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Older or elder - when to use which?

The usual comparative and superlative forms of old are older and the oldest. In British English you can also use elder and the eldest when comparing the ages of people, especially members of the same family, although the words are not common in speech now. As adjectives they are only used before a noun and you cannot say `elder than'.

British or American English?

Sometimes British people use different words than Americans. Here is a list of some words and phases characteristic for these languages:

American English

elevator

gas

motorway

taxi

toilet

handbag

apartment

trousers

To whom it may concern

Dear Dr. Smith

British English

lift

petrol

expressway

cab

rest room

purse

flat

pants

Dear Sir or Madam

Dear Dr Smith

Also there are some differences in spelling:

American English

traveled

canceling

meter

center

color

honor

defense

license

dialog

catalog

British English

travelled

cancelling

metre

centre

colour

honour

defence

licence

dialogue

catalogue

Which word: historic or historical?

Historic is usually used to describe something that is so important that is likely to be remembered.

Historical usually describes something that is connected with the past or with the study of history, or something that really happened in the past.

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