This tag is for questions related to English as spoken in the isles of Britain and sometimes Ireland.
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Why is it “knife” in the idiom, “Before you can say knife” though there are many shorter words than knife?
I saw the phrase, ‘before you can say Dow-Jones Index’ in the following sentence of JefferyArcher’s novel, “Not a penny more, Not a penny less.”
Scotland Yard’s Fraud Squad Detective Inspector, ...
15
votes
4answers
1k views
Is it awkward to use the word “aubergine” instead of “eggplant”?
According to Google Ngrams eggplant is far more common (although in British English aubergine seems to have a small advantage over eggplant).
So, not being a native speaker of English I wonder ...
2
votes
0answers
332 views
Whats' wrong with the following sentence? [closed]
One thing that despise me is when people cannot look me in eye.
I believe that the statement is grammatically wrong since we are using passive voice in the sentence so it should be 'despises' ...
-7
votes
3answers
572 views
Is “Honouree” correct in British English?
I seem to only find "Honoree" in the web, but Word spell corrector indicates me that I should write "HonoUree". Which form is correct?
5
votes
1answer
427 views
What's the difference between “Yours sincerely” and “Sincerely yours”?
I have read online that "Yours sincerely" is British English and "Sincerely yours" is American English.
Is this true?
Or is the difference in formality? I think the first one is more formal and the ...
7
votes
6answers
6k views
'Expired' or 'Passed away'?
When someone dies, do we say they expired or passed away?
Does the word expired give any more respect when used? Or less respect than passed away?
3
votes
2answers
139 views
I've heard something like “young pop” as a synonym for “young man/people”. Is it right?
I've heard something like "young pop" as a synonym for "young man/people". Is it right? How do you spell "pop" in that context?
3
votes
2answers
288 views
Phrasing of “What knowledge is required [at/in] [a] university?”
In British English, how should I properly write a sentence like
What knowledge is required at university?
Basically, I want to ask what knowledge is required for study at a university or in a ...
14
votes
4answers
990 views
ON an American street, but IN a British one. Do the twain ever meet?
In the United States, we say that someone lives on a street, whereas I've noticed that British people say in. For instance:
Bubba lives on Washington Street.
Colin lives in Cavendish Avenue.
I ...
9
votes
2answers
210 views
“Music with rocks in” - British English?
I've been reading a multitude of Terry Pratchet books lately, and been exposed to some British terminology that doesn't generally make it over to the states.
The book Soul Music refers to rock music ...
5
votes
2answers
298 views
What is the meaning, history, and current popularity of “of a Monday” (or Tuesday, or Wednesday, etc.)?
I was watching a 1934 Hollywood film today and one of the characters used the phrase, Of a Tuesday. I know of a Y-day has been a common phrase in British English in relatively recent times and assume ...
-2
votes
2answers
349 views
Pronunciation of “xenophobia,” “xenon,” and “Xena” [closed]
I've heard all of the above words with X as zeh. Is that an American English thing?
What's the correct way to pronounce each word?
3
votes
3answers
1k views
“And to you” or “you too”?
I really like to chat with English folks, so I have wished them Merry Christmas. To my surprise I have noticed the following pattern — the British answered "and to you", but Americans "you too". The ...
5
votes
2answers
409 views
What is the meaning, and origin, of the phrase “breaking windows with guineas”?
Regarding the phrase:
Breaking windows with guineas
What is its meaning, and origin?
The 'guineas' part of it might mean more to the British audience on this site than the others.
1
vote
3answers
364 views
What tests are used in order to determine the number of syllables in a word? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are the syllabification rules for English?
I would like to know what tests are used for determining how many syllables are in a word. Well, there are no tests, then ...
20
votes
9answers
7k views
What is the difference between “English” and “British”?
As an American, I naively think of British and English as exact synonyms. I know I'm wrong, but I just don't know in what way. I am vaguely aware that people in the UK hold strong opinions about one ...
