American English varies widely from state to state, with many regional differences in vocabulary and accents.
UK vs US Spelling & Grammar — Key Differences
British and American English differ in spelling conventions, word meanings and grammar rules.
Test your knowledge of British and American English slang by watching a short video clip with Ellen Degeneres and Hugh Laurie!
The Oxford Dictionaries website also has a page with a comprehensive list of British and American terms that might come handy, especially for SEO projects.
To give a complete overview of the different types of English, there are also other variants:
Canadian English Translation: Bridging UK & US Variants
While spoken Canadian English sounds like US English, written Canadian combines elements of US English (due to its proximity) and UK English (due to its history) with many Canadianisms.
Australian & New Zealand English Localization for APAC Markets
While the English spoken in Australia and New Zealand is very distinct from other forms of English due to its accent and many colloquialisms, the standard written form largely resembles UK English.
