British vs American Prepositions Worksheet: 100 Examples

The British vs American prepositions worksheet helps English learners understand how prepositions change between British English and American English. Although both varieties share most grammar rules, expressions such as at the weekend and on the weekend can create confusion.

Imagine telling a British colleague, “I’ll see you on the weekend.” The meaning is perfectly clear, but your colleague may naturally say, “I’ll see you at the weekend.”

Neither speaker needs a grammar rescue team!

These small differences matter when preparing for examinations, writing professional emails, communicating internationally, or learning English as a second language.

This guide explains the main patterns and provides 100 practical examples, a worksheet, and an answer key.

What Are British and American Preposition Differences?

A preposition is a word or group of words that connects a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to another part of a sentence.

Common prepositions include in, on, at, to, for, with, from, about, by, and through.

British and American English generally follow the same rules, but certain expressions use different prepositions or omit them.

For example:

British English	American English
at the weekend	on the weekend
Monday to Friday	Monday through Friday
different from / different to	different from / different than
in a team	on a team
in the street	on the street
write to someone	write to someone / write someone

These are usage tendencies, not absolute geographical rules. Both varieties contain regional differences, and many expressions are acceptable in both.

British vs American Prepositions Worksheet: Key Grammar Rules

Rule 1: At the Weekend vs On the Weekend

British English usually prefers at the weekend, while American English commonly uses on the weekend.

UK: We usually visit our grandparents at the weekend.
US: We usually visit our grandparents on the weekend.

Both expressions refer to Saturday and Sunday.

Rule 2: Monday to Friday vs Monday Through Friday

British English commonly uses to for a range of days. American English often uses through when the final day is included.

UK: The library opens Monday to Friday.
US: The library opens Monday through Friday.

In the UK, Monday to Friday generally includes Friday when describing a working week. In the US, through Friday makes the inclusive meaning particularly clear.

Rule 3: Different From, Different To, and Different Than

Both British and American English use different from.

British English also commonly accepts different to. American English frequently uses different than, particularly before clauses.

UK: Her answer is different to mine.
US: Her answer is different from mine.
US: The result was different than we expected.

For international formal writing, different from is a reliable choice.

Rule 4: In a Team vs On a Team

British English frequently uses in a team when referring to membership, whereas American English generally prefers on a team.

UK: My sister is in the school football team.
US: My sister is on the school soccer team.

Notice that football and soccer are vocabulary differences, not preposition differences.

Rule 5: In the Street vs On the Street

British English often uses in the street when describing activity within a street. American English commonly prefers on the street.

UK: Several children were playing in the street.
US: Several children were playing on the street.

However, both expressions occur in both varieties, and their meanings can depend on context.

Rule 6: Write to Someone vs Write Someone

Both varieties accept write to someone.

American English also commonly allows write someone without the preposition to.

UK: Please write to your local representative.
US: Please write your local representative.

The first version works internationally.

100 British vs American Preposition Examples

The following examples are organized by difficulty and real-world use. UK and US sentences are representative choices, not exclusive rules.

A. Basic Examples (1 to 20)

No.	British English	American English
1	We relax at the weekend.	We relax on the weekend.
2	Are you free at the weekend?	Are you free on the weekend?
3	She works at weekends.	She works on weekends.
4	They travel at the weekend.	They travel on the weekend.
5	The shop opens Monday to Saturday.	The store opens Monday through Saturday.
6	Our classes run Tuesday to Thursday.	Our classes run Tuesday through Thursday.
7	The office closes from Christmas to New Year.	The office closes from Christmas through New Year’s Day.
8	His opinion is different to mine.	His opinion is different from mine.
9	This design is different to the original.	This design is different from the original.
10	My brother is in the cricket team.	My brother is on the cricket team.
11	She is in the debate team.	She is on the debate team.
12	Children were playing in the street.	Children were playing on the street.
13	There was a parade in the street.	There was a parade on the street.
14	I will write to my aunt tonight.	I will write my aunt tonight.
15	Please write to your teacher.	Please write your teacher.
16	The festival lasts Wednesday to Sunday.	The festival lasts Wednesday through Sunday.
17	We have football practice at the weekend.	We have soccer practice on the weekend.
18	The twins are in the same team.	The twins are on the same team.
19	The new plan is different to ours.	The new plan is different from ours.
20	I’ll write to the organiser tomorrow.	I’ll write the organizer tomorrow.

Learning note: Example 7 deliberately uses different date endpoints. “Through New Year’s Day” explicitly includes that day, while “to New Year” may describe a different period. Always check the intended dates.

