Those of you who have enjoyed this thread would probably enjoy a book I just finished reading, "Origins of the Specious: Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language."

Quote Originally Posted by Lachlan09 View Post
UK = biscuit, US = cookie
UK = frying pan, US = skillet
UK = lard, US = shortening
UK = turnip, US = rutabaga
I believe skillet is used more in the South in the US. Here in Chicago, frying pan is used more often. We do use lard as well. Shortening is a broader category that includes lard, but also vegetable shortening. My local grocery store carries both turnips and rutabagas side by side. Turnips being fresh, and rutabagas being waxed to preserve them.

Quote Originally Posted by O'Callaghan View Post
For example, in the British Isles a single storey house is called a bungalow (a word borrowed from India), and in various different parts of the US it is called a ranch, a rambler (in the South) or in fact a bungalow (in California), but some California bungalows have an upstairs ...
In Chicago we have a bungalow belt as well as ranch houses - both one story, but different styles.

Quote Originally Posted by O'Callaghan View Post
Then there was the girl who worked for a firm I worked for over the river in Virginia who thought that New Mexico was in Mexico. She wasn't an immigrant, she had lived in Virginia all her life. Must have failed Geography, I hope.
Of course New Mexico used to be part of Mexico along with California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado and other western states until the mid-19th century.