Do you ever get in trouble for using American words?

Have you ever been told off by your teacher or parent for using an American word rather than an English one?

So, something like "candy" rather than sweets or "trash" rather than rubbish.

Well, those words are something called Americanisms and a survey of teachers suggests that younger pupils are now using them more often.

One language expert told Newsround that he doesn't think children should be told off for using these words as languages naturally change over time and "the future of language is in very good hands".

A survey, which was done for The Times newspaper, was sent to more than 10,000 teachers.

It found that younger children tended to use the Americanisms more in class, especially those aged between five and seven.

More than half of primary school teachers said they had heard pupils using the words "trash" or "garbage", and almost two out of three of those teachers said they'd heard the word "candy" being used.

Some say this is all down to what we're watching, with more US content being viewed from an early age on social media and streaming sites, like YouTube.

That means children are hearing more American accents and words - so it's only natural that they get picked up.

Professor Rob Drummond who is a linguist - so that's a language expert - at Manchester Metropolitan University, told Newsround he doesn't feel that children should be getting told off for using Americanisms.

He says other than words no longer being used because they aren't acceptable anymore or are offensive, you can't stop language changing as all languages change naturally over time.

Rob told Newsround it's "young people who are leading that change" and it's whatever they say now that will be the language of the future, so it's "funny when older people start complaining".

He said: "This is the future of the language and the language is in very good hands."

Have you noticed Americanisms being used in your class?

Do you think we should be using them?

Let us know in the comments below...