Beau Peep Notice Board

Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: Tom on July 25, 2008, 11:38:53 PM

Title: Words and when to use them
Post by: Tom on July 25, 2008, 11:38:53 PM

HELP!!! I'm going mad with a question that keeps popping in my head, and I hope someone can help.

Is there a difference between while and whilst?
Should one be used in the place of another?

Not the most important thing to come to mind, I know, but you know how niggly these things get...

 :-[

Title: Re: Words and when to use them
Post by: Vulture on July 26, 2008, 05:53:46 AM

According to my dictionary, they mean the same. I suppose you could use whilst if you were feeling in a poetical mood.

Title: Re: Words and when to use them
Post by: Diane CBPFC on July 26, 2008, 06:45:29 AM

But you couldn't say: "park your bum on the sofa and stay a whilst".

Title: Re: Words and when to use them
Post by: Malc on July 26, 2008, 10:19:52 AM

....and you don't whilst away your time doing nothing, so in some cases they aren't interchangeable, but they nevertheless mean the same thing.

Title: Re: Words and when to use them
Post by: The Peepmaster on July 26, 2008, 10:54:42 AM

I suppose it depends whom you're speaking to.

Title: Re: Words and when to use them
Post by: Vulture on July 26, 2008, 11:25:22 AM

Quote from: Diane CBPFC on July 26, 2008, 06:45:29 AM

But you couldn't say: "park your bum on the sofa and stay a whilst".

But you could say: "whilst/while I park my bum on the sofa, make us a cup of tea".