I've been thinking about some of the vocabulary differences between UK and US English. This is one of those little things my mind does when I'm bored and stuck somewhere where I can't do something more useful. So I decided to settle, for myself, which version of each term makes more sense. For myself.
I'm treating this as a descriptive rather than a proscriptive exercise. I think people should use the language in a way that fits what they are trying to say and to whom they are trying to say it. I don't hold that there is any one “right” way to speak English. If you disagree with me, great! I'm delighted to know that other people are thinking about this as well.
Anyway, here are the words and my opinions.
Torch vs. Flashlight: 🇬🇧
The British term has history and makes sense: a torch is a portable device used to see in the dark. I don't think the “fire” vs. “bulb” difference matters in this case. I like the term “torch” better. It's shorter, has history, and is fun to say.
Boot vs. Trunk: 🇺🇸
I'm not entirely clear on where “boot” came from, but I do understand the origin of “trunk”: older cars had a literal “trunk” lashed to the back. So the US version wins it for me.
Bonnet vs. Hood: 🟰
These are synonyms. I see no reason to favor one over the other.
Car Park vs. Parking Lot: 🟰
Again, these both make sense (and this is the last automotive pair, I promise.) “Car Park” as the place where you park cars is perfectly reasonable. “Parking Lot” as in a designated lot where you park also makes sense to me.
Maths vs. Math: 🇬🇧
Since the word is short for “mathematics” and you can't have a noun “mathematic” the UK version is more reasonable.
Sport vs. Sports: 🇺🇸
In this case I have to take the American side. The noun as a subject in school is an aggregate noun used to describe any class or activity that is practicing or competing in any or all of the various sports that the school offers. But I don't have a strong feeling on this one. It's pretty close and I honestly don't care.
Gray vs. Grey: ❓
I can never remember which one is supposed to be more British or more American, and I don't care. They are pronounced the same, mean the exact same thing, and I'm willing to bet that you could find references to both existing before America existed.
I feel like this is a false dichotomy, like people insisting that “Heracles” is Greek while “Hercules” is Roman. They are both Greek; “Hercules” was just the Western Greek version that was heard by Romans. You really think there was only one pronunciation of any word in the ancient, seafaring, it-takes-years-or-decades-to-cross-the-Mediterranean Greek days, when we have this many disparities in modern everyone-has-the-internet English?
Chips vs. French Fries: 🇬🇧
My understanding of the term “French Fries” is that the first ones in the states were potatoes that were “French cut” and then fried. “French Cut”, I think, is now what we call “Julienne cut”, and thus only describes one shape of fried potato, which ironically we now call “shoestring” fries. “Chips” is a much better name for the overall class of fried potato products.
Crisps vs. Chips: 🇬🇧
This feels un-American to me, but a chip is generally a thick slice of something, not a tiny little flat slice. Crisps is a better term.
Electric Fire vs Space Heater: 🇺🇸
In direct contradiction to my opinion on “torch” vs. “Flashlight” I have to give this one to the American version, simply because an “Electric Fire” is an emergency situation and I don't want there to be any confusion. Saying “there is an electric fire in the front room” should be an entirely unambiguous message. The American version is less poetic, I'll grant you, but it's also less worrisome.