Author Topic: Words and when to use them  (Read 1837 times)

Tom

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Words and when to use them
« 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...

 :-[

Vulture

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Re: Words and when to use them
« Reply #1 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.

Offline Diane CBPFC

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Re: Words and when to use them
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2008, 06:45:29 AM »
But you couldn't say: "park your bum on the sofa and stay a whilst".

People will come from strange lands to hear me speak my words of wisdom. They will ask me the secret of life and I will tell them. Then maybe I'll finish off with a song. The Nomad

Malc

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Re: Words and when to use them
« Reply #3 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.

Offline The Peepmaster

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Re: Words and when to use them
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2008, 10:54:42 AM »
I suppose it depends whom you're speaking to.
Nostalgia is not what it used to be. 😟

Vulture

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Re: Words and when to use them
« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2008, 11:25:22 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".