Comparison of BNC and COCA

1.      Tell us the frequency of apartment and flat in BNC and COCA and the differences between these two words, if any.

As you can see, these two pictures show that the frequency of “apartment” in COCA is 37398 and BNC is 1221. Therefore, we can know that the word “apartment” is more common in American English. Also, the pictures can indicate that the word “apartment” in American English is used in newspaper more often, and is used in advertisement in British English. Because we can see that the frequency of “apartment” in BNC showed 100 search results, and just 35 outcomes are about newspaper, while 65 results are about advertisement.

        From these pictures, we can find that the frequency of “flat” in COCA is 27148, and in BNC is 8069. Although the amount in COCA is more than in BNC, we can compare them with the previous result and find that the frequency of “flat” is higher than “apartment” in British English. Also, the results showed that the word “flat” in American English and British English both is used in newspaper. In BNC, “flat” is also used in advertisement, but in COCA, it is used in academic writing, which we can easily know from the pictures.

In conclusion, “apartment” and “flat” both are common word in COCA and BNC and also in American English. But if we look into those detailed results, we can find that the word “flat” is more common than “apartment” in British English.

2.      Tell us the frequency of sweets and candy in BNC and COCA and the differences between these two words, if any.

From these results, we can find that the frequency of “sweets” in COCA is 1693, and in BNC is 726. Therefore, we can know that the word “sweets” is more common in American English. But, the pictures can indicate that the word “sweets” are both used in various kind of articles in American English and in British English.

From these results, we can find that the frequency of “candy” in COCA is 10966, and in BNC is 360. Although the amount in COCA is more than in BNC, we can compare them with the previous result and find that the frequency of “sweets” is higher than “candy” in British English. Also, the results showed that the word “candy” in American English and in British English is used in various kind of articles, fictions, magazines etc.

In conclusion, “candy” is common word in COCA and BNC and also in American English. But if we look into those detailed results about BNC, we can find that the word “sweets” is more common than “candy” in British English. Also, we can find out that “sweets” is seldom used both in American English and in British English. Obviously, the word “candy” is more popular in COCA.