Historical background:-

The English language was first introduced to the Americas by British colonization, beginning in
1607 in Jamestown, Virginia. Similarly, the language spread to numerous other parts of the
world as a result of British trade and colonization elsewhere and the spread of the former British
Empire, which, by 1921, held sway over a population of 470–570 million people, approximately
a quarter of the world's population at that time.
Over the past 400 years the form of the language used in the Americas—especially in the United
States—and that used in the United Kingdom have diverged in a few minor ways, leading to the
dialects now occasionally referred to as American English and British English. Differences
between the two include pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary (lexis), spelling, punctuation,
idioms, formatting of dates and numbers, although the differences in written and most spoken
grammar structure tend to be much less than those of other aspects of the language in terms of
mutual intelligibility. A small number of words have completely different meanings in the two
dialects or are even unknown or not used in one of the dialects. One particular contribution
towards formalizing these differences came from Noah Webster, who wrote the first American
dictionary (published 1828) with the intention of showing that people in the United States spoke
a different dialect from Britain, much like a regional accent.
This divergence between American English and British English once caused George Bernard
Shaw to say that the United States and United Kingdom are "two countries divided by a common
language";[10] a similar comment is ascribed to Winston Churchill. Likewise, Oscar Wilde
wrote, "We have really everything in common with America now a days, except, of course, the
language" (The Canterville Ghost, 1888). Henry Sweet incorrectly predicted in 1877 that within
a century American English, Australian English and British English would be mutually
impossible to understand. It may be the case that increased worldwide communication through
radio, television, the Internet and globalization has reduced the tendency to regional variation.
This can result either in some variations becoming extinct (for instance, the wireless, superseded
by the radio) or in the acceptance of wide variations as "perfectly good English" everywhere.
Often at the core of the dialect though, the idiosyncrasies remain.
Nevertheless it remains the case that, although spoken American and British English are
generally mutually intelligible (Understandable), there are enough differences to cause
occasional misunderstandings or at times embarrassment—for example some words that are
quite innocent in one dialect may be considered vulgar in the other.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_differences
Nouns:-
Formal and notional agreement in BrE, collective nouns can take either singular (formal
agreement) or plural (notional agreement) verb forms, according to whether the emphasis is on
the body as a whole or on the individual members respectively; compare a committee was
appointed with the committee were unable to agree.[11][12] The term the Government always
takes a plural verb in British civil service convention, perhaps to emphasise the principle of
cabinet collective responsibility.[13] Compare also the following lines of Elvis Costello's song
"Oliver's Army": Oliver's Army are on their way / Oliver's Army is here to stay. Some of these
nouns, for example staff,[14] actually combine with plural verbs most of the time.
In AmE, collective nouns are almost always singular in construction: the committee was unable
to agree. However, when a speaker wishes to emphasize that the individuals are acting
separately, a plural pronoun may be employed with a singular or plural verb: the team takes their
seats or the team take their seats, rather than the team takes its seats. However, such a sentence
would most likely be recast as the team members take their seats.[15] Despite exceptions such as
usage in The New York Times, the names of sports teams are usually treated as plurals even if
the form of the name is singular.[16]
The difference occurs for all nouns of multitude, both general terms such as team and company
and proper nouns (for example where a place name is used to refer to a sports team). For
instance,
BrE: The Clash are a well-known band; AmE: The Clash is a well-known band.
BrE: Spain are the champions; AmE: Spain is the champion.
Proper nouns that are plural in form take a plural verb in both AmE and BrE; for example, The
Beatles are a well-known band; The Saints are the champions, with one major exception: largely
for historical reasons, in American English, the United States is is almost universal.

Spelling:-
With this in mind, let's look at what makes up the American and British English difference.
The following list shows general spelling differences between American and British English.
From the familiar “re” of centre or theatre in British English to the “ize” of American English
spelling of words like apologize or realize, these spelling differences, once learned, should not be
a problem to those at the proficiency level of the language.
After all, the American and British English difference doesn't prevent usfrom understanding one
another. Unless, or course, you happen to be British or American and find yourself speaking to
the other. ; -)
I recommend you learn one form and stick with it. After all, both forms are accepted in all
examinations as long as you are consistent.

