Author Topic: British English vs American English (you have errors) (Read 3408 times) Tweet

Moist_Tissue · « **Reply #25 on:** August 16, 2015, 12:09:44 pm »

I'm American but I lived and studied in Ireland for my Master's. I get thrown off with while/whilst now.

KBoards.com

Lydniz · « **Reply #26 on:** August 16, 2015, 12:12:57 pm »

Quote from: Moist_Tissue on August 16, 2015, 12:09:44 pm

I get thrown off with while/whilst now.

I will now, too. Remind me what I've been doing wrong?

Moist_Tissue · « **Reply #27 on:** August 16, 2015, 12:18:52 pm »

Quote from: Lydniz on August 16, 2015, 12:12:57 pm

I will now, too. Remind me what I've been doing wrong?

Americans tend to use while. British/Irish use whilst. My American word usage was marked by classmates and professors.

countwordsmith · « **Reply #28 on:** August 16, 2015, 12:55:07 pm »

I've seen Canadian authors use "for" in place of "because." It's jarring and sounds too formal or historical. The two are not the same.

Annette_g · « **Reply #29 on:** August 16, 2015, 01:03:04 pm »

Quote from: TimothyEllis on August 16, 2015, 06:07:59 am

The most important thing is getting the British word use correct. For example, I've just been researching arse, ass, butt. Butt is American. Arse is British and Australian, but pronounced the same as the Americans spell Ass, while they say arse.

If your British character starts calling an arse a butt, your character is in serious trouble. Likewise if you spell it ass.

My MC is Australian, having spent time with Americans, and is now with British. Since the posterior area, as both an object, and a swear word, is used periodically, I've needed to get things straight.

Nope, "arse" is pronounced how it's spelled in our house, long ar-se, not pronounced as "ass". I'm Irish, my husband is British and we both pronounce it the same way, as do most Irish and British people I've ever heard speak it

I've never heard any British or Irish person pronounce it as "ass".

SteveHarrison · « **Reply #30 on:** August 16, 2015, 01:51:48 pm »

Quote from: Annette_g on August 16, 2015, 01:03:04 pm

Nope, "arse" is pronounced how it's spelled in our house, long ar-se, not pronounced as "ass". I'm Irish, my husband is British and we both pronounce it the same way, as do most Irish and British people I've ever heard speak it I've never heard any British or Irish person pronounce it as "ass".

'Arse' is pronounced the same way in Australia as in Britain (except with an Aussie accent, which drags it out further). I've never heard any Australian use the US 'ass' pronunciation.

WordNinja · « **Reply #31 on:** August 16, 2015, 05:42:21 pm »

I suspect that you pronounce "arse" as Brits and Aussies would pronounce it, not as Americans would pronounce it: "ahse" rather than "arrs," like a pirate. But definitely not "ass" as Americans would pronounce it.

Oh, and don't forget the difference in usage between single and double Ls in participles: for example, American English = traveled/traveling, British English = travelled/travelling.

Mystery Maven · « **Reply #32 on:** August 16, 2015, 06:46:44 pm »

Quote from: Ros_Jackson on August 16, 2015, 07:12:18 am

It depends when. Most modern Brits are so used to American culture that they would use both.

I find that it's usually British English that gets misunderstood, but it's much rarer for Brits to misunderstand American language. Just last week I was told "pig" isn't a verb (as in, to pig out on ice cream), a common phrase in the UK. Lots of Americans don't know what wellies are. The differences go well beyond the way we spell colour and whether we walk on pavements or sidewalks.

Really?
I'm American, and I hear "pig out" all the time, in real life as well as on TV.

AltMe · « **Reply #33 on:** August 16, 2015, 06:53:10 pm »

Quote from: Andrea @ ArtWellPub on August 16, 2015, 05:42:21 pm

Oh, and don't forget the difference in usage between single and double Ls in participles: for example, American English = traveled/traveling, British English = travelled/travelling.

This one tripped me up on a book title. I used the double L. The book went no-where. I changed it to a single L, and it now has a little movement. While its audience is world wide, my main selling market is the US. So the US spelling works, where the British doesn't.

The annoying thing about some of these spellings, is both are acceptable to the spell checker. So you can never tell if its right or not.

Moist_Tissue · « **Reply #34 on:** August 16, 2015, 07:17:24 pm »

Yeah. I still struggle with spelling canceled and cancelled.

I once had a reviewer point out errors such as "she jumped off of the table". I guess in the US we use "off of" while those others would write "she jumped off the table".

WordNinja · « **Reply #35 on:** August 16, 2015, 09:09:50 pm »

Yes, but "she jumped off of the table" is wordy, regardless of which variation of English you use. "Of" is one of those words that I always check to see if I can delete.

Claudia King · « **Reply #36 on:** August 17, 2015, 06:38:48 am »

I think some people are still adapting to the idea of there being different variations of their language. It's weird, because we've always had foreign books around, but I guess some people still haven't caught up. I browse the internet so often that I don't even see the differences in spelling/phrasing most of the time these days. It's good to try and stay consistent in your writing, but when making casual forum posts etc. even I sometimes use a non-British spelling here and there.

In the years to come, as our globally connected society gels more and more, all the variants of English (and other languages) will likely come together in more of a mishmash where it's commonly accepted that multiple spellings are correct.

75845 · « **Reply #37 on:** August 17, 2015, 09:35:22 am »

Quote from: Claudia King on August 17, 2015, 06:38:48 am

In the years to come, as our globally connected society gels more and more, all the variants of English (and other languages) will likely come together in more of a mishmash where it's commonly accepted that multiple spellings are correct.

As it was until Noah Webster in post-Revolutionary America decided that he would like to tell everyone how to spell properly. Unfortunately for him, few outside the US agreed with his ideas. English as a global language already embraces diversity, although Webster had British rivals pushing for similar rigor/rigour in spelling and the French-influenced spelling colour instead of color primarily dates from post-losing-a-revolution Britain.

James Farner · « **Reply #38 on:** August 17, 2015, 09:37:40 am »

A topic of endless debate!

I find I stick with the country where the story is set. If it's in the UK I go with UK spelling. If it's in the US I go with US spelling. But I don't think you'll be able to help the bad reviews relating to this issue. Some people just aren't aware of the differences.

KBoards.com

Author Topic: British English vs American English (you have errors) (Read 3408 times) Tweet

Moist_Tissue

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

KBoards.com

Sponsored Links

Remove Advertisements

Lydniz

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

Moist_Tissue

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

countwordsmith

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

Annette_g

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

SteveHarrison

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

WordNinja

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

Mystery Maven

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

AltMe

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

Moist_Tissue

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

WordNinja

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

Claudia King

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

75845

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

James Farner

Re: British English vs American English (you have errors)

KBoards.com

Sponsored Links

Remove Advertisements