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    Default UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Reading various forums and TW multiplayer foyers made me realize how different UK grammar is from US grammar. The ones we are pretty much aware of is the spelling and what we call certain things. Examples would be 'honour' vs. 'honor' and 'valour' vs. 'valor', or how we call things such as 'football' vs. 'soccer' and 'lift' vs. 'elevator'.

    I noticed more differences from novels. The British use single quotes (') while the Americans use double quotes (") when quoting a character. Examples:
    'I went there,' she said.
    "I went there," she said.

    What confuses me is that old British novels used double quotes.-> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/IS...gamesA/#reader Maybe it's because the book in that link is an American version. I'll check Tolkien's books.

    I wonder. Do the British and the Americans get annoyed when they see grammar different from their's? Also, what are the other differences in English grammar? And what about Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa? I started to be aware (and worry) of how I write in English when I started to chat with the world.
    Last edited by Shaka_Khan; 10-20-2009 at 03:44.
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    Old Town Road Senior Member Strike For The South's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    They are wrong.
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    the G-Diffuser Senior Member pevergreen's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Australia does the language correctly.

    We speak Australian.

    Its "text" a single is more a double used. Used to be the other way around, but has changed, I was informed.

    Its gray. Gray is a colour.
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    The Black Senior Member Papewaio's Avatar
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    Post Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Grammar... whatever MS Office says is correct is correct of course. So in NSW because the primary school teachers cannot figure out how to change the region to Australia, it is kept to the default of American English.
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Papewaio View Post
    Grammar... whatever MS Office says is correct is correct of course. So in NSW because the primary school teachers cannot figure out how to change the region to Australia, it is kept to the default of American English.
    That's hilarious


    Anyone who cares about grammar and spelling to that degree needs to chill out.

    And yeah, obviously American grammar is the correct version.

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    The Black Senior Member Papewaio's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro View Post
    That's hilarious

    Anyone who cares about grammar and spelling to that degree needs to chill out.

    And yeah, obviously American grammar is the correct version.
    I actually don't mind if we choose a grammar set for a reason. I do mind choosing one out of a lack of interest, stupidity or lack of motivation as displayed by said "'teachers'".

    And yes primary school teachers who teach the basics should care about spelling and grammar. However most schools do not explicitly teach English grammar as it is assumed that one will absorb it in an English speaking society.
    Last edited by Papewaio; 10-20-2009 at 04:32.
    Our genes maybe in the basement but it does not stop us chosing our point of view from the top.
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    Poll Smoker Senior Member CountArach's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by pevergreen View Post
    Australia does the language correctly.
    No we don't. We spell "jail" as "gaol".
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    Clan Clan InsaneApache's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by CountArach View Post
    No we don't. We spell "jail" as "gaol".
    Gaol is correct. It's the difference between Jeffrey and Geoffrey. I mean, c'mon, Jeffrey Chaucer dunt really cut it, does it?
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar
    There's a difference?

    I usually speak Estonian English(English with many many many spelling mistakes) and I'm proud of it!

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    the G-Diffuser Senior Member pevergreen's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by CountArach View Post
    No we don't. We spell "jail" as "gaol".
    Interchangeble.

    We don't give enough of a crap.

    You write it and if you can read it, its good enough.
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    Chieftain of the Pudding Race Member Evil_Maniac From Mars's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Shaka_Khan View Post
    Do the British and the Americans get annoyed when they see grammar different from their's?
    Or, perhaps more importantly, is this apostrophe correctly placed?

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    Guest Aemilius Paulus's Avatar
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    Arrow Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Shaka_Khan View Post
    What confuses me is that old British novels used double quotes
    Yes, and British also began using the 's' instead of 'z' (ise vs ize) which is a French influence, in the late 1900s. Oxford English still retains the original spelling. I personally prefer British English, and that is what they taught me in Russia, where I spent the majority of my life.

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    Member Senior Member Proletariat's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Shaka_Khan View Post
    I wonder. Do the British and the Americans get annoyed when they see grammar different from their's?
    I can't speak for the British but every American I know rages out when they see the difference.

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    Oni Member Samurai Waki's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    I use American and British English interchangeably, I've never been bothered by either.

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    Arena Senior Member Crazed Rabbit's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    It always seems the British folks get most perturbed because we don't use superfluous 'u's and the like.

    CR
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    Headless Senior Member Pannonian's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit View Post
    It always seems the British folks get most pertrbed because we don't use sperflos 'u's and the like.

    CR
    I don't actually mind how people spell words, as long as it's correct in their country.

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    Arena Senior Member Crazed Rabbit's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Pannonian View Post
    I don't actually mind houw people spell words, as long as it's correct in their cuountry.
    I suppose you're the exception that proves the rule.

    CR
    Last edited by Crazed Rabbit; 10-20-2009 at 08:47.
    Ja Mata, Tosa.

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    Iron Fist Senior Member Husar's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Evil_Maniac From Mars View Post
    Or, perhaps more importantly, is this apostrophe correctly placed?
    Of course not. I just recently explained it to a good orgah friend via PM, being the grammar nazi that I am and I can do it here again:

    boat - singular
    boats - plural
    boat's - genitive singular ("the boat's deck" meaning the deck belonging to the boat)
    boats' - genitive plural

    The above is obviously a progressive pronoun which I actually didn't know myself but I knew you leave the apostrophe out, which is all that counts.

    Quote Originally Posted by Wakizashi View Post
    I use American and British English interchangeably, I've never been bothered by either.
    So do I, we shortly talked about the differences at school I think and our teachers mostly just said we should decide for one and be consistent, which I'm not, I often decide for the British though, possibly because I just like to hear them speak.


