by Jennie Ruby
"Please excuse the mess whilst we renovate."
My friend Mike saw a sign worded something like this on his vacation in
England last summer. While telling me about it, he asked whether
while or whilst was correct. The answer is
simply that whilst is British usage, and while
is American usage.
England last summer. While telling me about it, he asked whether
while or whilst was correct. The answer is
simply that whilst is British usage, and while
is American usage.
Most people are familiar with some of the variant spellings used in British
versus American publications: colour vs.
color, grey vs. gray,
analyse vs. analyze. Some less familiar ones
include adding an s to words that end in
–ward, as in towards vs.
toward, and adding st to
while and among to get whilst
and amongst.
versus American publications: colour vs.
color, grey vs. gray,
analyse vs. analyze. Some less familiar ones
include adding an s to words that end in
–ward, as in towards vs.
toward, and adding st to
while and among to get whilst
and amongst.
Alternative spellings of words are listed in Webster's Collegiate
Dictionary either as separate entries or as alternative spellings within
the same entry. If alternative spellings are listed with the word
or, the two spellings appear with equal frequency in
publications. If the word also is used to introduce the
alternative spelling, the second spelling is less often used. The notation
chiefly Brit means the spelling is used in British
publications.
Dictionary either as separate entries or as alternative spellings within
the same entry. If alternative spellings are listed with the word
or, the two spellings appear with equal frequency in
publications. If the word also is used to introduce the
alternative spelling, the second spelling is less often used. The notation
chiefly Brit means the spelling is used in British
publications.
So start sentences with these conjunctions whenever you like. But don't use
a comma unless there is a truly parenthetical element after the
conjunction.
a comma unless there is a truly parenthetical element after the
conjunction.
About the Author: Jennie Ruby is a veteran IconLogic trainer and author
with titles such as "Essentials of Access 2000" and "Editing with MS Word 2003 and Adobe Acrobat
7" to her credit. Jennie specializes in electronic editing. At the American
Psychological Association, she was manager of electronic publishing and manager
of technical editing and journal production. Jennie has an M.A. from George
Washington University and is a Certified Technical Trainer (Chauncey Group). She
is a publishing professional with 20 years of experience in writing, editing and
desktop publishing.
with titles such as "Essentials of Access 2000" and "Editing with MS Word 2003 and Adobe Acrobat
7" to her credit. Jennie specializes in electronic editing. At the American
Psychological Association, she was manager of electronic publishing and manager
of technical editing and journal production. Jennie has an M.A. from George
Washington University and is a Certified Technical Trainer (Chauncey Group). She
is a publishing professional with 20 years of experience in writing, editing and
desktop publishing.