Dating is widely known as the act of trying to find love. It can be seen as a trial period to explore whether or not you should take a relationship further to a more permanent relationship. Even though the act of dating may be universal, the ways different cultures go about dating can be very different. For some places around the world, dating is just a way to meet new people with no intention of starting a serious relationship, while other places date with the end game of marriage.

United States of America and the United Kingdom have always had their differences and the way they go about dating is just one of those differences. In the US, not every date ends in marriage, while in the UK, people who date mean business and want to find someone to marry. Americans approach dating with high expectations, while Brits tend to be more relaxed.

Whether you are dating to find your one true love or just finding someone to pass the time with, there is no right or wrong way to date. However, there can be many differences. Here are 15 differences between dating in the US and in the UK.

15. Meeting Potential Dates

Those who are in the dating scene in the UK tend to meet their potential dates in a social setting. People tend to meet others through friends in a group outing. They are introduced through mutual friends. Americans also meet people through friends and mutual friends, however they are more opened when it comes to meeting someone new. They will meet someone new in a coffee shop, at work, at the gym, at the mall, basically anywhere. Americans have no problem approaching someone and introducing themselves if someone catches their attention. This tactic is not common in the UK.

14. Man Approaching Women Tactics

Approaching someone you fancy who is not in your social circle can be very difficult for a British man. Brits are not assertive and do not have the confidence to approach women without being introduced to them first. They believe that it can be impolite to just approach someone. British men are more to introverted when it comes to being in public alone and will not strike up a conversation with anyone. However, not every British man is like this. For example, British men are less likely to approach someone they do not know in a coffee shop to introduce themselves. However, American men are very different. They have the confidence to approach a women in any setting if they want to get to know the person. American men will approach women and start a conversation with them in pretty much any setting.

13. First Date Concept

In the US, there is this thing called the first date. It is the first one on one meeting between two people. In the UK, the first date does not exist. People who go on a first date have already met up in a social setting and got to know the basics of the other person in that setting, so when it comes to one on one time, it is less awkward as you already have some knowledge about the person you are going on a date with. First dates in America are more likely to be awkward because you are meeting the person for the first time in a one on one setting. Those in the UK are aware of the America idea of a first date, however that is not how the ritual goes for them. It goes back to the notion that the Brits are more laid back when it comes to dating.

12. Asking Someone On A Date

In the UK if someone wants to ask a person out, it tends to be because they have an interest in that individual. They feel like they do not want to waste their time asking someone out if they already know they will not pursue a relationship and they do not want to waste the person they are asking out’s time as well. In the US, it can be the total opposite. You can ask someone out on a date for no particular reason. It does not mean you actually like the person. Asking someone out on a date in America can also be seen as someone just wanting to hang out with someone.

11. Women Asking Men Out On A Date

At one point in history, it was almost unheard of for a women to ask a man out on a date. Times have changed and what was once unheard of is now more normal than ever, in the United Kingdom at least. When it comes to who asks who out on a date, in the UK it tends to be pretty even. It is not uncommon for a woman to ask a man out and it actually seen pretty normal. In the US however, they seem to be stuck in the past. Although it is not uncommon for a woman to ask a man out in the States, it is not as common as other places in the world. Men feel like they have to be the one in control, while women have pride and wait to be ask out by a man.

10. Introducing Social Circle

Introducing someone to your social circle can be a big deal. It means that you are ready for the person you are interested to meet people who mean a lot to you. Those in the UK tend to introduce someone they are interested to their social group a lot faster than those in the US. Brits tend to seek their friends’ opinion on someone before they decided whether or not they want to take their relationship to the next step. While Americans tend to get to know someone themselves before they seek the opinions of their friends. Either way both the Brits and Americans value the thoughts and opinions of their social circle.

9. Pursuing A Relationship

Dating someone in the UK means that you intend to be in a relationship with them. It means that you are willing to get to know that person and move forward together. This is why Brits tend to move faster in their relationships because they already know if they like someone or are interested in someone before they ask them out on a date. While in the US, just because you go on a date with someone it does not mean you are going to pursue a relationship with the person you are on a date with. Dates are used in America to determine if you want to take a step further and start a relationship with someone. This is why the dating process for Americans is a lot slower than the Brits.

