All Questions
Tagged with british-english transatlantic-differences
51
questions
1
vote
5
answers
185
views
How to be 'ornery' in BE?
I'm looking for the best BE substitute for the AmE word "ornery" in the phrase "an ornery bunch".
Complicating the task for this second-language speaker of English is that ...
- 107
1
vote
2
answers
323
views
What are the exclamation and question marks/points called in variants of English?
As regards !, wikipedia reads
The exclamation mark, !, or exclamation point (American English)
but it doesn't use a corresponding wording for ?:
The question mark ? (also known as interrogation ...
- 159
-1
votes
2
answers
442
views
Are comma splices more common in British English or American English?
To me it seems that they are more common in British English than in American English (and I say that as a Brit). From what I have noticed, American politicians' writing tends to have fewer comma ...
- 706
2
votes
4
answers
249
views
punctuation: chicken-fried steak [closed]
Does anyone know why the adjective in "chicken-fried steak" is
hyphenated by some people but not by others? What do writing guides
on both sides of the pond say about this issue?
The ...
- 1,879
0
votes
2
answers
600
views
Is "know the drill" used in American English as well as UK English in a daily conversation?
Some of my American friends say this is truly American expression.
And I found this comment; “Get prepared and ready for your punishment” (especially if you have already been punished before) either ...
- 7
3
votes
2
answers
176
views
BrE usage of "should have"
This usage of "should have" appears to be a Britishism. I wonder if anyone cares to provide an explanation of the British "should have" usages.
Several observers have emphasised ...
- 1,172
3
votes
1
answer
190
views
A babysitter or a childminder?
I have recently had a lesson about jobs. I noticed that a different term 'childminder' is used for a babysitter in the UK. Is that right? Does anybody know if it's common?
- 31
4
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Why do Americans find the word "request" to be rude?
I was reading somewhere that Americans find the word request to be a rude gesture. You must directly ask them a question instead of using the word "request".
For example, in this Quora post, "Don't ...
- 75
1
vote
2
answers
16k
views
What is a secondary school graduate called?
I think graduate indicates only a university graduate in British English, but in American English can it perhaps also suggest a high-school graduate as well?
Could anyone tell me something about ...
- 303
4
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Using "from" instead of "since" when referring to a date
Is it appropriate to use "from" instead of "since" in reference to a specific date? Also, does it matter whether this date is in the past or future when considering the previous question?
For example,...
- 41
6
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Why are pubowners called landlords in the U.K.?
I just came across the fact that Brits call the owners\operators of their pubs landlords, (on the new show "The Reluctant Landlord"). Being from the USA I am only aware of the term landlord being used ...
- 124
3
votes
2
answers
893
views
Is the pronunciation difference between “BrE deuce” vs “AmE deuce” systematic?
While checking the exact pronunciation of the term deuce, I noticed that there is a clear difference between BrE /djuːs/ and NAmE /duːs/.
While it is true that pronunciation has more exceptions ...
- 67.5k
4
votes
3
answers
3k
views
The difference between 'purview' and 'remit' (BrE/AmE)?
I noticed, on YouTube, that Trey Gowdy in his congressional confrontations used the word 'purview' but never 'remit'. I could not find 'remit' as a noun in Merriam Webster, only the verb, and wondered ...
- 24.8k
1
vote
3
answers
1k
views
Clued-in or clued-up (on something)
Here's what Merriam Webster has to say about clued-up:
"British, informal: having a lot of information about the latest
developments: He's totally clued up on/about the latest computer
...
- 616
0
votes
2
answers
121
views
Tuition program: a pondial difference?
I'm under the impression that tuition program in American English refers to a scheme relating to tuition payments, whereas tuition programme in British English means a course or training program. If ...
- 1,879