6
votes
4answers
362 views
British slang for “being reassigned to the unsophisticated and remote regions or villages”
I am stumped in trying to remember the British expression used as a derogatory slant on being relegated, demoted, assigned to a lower position, reduced in rank, or (quite literally) being reassigned ...
0
votes
2answers
170 views
An expression for law students using “tuppence”
Has anyone heard of an expression, from the Renaissance or older, containing the word "tuppence" which describes a student of the law or someone without a great deal of experience or training in it?
2
votes
1answer
723 views
Members’ Benefits vs Member’s Benefits [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where should the apostrophe go in the word “beginners” in “beginners guide”?
I’m currently developing a site which has a membership scheme which ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
“Lunch” vs “luncheon” [closed]
What is the difference between lunch and luncheon? Is it just American spelling vs British spelling, or do they have some sort of formal/professional touch to them, say, a casual midday meal with ...
7
votes
4answers
535 views
Why is stainless steel “stainless”?
Inox steel is stainless because it does not stain, but is stain the same thing as rust? I just want to understand since stain reminds me of clothing stains, for instance, and I am rather curious as to ...
1
vote
2answers
286 views
Difference between “engage” and “hire”
For example,
"We decide to engage a lawyer for the case."
"We decide to hire a lawyer for the case."
Is engage used particularly in British English? Do speakers of American English use engage in ...
6
votes
2answers
759 views
Meaning of “handbags” in the context of a fight
Apparently a tussle between two English footballers was described by an official spokesperson as
'I was there. There was no punches thrown. There was a lot of noise.
Samir was talking in French, ...
1
vote
2answers
219 views
Where can I read old English text with new English explanations [closed]
I like old English like "Coole their heeles", "thee" ,"thy" ,"ye" etc.
Where can I find old English text but with explanations and meaning?
I would also like to read old text, can you list them ...
1
vote
1answer
443 views
What kind of rain is “sprinkles”?
It appears that MSN Weather has chosen an amusing adjective (from my British point of view) for the weather today:
I'm assuming the precipitation (sadly) won't contain any hundreds-and-thousands. ...
-4
votes
1answer
761 views
How do you pronounce 'ate' in American and British English? [closed]
How do you pronounce 'ate' in American and British English? I cannot find it...
7
votes
6answers
427 views
What do British and American post boxes say when they don't want any advertising?
Advertising leaflets shoved en masse into mail boxes are one of the banes of modern society.
In Germany, putting a note saying "Bitte keine Werbung" ("No advertising please") on your box protects ...
5
votes
5answers
699 views
Differences between dialects
I'm Italian and I'm trying to improve my English, but I have some difficulty speaking with and understanding people of different countries.
For example when I study English in books it seems to be ...
2
votes
3answers
329 views
Should one stick to American style of placing punctuation marks within quotes if one uses the American spelling?
According to Wikipedia, there are two ways to use punctation marks when it comes to quoting. Basically, we have the British style, where punctation marks that don't come from the quoted material "is ...
3
votes
2answers
217 views
What is the equivalent of “Jack o'lantern” in British English?
Sometimes the constant stream of exported American culture overpowers the vocabulary. Thanks to the explosion of posts on Reddit in the last month I know that Americans call a a carved pumpkin a "jack ...
18
votes
9answers
1k views
How can I translate the words for the two types of bathrooms found in Russia into English?
I work in real estate, and sometimes I have to translate respective inscriptions from my native Russian into English. I get stuck in some cases where not only linguistic, but cultural differences have ...
5
votes
5answers
976 views
Is it correct to use “got” when expressing the simple past tense in British English?
I'm an American and my daughter is learning British English in school, so when I help her with her homework, I have to know the British rules.
She writes:
I have got a horse poster.
I ...
2
votes
2answers
285 views
L versus LL in British versus US English [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is “L” doubled?
Is there any guidance on the usage of doubled consonants, particularly L, in British versus US English? For example 'Travelled' v. ...