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    L'Etranger Senior Member Banquo's Ghost's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Proletariat View Post
    I can't speak for the British but every American I know rages out when they see the difference.
    The British rage inside. The perceptive will note a slight twitching of the upper lip in the more excitable of young women.
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    Liar and Trickster Senior Member Andres's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    We were taught "British English" in secondary school.

    Nowadays, I probably use both "American English" and "British English" without realising which English I'm using, since I'm not a native speaker.
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    imaginary Member Weebeast's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Errbody need tha chill aight? Yall kno we borrowed words from da Romans? Errthang is correct and we just gotta learn da difference and enlightenize ourselves.

    Edit - English is the most inconsistent language that I know of when it comes to grammar and pronunciation. I was walking down the street wearing my new pair of shoes while eating pear.
    Last edited by Weebeast; 10-20-2009 at 11:48.

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    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Here we seem to be swifting from UK english to US english. When I was in school we had to talk with a british accent, which I always refused, I am Dutch not English so I speak English with a big fat Dutch accent and they can understand me just fine.

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    Headless Senior Member Pannonian's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Fragony View Post
    Here we seem to be swifting from UK english to US english. When I was in school we had to talk with a british accent, which I always refused, I am Dutch not English so I speak English with a big fat Dutch accent and they can understand me just fine.
    That's just rude. You should always make an effort to adopt the accent of your listener. Follow the admirable example of Shteve Mclaren.

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    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Pannonian View Post
    That's just rude. You should always make an effort to adopt the accent of your listener. Follow the admirable example of Shteve Mclaren.
    If they have a problem with that then that's their problem. Not going to talk as if I have a hot potato stuck in my throat.

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    TexMec Senior Member Louis VI the Fat's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Who cares about small minority variants of English, like British or American?

    Europe alone has more English speakers than the entire Anglophone world. So does India.


    So we'll take it from here, thank you very much.


    English will develop further as a minority dialect in Britain and the US. Just like Latin evolved into minority dialects in Rome and Milan, variants that soon were mutually unintelligable to each other. Italian dialects that soon were useless in the world at large.
    Meanwhile, the civilized world took over Latin from them. Then build a pan-European civilization around it for the next 1500 years. This is the future of English too. Soon, the English and Americans will have the disadvantage of speaking a useless minority variant while four billion others will speak the global standard English.


    (Revenge is ours, we'll beat you at your own game, serves you right for picking the wrong language as the global standard etc etc)
    Last edited by Louis VI the Fat; 10-20-2009 at 11:58.
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    Clan Clan InsaneApache's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat View Post
    Who cares about small minority variants of English, like British or American?

    Europe alone has more English speakers than the entire Anglophone world. So does India.


    So we'll take it from here, thank you very much.


    English will develop further as a minority dialect in Britain and the US. Just like Latin evolved into minority dialects in Rome and Milan, variants that soon were mutually incomprehensible to each other.
    Meanwhile, the civilized world took over Latin from them. Then build a pan-European civilization around it for the next 1500 years. This is the future of English too. Soon, the English and Americans will have the disadvantage of speaking a useless minority variant while four billion others will speak the global standard English.


    (Revenge is ours, we'll beat you at your own game, serves you right for picking the wrong language as the global standard etc etc)
    and there's more English speakers in China than in the rest of the world put together. Weep you Francophones.
    There are times I wish they’d just ban everything- baccy and beer, burgers and bangers, and all the rest- once and for all. Instead, they creep forward one apparently tiny step at a time. It’s like being executed with a bacon slicer.

    “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”

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    Philologist Senior Member ajaxfetish's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by Shaka_Khan View Post
    I wonder. Do the British and the Americans get annoyed when they see grammar different from their's? Also, what are the other differences in English grammar? And what about Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa? I started to be aware (and worry) of how I write in English when I started to chat with the world.
    Well, I'm currently studying linguistics, and I find the differences fascinating. Another interesting one: after a coronal consonant (one pronounced with the tip of the tongue), American English does not allow the diphthong [iu]. You'll find it after other American consonants (huge, cute, pure, beauty), but not after coronals. British English does allow [iu] after coronals, however, hence the different pronunciations of words like news, tune, lurid, presume, and suit.

    Anyway, if you're interested in finding more differences, you can check this out:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...sh_differences

    Ajax

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  28. #28

    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by ajaxfetish View Post
    Well, I'm currently studying linguistics, and I find the differences fascinating. Another interesting one: after a coronal consonant (one pronounced with the tip of the tongue), American English does not allow the diphthong [iu]. You'll find it after other American consonants (huge, cute, pure, beauty), but not after coronals. British English does allow [iu] after coronals, however, hence the different pronunciations of words like news, tune, lurid, presume, and suit.

    Anyway, if you're interested in finding more differences, you can check this out:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...sh_differences

    Ajax
    Thanks.
    Wooooo!!!

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    White Panther (Legalize Weed!) Member AlexanderSextus's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    In America, you ask for the bill and pay with a check.
    Where i'm from we always say "check please!" when we're done eating at a restaurant.
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    Old Town Road Senior Member Strike For The South's Avatar
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    Default Re: UK English Grammar vs. US English Grammar

    Quote Originally Posted by AlexanderSextus View Post
    Where i'm from we always say "check please!" when we're done eating at a restaurant.
    That's because it's nothing but Ital's. Going into a restaurant in Jersey is like walking into a buzzsaw. Loud, confusing, and lots of guys who shop at the big n tall.

    The correct thing to do is this:

    Sir, May I have the check?

    Yes sir, I'll bring that right out to you

    Thank you

    You're welcome.

    No yelling and no demanding. You yankees are always in a hurry.
    There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford

    My aim, then, was to whip the rebels, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us. Fear is the beginning of wisdom.

    I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation.

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