UK VS US: 'GAS' IN UK AND US ENGLISH

Good morning. I hope you had a nice weekend.

In November of 2006, we did a series of six Daily Vitamins about the differences between standard US and UK English. Today's Vitamin is about another difference.

Today's word is: Gas

In the US, gas often refers to the liquid fuel that is used to power cars.

Example 1 (US):
We'd better stop and get some gas. Look...there's a gas station there. Let's stop now.

The usual UK word for this type of gas is petrol.

Example 2 (UK):
We'd better stop and get some petrol. Look...there's a petrol station there. Let's stop now.

In both UK and US English, gas can refer to a gaseous fuel (air) that is used to cook food and heat your home (natural gas).

Example 3 (UK or US):
We had a gas furnace put in our home, so that we wouldn't be so cold in the winter.

If you have any questions about today's Daily Vitamin, please post them in the Daily Vitamin Plus! forum section on our website.

I hope you have a great day!