2
votes
2answers
684 views
“Haven't you got X ?” or “Don't you have X ?”
In British English negative questions with the verb have (when it's a lexical verb and not an auxiliary) can be formed in two ways. Is there any difference between them?
Type 1
Haven't I got your ...
3
votes
3answers
408 views
“Amendment” or “Addendum” for book correction
A clarification of a European building code has been issued, therefore a separate correction for the book is released. What would this correction be called?
I have had the words amendment and ...
1
vote
0answers
97 views
Correct use of “ise” vs “ize” at the end of words [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are the endings “-zation” and “-sation” interchangeable?
I am writing some software code and the rule is that we use UK English in all comments.
...
9
votes
2answers
697 views
Where does the pejorative meaning of “shower” come from?
shower British informal
a group of people perceived as incompetent or worthless
I think this term is becoming obsolete. It's certainly not something I've heard in the street recently. The ...
1
vote
2answers
171 views
What determines the meaning of ‘rise’ with no adverb or preposition?
From my earlier question, I got “rising” in the following citation means getting up from the bed.
1.(Harry was sitting up on a bed in the hospital wing at school, surrounded by his visitors. Fudge, ...
0
votes
2answers
356 views
Are there clear differences in formality of words between British-English and American-English [closed]
I wonder if there are any clear distinctions regarding using formal words in British-English and in American-English. Do American and English people use different words when for instance asking a ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
“If I knew you're coming I wouldn't have come”
Is the statement
If I knew you're coming I wouldn't have come
correct? Should we use
If I had known you're coming, I wouldn't have come
instead? Please consider American-British ...
2
votes
3answers
788 views
Englishman or English man?
Which group is correct (in British English)? Is there any difference? And which group do you use?
Group 1 (the one I use)
English man, English woman, English men, English women
Irish man, Irish ...
1
vote
1answer
106 views
Which does ‘rising’ here mean, to stand up or to get angry?
Harry was sitting up on a bed in the hospital wing at school, surrounded by his visitors. Fudge, one of them, started to insult Harry. Did Mrs. Weasley want to prevent him from getting angry or from ...
10
votes
3answers
3k views
“Haven't you?” or “don't you?”
What is the right question tag (in British English) when we use the verb have?
I have interviewed a few native speakers and none of them could explain why sometimes they prefer "haven't/hasn't" and ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Can one answer “Have you got…?” with “Yes, I've got.”?
As an American in Europe I often get questions about the British "have got" which is hard for me to answer since I have little feeling for what is correct. E.g. someone today asked me:
If someone ...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
“..which did what lay in it…” Ref: (“A tale of two cities” by Charles Dickens)
Ref: (“A tale of two cities” by Charles Dickens).
What does “..which did what lay in it…” mean in the following sentence?
“As the bank passenger – with an arm drawn through the leathern strap, ...
10
votes
1answer
323 views
What is “double history”?
I'm a Yank watching the UK version of Being Human and the character mentions sitting next to his ex-girlfriend in "Double History" (season 2 episode 3 around timestamp 24:18). It's clearly a history ...
5
votes
2answers
595 views
What is the proper adjective for the UK?
I've heard Ukonian used, and I must say I rather like it, but I don't think it's a fully accepted word yet. British leaves out Northern Ireland.
2
votes
5answers
609 views
Which version of English influenced the other? British / American
I remember hearing that modern American English is more similar to Old English than modern British English, due to rural British influences.
Is modern American English a more accurate representation ...
12
votes
5answers
2k views
Can “already” be used after a simple past verb in American English?
A British colleague asked if these two sentences are grammatically acceptable in American English:
They found already high recognition in Europe and we wish to carry
that further.
...
2
votes
4answers
293 views
“Merge a with b” and “Merge b with a” or “Merge b into a”
I might be having a dumb day but today after looking over my code I ran into a meaning issue with my own syntax, and the comments explaining that syntax...something I've never actually thought about ...
