This tag is for questions related to English as spoken in the isles of Britain and sometimes Ireland.
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1answer
50 views
practising vs practising
I (think) I know the difference between practise (verb) and practice (non-verb).
However, I am not sure which form I should use in cases like the following ones:
I love practising the guitar.
...
-4
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0answers
42 views
Technical English [closed]
‘Technical English is not the part of technology’. Enumerate your own views in a coherent paragraph in 100-150 words. Please sir write a paragraph for me
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1answer
30 views
Definition for a sentence used in thesis/dissertation cover pages [closed]
I was looking at some cover pages and see that most of them use the following sentence;
A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
DEGREE OF....
What does it really ...
-1
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1answer
69 views
Pronunciation of “Oceania” in British English
How is Oceania properly pronounced in British English? Is it /ˌəʊʃɪˈɑːnɪə/, or /ˌəʊʃɪˈɑːnə/? I know a lot of people who use the latter, but I have always been taught the former.
0
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1answer
65 views
Which syllable is stressed in word “comparatively” in British usage?
British syllable emphasis on "comparatively"?
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1answer
80 views
Goodbye - is it very formal?
I'm writing about cultural differences - not for scientific purposes - and am trying to find out about more and less formal ways of saying goodbye in English.
On a scale of formality (from least to ...
4
votes
7answers
212 views
What is “plaice” in the US? Would love a good fish and chips
When we went to the market, at the fisherman's counter we asked for plaice with which we would make fish and chips. Now here in the States when we ask for plaice, they don't understand what we mean. ...
2
votes
3answers
123 views
Meanings of word “nick” in British English
Word nick seems to be used to describe many things. According to the dictionary, the main meanings are:
a small notch, groove, chip, or the like, cut into or existing in something.
a hollow place ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
If I go to a Language School, do I go to school?
My friend, aged 21, has just started taking classes at a language school, and will shortly be doing 4 hours each weekday there. It feels very odd to be saying "How's school going?" – we finished ...
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0answers
68 views
Review of letter of motivation [closed]
I'm an austrian student who is applying for an international study programme in London. Therefore I have to write a letter of motivation. English is not my first language so I'm afraid that I have ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
How to write out numbers in compliance with British usage?
This question regards the numbers from 1 to 999. We can ignore commas, hyphens, and spaces. What I'm interested in is when and where to use the word "and".
There are a few interesting cases:
1) 20 ...
4
votes
1answer
88 views
“Exercise” but not “exercize”
Many words are spelled with -ise in British English and -ize in American English:
realise/realize
sanitise/sanitize
scrutinise/scrutinize
But exercise can only be spelled with -ise, never with ...
1
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0answers
37 views
Help sheet for determiners and prepositions [closed]
I'm trying to produce a simple help sheet for foriegn speakers on English determiners and prepositions.
Specifically, a basic description of when to use each type of determiner, and then the list of ...
0
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0answers
149 views
What do you think about Indian English? [closed]
What you think about Indian English. i read about an article in Indian news paper about the Indian English, a developing new language such as Canadian English and American English from British ...
2
votes
1answer
144 views
Why is there a difference in the adoption of “Kindergarten” in American and British English?
As someone living in the US, I've heard the term "Kindergarten" used quite frequently. However someone from the UK was mentioning to me that the term is really not used that much in British English. ...
5
votes
1answer
123 views
Are constructions like “That's me out, then” primarily British rather than American?
Prompted by comments to this question on English Learners (about "That's you done"), I've been searching Google Books for similar constructions of the general form that's [pro]noun adjective (for this ...
0
votes
1answer
70 views
How to say 100,500 [duplicate]
How do you say the number 100,500? Is it one hundred thousand five hundred? For some reason that doesn't sound write in my mind. The number 10,500 is ten thousand five hundred. Please correct me ...
3
votes
2answers
290 views
What would be the British Equivalent Words to “Freshmen” “Sophomore”
I know that to describe which year you're in, with American English, people usually use words like:
Freshmen - 1st year college/university student
Sophomore - 2nd year
Junior - 3rd year
Senior - ...
-1
votes
1answer
139 views
Where can I find a list of words whose pronunciation is irregular? [closed]
Most words in English follow certain rules of pronunciation for vowels (for example: "o" in a closed syllable is usually pronounced /ɒ/ while in an open syllable it's usually /əʊ/).
From time to ...
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votes
2answers
79 views
Parenthesis and quotations having punctuation before AND after them [closed]
I'll have to come up with some examples to show you my question:
I know if a sentence is inside either, the punctuation is inside (I also know I use a lot of comma splices. I think of the way the ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
English phonetics References [duplicate]
What are some great references on English pronunciation practices?
The book The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations was mentioned in an answer on this site.
Is it considered authoritative? What ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Is 'read' still synonymous with 'majored' in BrE? [closed]
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_American_and_British_English#university
"She read biology at Cambridge."
That doesn't mean 'she read a book or something about biology at Cambridge'?
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1answer
139 views
Is this a polite way to ask questions? [closed]
I want to send questions to someone, I want to ask you if this way is polite and if there are better ways:
I want to ask you questions, your answers would be appreciated
I want to ask you ...
6
votes
0answers
321 views
“courgettes” vs. “zucchini” under a historical perspective
In this TimLymington's answer it is said:
Interestingly, there is another vegetable with the same identity problem; what the British call courgettes and the Americans zucchini.
What is the ...
2
votes
3answers
98 views
What word describes the shape of a whirlwind when seen from above?
What word describes the shape of a whirlwind when seen from above?
Swirl
Whorl
Radial
The shape they make when seen from above resembles a radial pattern or even a whorl.