B. Intermediate Examples (21 to 40)

No.	British English	American English
21	The volunteers meet at weekends.	The volunteers meet on weekends.
22	The workshop runs Monday to Wednesday.	The workshop runs Monday through Wednesday.
23	The revised timetable is different to last year’s.	The revised schedule is different from last year’s.
24	Three new players joined our team.	Three new players joined our team.
25	He is in the university rowing team.	He is on the university rowing team.
26	We saw musicians performing in the street.	We saw musicians performing on the street.
27	I wrote to the editor about the mistake.	I wrote the editor about the mistake.
28	The exhibition is open Thursday to Sunday.	The exhibition is open Thursday through Sunday.
29	The two approaches are different to each other.	The two approaches are different from each other.
30	She’s in the committee’s research team.	She’s on the committee’s research team.
31	The family takes short trips at weekends.	The family takes short trips on weekends.
32	A group of protesters gathered in the street.	A group of protesters gathered on the street.
33	You should write to the admissions office.	You should write the admissions office.
34	Our programme runs September to December.	Our program runs September through December.
35	His method is different to the usual approach.	His method is different from the usual approach.
36	She’s in the school’s robotics team.	She’s on the school’s robotics team.
37	We can discuss the changes at the weekend.	We can discuss the changes on the weekend.
38	A photographer stood in the street.	A photographer stood on the street.
39	I’ll write to the customer service department.	I’ll write the customer service department.
40	The course runs January to June.	The course runs January through June.

Important: Some differences above are vocabulary or spelling changes, such as programme/program and organiser/organizer. They are included to make the sentences sound natural in their respective varieties, but the worksheet focuses on prepositions.

C. Advanced and Academic Examples (41 to 60)

No.	British English	American English
41	The research team works at weekends during field studies.	The research team works on weekends during field studies.
42	The survey was conducted March to May.	The survey was conducted March through May.
43	Our findings are different to those of earlier researchers.	Our findings are different from those of earlier researchers.
44	She is in the university’s research team.	She is on the university’s research team.
45	Researchers observed pedestrian behaviour in the street.	Researchers observed pedestrian behavior on the street.
46	Students should write to the examination board.	Students should write the examination board.
47	The trial ran Monday to Friday each week.	The trial ran Monday through Friday each week.
48	The conclusions are different to our initial predictions.	The conclusions are different from our initial predictions.
49	He was selected to work in the laboratory team.	He was selected to work on the laboratory team.
50	The scientists collected samples at weekends.	The scientists collected samples on weekends.
51	The data collection period lasted April to July.	The data collection period lasted April through July.
52	The experimental results were different to the control results.	The experimental results were different from the control results.
53	She has been in the academic review team for two years.	She has been on the academic review team for two years.
54	The investigators interviewed witnesses in the street.	The investigators interviewed witnesses on the street.
55	Please write to the journal editor with your corrections.	Please write the journal editor with your corrections.
56	The seminar series runs October to December.	The seminar series runs October through December.
57	The students’ interpretations are different to the lecturer’s.	The students’ interpretations are different from the professor’s.
58	He is in the department’s curriculum team.	He is on the department’s curriculum team.
59	Academic advisers are available at weekends during enrolment.	Academic advisors are available on weekends during enrollment.
60	The observations were recorded in the street outside the campus.	The observations were recorded on the street outside the campus.

D. Business and Workplace Examples (61 to 80)

No.	British English	American English
61	Our support desk operates at weekends.	Our support desk operates on weekends.
62	The training runs Monday to Friday.	The training runs Monday through Friday.
63	Your quotation is different to the previous one.	Your quote is different from the previous one.
64	Priya is in the marketing team.	Priya is on the marketing team.
65	Our staff distributed leaflets in the street.	Our staff distributed flyers on the street.
66	I’ll write to the supplier this afternoon.	I’ll write the supplier this afternoon.
67	The promotion runs Thursday to Sunday.	The promotion runs Thursday through Sunday.
68	The new policy is different to the existing policy.	The new policy is different from the existing policy.
69	Daniel is in the product development team.	Daniel is on the product development team.
70	We schedule maintenance at weekends.	We schedule maintenance on weekends.
71	The audit takes place Tuesday to Friday.	The audit takes place Tuesday through Friday.
72	The client’s requirements are different to ours.	The client’s requirements are different from ours.
73	She is in the recruitment team.	She is on the recruitment team.
74	Our representatives conducted interviews in the street.	Our representatives conducted interviews on the street.
75	Please write to the regional manager.	Please write the regional manager.
76	The recruitment drive runs June to August.	The recruitment drive runs June through August.
77	This invoice is different to the earlier version.	This invoice is different from the earlier version.
78	I work in the customer relations team.	I work on the customer relations team.
79	Our delivery service is available at weekends.	Our delivery service is available on weekends.
80	I’ll write to the finance department about the refund.	I’ll write the finance department about the refund.

