Regional English differences

AprilHare · 11-23-2012, 10:07 PM

I have to plead ignorance on this, however is it true "Sign out, and sign in as a different user" is British English whereas "Sign out and sign in as a different user" is American English?
Google think so: that is what happens when you switch between English (United Kingdom) and English (United States) in their Google Drive application under Windows 7!

qlob · 11-25-2012, 08:01 AM

It's because either most of us americans don't know how to use commas, or someone at Google just typed it differently than the other.

Dylrob · 11-26-2012, 12:09 AM

Generally we do not put a comma between only two non-contrasting clauses in a short sentence.

badgoodDeb · 11-26-2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylrob

Generally we do not put a comma between only two non-contrasting clauses in a short sentence.

In fact, we are specifically TAUGHT that line. I rather prefer that the comma should be present, but we are taught not to use it. Maybe we are running out of commas? Are they over-hunted?

Quexos · 11-26-2012, 03:44 PM

Come on, aren't we splitting hairs in this thread ?

badgoodDeb · 11-26-2012, 03:57 PM

Yeah, but some people (like editors and typesetters) care about this particular hair.

HomeInMyShoes · 11-27-2012, 06:44 AM

^Agreed. In Canada we were taught not to use the comma as shown above. We do still spell things with a u though. Colour, humour, etc.

MickeyC · 11-27-2012, 04:14 PM

A really interesting book on the subject is The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson. You will learn fascinating things about English including, among many others, that the single most understood word in the entire world is an English one. And it is an artificial word, invented by a bunch of upper middle class school boys in Boston at the turn of the century (19th to 20th).

You'll also learn how we ended up making plurals with an 's' rather than the Anglo Saxon way, by adding an 'en'. Interestingly enough there are still at least four words we still make plural with an 'en'

Angst · 11-27-2012, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidym

A really interesting book on the subject is The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson. You will learn fascinating things about English including, among many others, that the single most understood word in the entire world is an English one. And it is an artificial word, invented by a bunch of upper middle class school boys in Boston at the turn of the century (19th to 20th).

You'll also learn how we ended up making plurals with an 's' rather than the Anglo Saxon way, by adding an 'en'. Interestingly enough there are still at least four words we still make plural with an 'en'

I have Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words. Bill can make a dictionary interesting! I love reading his books.

AprilHare · 12-02-2012, 10:54 PM

Apparently the comma is more important than I first thought! http://www.newscientist.com/article/...opyright.html?

RickyMaveety · 12-21-2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidym

A really interesting book on the subject is The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson. You will learn fascinating things about English including, among many others, that the single most understood word in the entire world is an English one. And it is an artificial word, invented by a bunch of upper middle class school boys in Boston at the turn of the century (19th to 20th).

You'll also learn how we ended up making plurals with an 's' rather than the Anglo Saxon way, by adding an 'en'. Interestingly enough there are still at least four words we still make plural with an 'en'

Can I guess? Is it "OK"?? I would think that would be the single most understood word anywhere. However, I'm going to end up buying the book, because it sounds like my sort of read.

RickyMaveety · 12-21-2012, 03:42 PM

Rats .... not available for Kindle. I'll have to see if the local library has it, or if it is available digitally elsewhere.

Bilbo1967 · 12-21-2012, 03:42 PM

People probably know this, but it's also where I learnt what 'ghoti' spells.

Cracking book - I've reread it many times for the sheer enjoyment of it.

Kirtai · 12-21-2012, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

People probably know this, but it's also where I learnt what 'ghoti' spells.

If you mean "fish" then I've heard that actually depends on breaking the rules of english pronunciation. I think it was an article by a speech synthesis researcher I saw it in.

Bilbo1967 · 12-21-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirtai

If you mean "fish" then I've heard that actually depends on breaking the rules of english pronunciation. I think it was an article by a speech synthesis researcher I saw it in.

It makes perfect sense if you know how it's done.

11-23-2012, 10:07 PM	#1
AprilHare Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 11862367 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2	Regional English differences I have to plead ignorance on this, however is it true "Sign out, and sign in as a different user" is British English whereas "Sign out and sign in as a different user" is American English? Google think so: that is what happens when you switch between English (United Kingdom) and English (United States) in their Google Drive application under Windows 7!

11-26-2012, 12:09 AM	#3
Dylrob Murderous Mustela Posts: 10,141 Karma: 47366760 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The other land of schnitzel and beer Device: iPad M1 Pro, Kindle Paperwhite	Generally we do not put a comma between only two non-contrasting clauses in a short sentence. Last edited by Dylrob; 11-26-2012 at 12:22 AM.

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11-25-2012, 08:01 AM	#2
qlob Official Lurker Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7096675 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: Kindle 3.4	It's because either most of us americans don't know how to use commas, or someone at Google just typed it differently than the other.

11-26-2012, 03:44 PM	#5
Quexos Member Retired Posts: 1,999 Karma: 11348924 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Limbo Device: none	Come on, aren't we splitting hairs in this thread ?

11-26-2012, 03:57 PM	#6
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Yeah, but some people (like editors and typesetters) care about this particular hair.

11-27-2012, 06:44 AM	#7
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	^Agreed. In Canada we were taught not to use the comma as shown above. We do still spell things with a u though. Colour, humour, etc.

11-27-2012, 04:14 PM	#8
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	A really interesting book on the subject is *The Mother Tongue* by Bill Bryson. You will learn fascinating things about English including, among many others, that the single most understood word in the entire world is an English one. And it is an artificial word, invented by a bunch of upper middle class school boys in Boston at the turn of the century (19th to 20th). You'll also learn how we ended up making plurals with an 's' rather than the Anglo Saxon way, by adding an 'en'. Interestingly enough there are still at least four words we still make plural with an 'en'

12-02-2012, 10:54 PM	#10
AprilHare Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 11862367 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2	Apparently the comma is more important than I first thought! http://www.newscientist.com/article/...opyright.html?

12-21-2012, 03:42 PM	#12
RickyMaveety Holy S**T!!! Posts: 5,213 Karma: 108401 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, California!! Device: Kindle and iPad	Rats .... not available for Kindle. I'll have to see if the local library has it, or if it is available digitally elsewhere.

12-21-2012, 03:42 PM	#13
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	People probably know this, but it's also where I learnt what 'ghoti' spells. Cracking book - I've reread it many times for the sheer enjoyment of it.