I Am Stuck In Between Uk English and Us English

i get taught english by a american and talk to british friends online.

i think american english is little easier to understand

like once my british friend said he lived in a flat.

i did not know what to think til he said it was a apartment!

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

SW-User

You sure it was a flat - not a maisonette?

Oh the wonders of British English where we have so many words with so many differing meanings.

A flat is very difficult to define and there are many types. However, the Building Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 no.2531) give the following definition:

‘A flat is a separate and self-contained premises constructed or adapted for use for residential purposes and forming part of a building from some other part of which it is divided horizontally.’

In other words, flats have to be contained within a dwelling with at least two storeys. Flats include maisonettes; maisonettes are flats containing more than one storey.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/definitions-of-general-housing-terms

Even the government has to get involved to try and help us understand it all! 🤣