8. Relationship Status While Dating

In the United Kingdom ,if you are going on a date with someone, it often means that you are already in a relationship with that person. Whether your relationship has a title or not, going on dates with someone means you are solely interested in them. While in the United States, you do not have to be in a relationship with that person in order to go on a date with them. In fact, while going out on dates in America, you usually are single and that is why you are asking people out on dates. However, it is also common to go on a date with someone even if you are in a relationship with someone else, even though these dates are seen as friend dates, to catch up or hang out with someone. Purely platonic.

7. Dating Expectations

In the UK, people who find themselves going on dates have a go with the flow attitude. When it comes to dating, they are more laid back. They have the mentality that whatever happens will happen and there is nothing they can do about it. Not everyone in the UK feels like they have to be wined and dined. Chilling out at someone’s house to some is a perfect date. While in the States it is more common that people have high expectations when it comes to going on a date. Not every American has this mentality, but it is more common than not. People have to go above and beyond when it comes to taking someone out on a date.

6. Paying For The Date

Somewhere in dating history, the unofficial law that the man has to pay for the date was created. However, this is not always the case. It is actually common for both parties of the date to split the bill and pay for their half. In the UK, it is common for people who are on a date to split the bill with no questions asked. It tends to depend on those who are on the date, sometimes the man will offer to pay or one person on the date will offer to pay. In the US, it is more common to see the man pay and in some situations it is expected. When going to a restaurant in the States, most of the time the bill, if not asked to be spilt, will be given to the man at the table.

5. Speed Dating

In the UK, it is common for someone to go on multiple dates with the same person. Whether they go on dates often or not it is up to the individual couples. For example, if someone goes on a date once a week, it tends to be with the same person. In the US, it is common for people to go on many dates with multiple people. For example, someone can go on a date every week, but it is not unusual for it to be with a different person each week. Speed dating is also common in the States, as people like to meet a lot of new people at the same time, which allows them to have options when it comes to finding a potential partner. There is nothing wrong with having only one option and there is also nothing wrong with having many.

4. Labeling The Relationship

When someone has already gone on more than one date with the same person, in the UK it is assumed that the two people are in a relationship. They tend to place a label on their relationship. This label is assumed, meaning that they do not have to have a talk about their relationship status. It is assumed that if you went on a date with someone more than once, you want to be with them. Whereas in the States, in order to make your relationship official and place a label on it, you have to a talk about where the relationship stands. If there is no talk, it is assumed the two people are not in an exclusive relationship. In the UK, there is no such thing as “the talk”.

3. Sending Kisses In Text Messages

Everyone knows the connotation of the letters “x” and “o”, which means hugs and kisses. In the UK, they are notorious for ending all their conversations with “x”. To the Brits, it does not always mean a term of affection, but just a way to say take care or end a conversation. In the US, using the letter “x” means kisses and you would not send it to someone who you would not actually want to show affection. Therefore you would not send it to a friend you barely know, but you would send it to your mother when wishing her a happy birthday. Therefore the letter “x” is saved for only when you mean it.

2. Fear Of Rejection

Sometimes a date does not always go the way you hoped it would. Either you were wrong about a person or the person just was not that interested in you. It is hard to find the perfect match for you. Brits have a fear of being rejected, which is why if they are asking someone out on a date they must be sure that it will lead to a relationship. Whereas in the US, getting rejected happens often and is all about going on dates. As much as it can hurt, Americans do not fear rejection because they know that it could potentially lead to something even better. Rejection is not always bad, but it can sure hurt sometimes.

1. Online Dating

With so many online dating websites and dating apps, finding a date the unconventional way is still very popular all over the world. However in the UK, it may not be the most common “how we met” story. Since Brits tend to meet people in a social setting through friends and mutual friends, turning to a dating app may not be their first choice to find a potential partner. This does not mean it does not happen. In the US, dating websites and dating apps are very popular as you are shown commercials and advertisements of these services on a daily basis. There is no right or wrong way to meet people.

Sources: buzzfeed.com, thethings.com