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?

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.

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

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"