BRITISH ENGLISH        AMERICAN ENGLISH

  adviser   advisor
  analyse   analyze
  apologise/apologize   apologize
  axe    axe/ax
  behaviour   behavior
  catalogue   catalog/catalogue
  centre    center
  cheque    check
  colour    color
  councillor    councilor
  counsellor    counselor
  defence    defense
  dialogue    dialog/dialogue
  favour    favor
  favourite    favorite
  enrol    enroll
  fulfil    fulfill
  grey     gray
  honour    honor
  humour    humor
  instal    install
  jeweller    jeweler
  jewellery    jewelry
  kerb (edge of pavement)    curb
  labelled     labeled
   labour    labor
  liqueur    liquor
  licence    license
  litre    liter
  marvellous   marvelous
  metre   meter
  neighbour    neighbor
  organize/organise    organize
  plough    plow
  practise (verb)   practice (verb and noun)
  practice (noun)
  programme    program
  pyjamas    pajamas
  quarrelled    quarreled
  realise/realize   realize
  signalled    signaled
  skilful   skillful
  theatre    theater
  through    through, thru
  travelled, -lling    traveled, -ling
  tyre (on a wheel)   tire

Apart from differences in spelling, there are certain words used by the British that are quite
foreign to many Americans. In like manner, many American words are certain to cause the
British to raise an eyebrow or two. That said, we can still (for the most part) understand one
another.
Here are some of the main differences in vocabulary between British and American English.
This page is intended as a guide only. Bear in mind that there can be differences in the choice of
specific terms depending on dialect and region within both the USA and the UK.
British English American English
anti-clockwise counter-clockwise
articulated lorry trailer truck
autumn autumn, fall
barrister attorney
bill (restaurant) bill, check
biscuit cookie
block of flats apartment building
bonnet (clothing) hat
bonnet (car) hood
boot trunk
bumper (car) bumper, fender
caravan trailer
car park parking lot
chemist's shop drugstore, pharmacy
chest of drawers dresser, chest of drawers, bureau
chips fries, French fries
the cinema the movies
clothes peg clothespin
coffin coffin, casket
crisps potato chips
crossroads intersection; crossroads (rural)
cupboard cupboard (in kitchen); closet (for clothes etc)
diversion detour
drawing-pin thumbtack
drink-driving drunk driving
driving licence driver's license
dual carriageway divided highway
dummy (for baby) pacifier
dustbin garbage can, trash can
dustman garbage collector
engine engine, motor
estate agent real estate agent
estate car station wagon
film film, movie
flat apartment, flat, studio
flat tyre flat tire
flyover overpass
gearbox (car) transmission
gear-lever gearshift
Girl Guide Girl Scout
ground floor ground/first floor
handbag handbag, purse, shoulder bag
high street main street
holiday vacation
hood (car) convertible top
jam jam, preserves
jug jug, pitcher
juggernaut 18-wheeler
lift elevator
lorry truck, semi, tractor
mad crazy, insane
main road highway
maize corn
maths math
motorbike motorcycle
motorway freeway, expressway
motorway highway, freeway, expressway, interstate highway, interstate
nappy diaper
naughts and crosses tic-tack-toe
pants, underpants underpants, drawers
pavement sidewalk
pet hate pet peeve
petrol gas, gasoline
The Plough Big Dipper
pocket money allowance
post mail
postbox mailbox
postcode zip code
postman mailman, mail carrier, letter carrier
pub bar
public toilet rest room, public bathroom
railway railroad
return (ticket) round-trip
reverse charge collect call
ring road beltway, freeway/highway loop
road surface pavement, blacktop
roundabout traffic circle, roundabout
rubber eraser
rubbish garbage, trash
rubbish-bin garbage can, trashcan
saloon (car) sedan
shop shop, store
silencer (car) muffler
single (ticket) one-way
solicitor lawyer, attorney
spanner wrench
sweets candy
taxi taxi, taxi cab
tea towel dish towel
telly (informal), TV television, TV
third-party liability insurance
insurance
timetable schedule
tin can
toll motorway toll road, turnpike
torch flashlight
trousers pants, trousers
tube (train) subway
underground (train) subway
vest undershirt
waistcoat vest
wallet wallet, billfold
wellington boots rubber boots, rain boots
whisky whiskey, scotch
windscreen windshield
zip zipper