While/Whilst

cleanbluesky · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:24

Having looked into a dictionary, it seems that these words are interchangable but I figure there must be a difference in when they can be used and what they mean...

Anyone care to offer information?

One More Solo · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:26

cleanbluesky said:
Having looked into a dictionary, it seems that these words are interchangable but I figure there must be a difference in when they can be used and what they mean...

Anyone care to offer information?

"I'm working while 2 o'clock" not whilst.

Scuzi · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:29

"It was a while ago"
"It was a whilst ago"

Wee buns.

One More Solo said:
"I'm working while 2 o'clock" not whilst.

That doesn't make sense with either word.

One More Solo · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:32

Scuzi said:
That doesn't make sense with either word.

It does where I'm from.

red11 · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:33

Scuzi said:
That doesn't make sense with either word.

Seconded.

cleanbluesky · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:34

One More Solo said:
It does where I'm from.

We live in England and speak English though, forgive us if whichever accursed tongue it is you favour doesn't translate well

cleanbluesky · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:35

Scuzi said:
"It was a while ago"

Different usage of the word.

Scuzi · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:35

One More Solo said:
It does where I'm from.

Where the hell are you from?

cleanbluesky said:
Different usage of the word.

You didn't specify a particular usage

robmiller · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:35

They're interchangeable, but modern (and certainly American) usage prefers "while". Most people consider "whilst" a bit old-fashioned.

One More Solo · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:37

Scuzi said:
Where the hell are you from?

Yorkshire. "While" means "until" here, though you'd never catch me using it. :eek:

Jonny69 · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:43

While walking to the shops I tripped over a dog turd.

Whilst walking to the shops earlier, I tripped over a dog turd.

That's how I understand it.

robmiller · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:44

Jonny69 said:
While walking to the shops I tripped over a dog turd.

Whilst walking to the shops earlier, I tripped over a dog turd.

That's how I understand it.

Nope, they're still interchangeable there. Both "whilst walking to the shops..." and "while walking to the shops..." are fine, as are both "while walking to the shops earlier..." and "whilst walking to the shops earlier...".

cleanbluesky · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:45

Jonny69 said:
While walking to the shops I tripped over a dog turd.

Whilst walking to the shops earlier, I tripped over a dog turd.

That's how I understand it.

The second sentence is missing a comma, and I dont see what precludes the need to use a whilst instead of a while

robmiller · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:47

cleanbluesky said:
The second sentence is missing a comma, and I dont see what precludes the need to use a whilst instead of a while

It's not missing a comma :/ Where would you put one in that sentence? It would be fine without any commas, I'd probably say that the one there is unneccessary—it reads better when you write it as in the top example.

Jonny69 · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:48

Grammar Nazi

Before 'earlier', yes I can see that. That's just how I understand the word and basically I use it for variation, saves using the same word repeatedly.

Edit: everybody calm down, it was only a sentence about dog poo :eek:

robmiller · 9 Oct 2006 at 18:50

Jonny69 said:
Grammar Nazi Before 'earlier', yes I can see that.

Nah, it's fine without. The "earlier" isn't really parenthetical, so separating it with the commas just slows down reading unneccessarily.

"I went to the shops earlier and tripped over a dog turd."

reads better than:

"I went to the shops, earlier, and tripped over a dog turd."

Edit: Sorry I'll calm down now

cleanbluesky · 9 Oct 2006 at 19:04

robmiller said:
It's not missing a comma :/ Where would you put one in that sentence? It would be fine without any commas, I'd probably say that the one there is unneccessary—it reads better when you write it as in the top example.

You're right, the 'earlier' was superfluous as the sentence already dictates that the walk was in the past.

cleanbluesky · 9 Oct 2006 at 19:06

Jonny69 said:
While walking to the shops I tripped over a dog turd.

Whilst walking to the shops earlier, I tripped over a dog turd.

That's how I understand it.

Did you mean...

"While walking to the shop I trip over a dog turd"

and

"Whilst walking to the shop I tripped over a dog turd"

robmiller · 9 Oct 2006 at 19:07

cleanbluesky said:
You're right, the 'earlier' was superfluous as the sentence already dictates that the walk was in the past.

"Earlier", to me at least, implies "today" though. If someone said "I took a walk", you know it's in the past; if someone said "I took a walk earlier", I at least presume that there is an implied "today".

Christo · 9 Oct 2006 at 19:08

Scuzi said:
"It was a while ago"
"It was a whilst ago"

Wee buns.

"It was a while ago" - Is correct

While/Whilst

Man of Honour

Man of Honour