E. Email and Everyday Conversation Examples (81 to 100)

No.	British English	American English
81	Could we meet at the weekend?	Could we meet on the weekend?
82	I’ll write to you when I arrive.	I’ll write you when I arrive.
83	My plans are different to yours.	My plans are different from yours.
84	My cousin is in the basketball team.	My cousin is on the basketball team.
85	The neighbours were chatting in the street.	The neighbors were chatting on the street.
86	I’m free Thursday to Saturday.	I’m free Thursday through Saturday.
87	I’ll write to the landlord about the repairs.	I’ll write the landlord about the repairs.
88	Our holiday plans are different to last year’s.	Our vacation plans are different from last year’s.
89	My friend is in the local chess team.	My friend is on the local chess team.
90	We usually go shopping at weekends.	We usually go shopping on weekends.
91	The community centre opens Tuesday to Sunday.	The community center opens Tuesday through Sunday.
92	Your idea is different to mine, but I like it.	Your idea is different from mine, but I like it.
93	Is your daughter in the swimming team?	Is your daughter on the swimming team?
94	A street artist was drawing portraits in the street.	A street artist was drawing portraits on the street.
95	Please write to me after your interview.	Please write me after your interview.
96	The sale continues Friday to Monday.	The sale continues Friday through Monday.
97	The final design looks different to the sketch.	The final design looks different from the sketch.
98	He’s in the neighbourhood football team.	He’s on the neighborhood soccer team.
99	We usually have a family dinner at the weekend.	We usually have a family dinner on the weekend.
100	I’ll write to the hotel to confirm the booking.	I’ll write the hotel to confirm the reservation.

Common Mistakes in British and American Prepositions

One of the biggest mistakes is assuming that every regional difference is a grammar error.

Expression	Explanation
at the weekend	Standard and common in British English
on the weekend	Standard and common in American English
different from	Correct in both varieties
different to	Commonly accepted in British English
different than	Accepted in American English, especially with clauses
on a team	Particularly common in American English
in a team	Common in British English
write someone	Common in American English
write to someone	Correct in both varieties

Actual Errors That Learners Should Avoid

Incorrect: I am interested on learning English.

Correct: I am interested in learning English.

Incorrect: She depends of her parents.

Correct: She depends on her parents.

Incorrect: We discussed about the proposal.

Correct: We discussed the proposal.

Incorrect: He is married with a doctor.

Correct: He is married to a doctor.

Incorrect: They arrived to the airport early.

Correct: They arrived at the airport early.

These corrections apply to standard British and American English.

Easy Tips to Remember

Weekend: Think at for typical British usage and on for typical American usage.
Teams: Remember in a team is common in Britain and on a team is common in the US.
Differences: Use different from when unsure.
Date ranges: Through Friday explicitly includes Friday.
Emails: Write to someone is a safe international choice.
Consistency: Follow the language variety required by your school, examination, employer, or publisher.

Which Prepositions Should You Use in International English?

English learners in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland may encounter combinations of British and American usage.

Canadian English has both British and American influences. Australian, New Zealand, and Irish English generally have strong British English influences, although local conventions differ.

For international academic and professional writing, choose clear expressions that are widely understood.

For example:

“Please write to the admissions office.”
“The training takes place from Monday to Friday.”
“The results are different from our expectations.”
“She works as a member of the research team.”

These expressions avoid most regional uncertainty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the difference between British and American prepositions?

The main difference is that certain everyday expressions use different prepositions. British English typically uses at the weekend, while American English commonly uses on the weekend. Most other preposition rules are shared.

2. Is “at the weekend” correct in American English?

It is understandable, but on the weekend is the more typical American expression. British English generally prefers at the weekend.

3. Is “different to” grammatically correct?

Yes. Different to is accepted in British English. Different from is standard in both varieties, while different than is also used in American English.

4. Which variety should ESL students learn?

Students should follow the variety used by their course, examination, or intended audience. For international communication, widely accepted expressions such as different from are useful.

5. Are British and American preposition differences important in competitive examinations?

Yes, particularly when examinations assess regional language conventions. However, students should distinguish actual grammatical mistakes from legitimate British and American variations.

Conclusion

Understanding British and American prepositions makes English communication more accurate and flexible. The most useful differences involve weekends, date ranges, team membership, comparisons, and writing to people.

Neither variety is inherently more correct. What matters is choosing appropriate expressions and maintaining consistency.

Use this British vs American prepositions worksheet to practise the differences, review the answer key, and improve your confidence in everyday, academic, and professional English.

Share this guide with a student or English learner who would benefit from it.

Disclaimer: This article provides general English grammar education. Regional usage varies, and examples describe common preferences rather than universal rules. Always follow the style guide or examination instructions relevant to your work.

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