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votes
1answer
107 views
Interpretation of 'have' as stative or dynamic
Please bear with me. It's been a long time since I looked up grammatical concepts.
The sentence is:
I can quite clearly see the bewildered looks you will be having on your faces on reading this. ...
2
votes
2answers
71 views
Does your name belong to you?
I'm having trouble deciding whether the word 'name' can be used possessively. Currently I'm thinking it's correct to say:
Patients' names have been altered to provide anonymity
However it just ...
1
vote
2answers
156 views
“Normalise” or “normalize” (British English)?
Is normalise perhaps obsolete in British English, and normalize preferred instead?
I have done some Googling, it seems British English dictionaries prefer normalize, but I haven't found any ...
3
votes
2answers
173 views
Have American English speakers always used the term “last name” instead of surname?
I am aware that speakers of British English generally use the term "surname" and AmE speakers use "last name." What I want to know is how long it has been this way, i.e. if AmE speakers ever used the ...
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votes
3answers
73 views
“Testification” in US English
The usage of Dieter Wisclieceny’s statements and testifications from
the Nuremberg Trials as the basis for the interrogation and trial of
Eichmann is also accurate.
In Microsoft word, the ...
0
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1answer
71 views
Who would say “letters of love” as opposed to “love letters”?
From what part of the world would a person refer to love letters as letters of love?
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3answers
78 views
Although correct, is “the above” to be avoided?
Although the phrase the above is not exactly incorrect, should it be avoided?
For example, imagine a letter with a heading "Re: Order for 79 purple cardboard slugs". Should a paragraph in the letter ...
1
vote
1answer
457 views
difference between American and British /ӕ/ sound
When I presented British /ӕ/ sound to three Korean English-familiar persons online - they are doing answering English-related questions activities [case 1; case 2], and asked what sound it’s like /ӕ/ ...
1
vote
2answers
101 views
Losing bottles and bottling out
ODO's definition for bottle includes the following:
2 [mass noun] British informal the courage or confidence needed to do something difficult or dangerous:
I lost my bottle completely and ran
...
4
votes
1answer
109 views
What is a person if they are described as a “wet hen”?
In Terry Pratchett's Discworld books (Witches Abroad in particular), the character Magrat Garlick is often called a "wet hen" by at least one of her witch colleagues.
Web searches only yielded the ...
3
votes
1answer
173 views
Why is the Yorkshire dialect called 'Tyke'?
From Wikipedia:
The Yorkshire dialect refers to the varieties of English used in the Northern England historic county of Yorkshire. Those varieties are often referred to as Broad Yorkshire or ...
1
vote
2answers
129 views
Does the word “indefatigable” have positive or negative connotation?
Example usage:
Terence, you have indefatigable enthusiasm. The effect it has on people is inspiring.
In the sense of exuberance, but you feel positively about it.
1
vote
1answer
126 views
deceit vs deception
There seems to be a boundary between these concepts, but I can't quite work out where it is. Camouflage and mimicry are deceptions; telling untruths is deceitful.
In common usage we would say, 'The ...
0
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1answer
57 views
What is the meaning of “at its discretion”?
What does "at its discretion" mean in the following sentence?
Dual Gadgets undertakes, at its discretion and cost, to repair or replace defective equipment covered by warranty in 3.b., provided ...
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0answers
33 views
Software to change American punctuation to British [migrated]
My apologies if this is off topic.
American and British writing have different punctuation styles. Is there any software that can change American style punctuation to British? I am referring to ...
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votes
1answer
92 views
(Presumably) an address without preposition
I'm trying to translate a contract between two parties, and I came across this:
Package and delivery Dual Gadgets, Kempston, Beds UK as defined in TERMS 2001.
and
Delivery Point
The ...
-2
votes
1answer
108 views
“Cant fight no more”, is this grammatically correct? [duplicate]
"Cant fight no more", is this grammatically correct?
If not, what is the correct way of saying this?
Thanks!
1
vote
1answer
76 views
When it come to bicycle tyres, what does “cheerful”, “sprightlier” mean?
The usage of those words can be found in this review of a certain make of bicycle tyres. Unable to understand what the author is trying to say using those adjectives, since they are usually used to ...
0
votes
2answers
107 views
whiskers vs sideburns usage in UK vs US English?
Is the word whiskers more like UK English and "sideburns" more like US English? I see the term originates from "Ambrose Burnside" who was American so the word "whisker(s)" can be older than the word ...
1
vote
4answers
146 views
In England, do people use “people” or “persons” more?
In England, do people use "people" or "persons" more? And do you use the phrase "Keep it on your person"?
3
votes
3answers
198 views
British term for 'washroom'? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Washroom”, “restroom”, “bathroom”, “lavatory”, “toilet” or “toilet room”
What is the British equivalent of the American 'washroom'? (Besides 'loo', of course, as it is ...
2
votes
4answers
260 views
“Fall term”, “autumn semester”, “autumn term” or “fall semester”?
Please clarify which is UK English, American English, and where and when to use which:
Fall term (American English?)
Autumn semester (UK English?)
Autumn term (wrong?)
Fall semester (wrong?)
4
votes
1answer
181 views
What does “to have a little form” mean?
In the article, "Not nein...but TEN reasons why we should love Germany", the following phrase is being used:
LET’S face it, Britain and Germany have a little form over the past century.
...
0
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5answers
875 views
What do you call a person who always has a pleasant smile on his face?
What do you call a person who always has a pleasant smile on his face. Is there anything better than calling him a "Pleasing personality"?
5
votes
1answer
160 views
Cardinal British Dates - A Kiwi Original?
I had never heard the use of cardinal numbers in dates when speaking until I moved to New Zealand. It seems particularly prevalent in TV and radio advertising, but doesn't seem to follow either ...
