Literature The British English vs American English thread!

[Joe]

This is not a British vs. American English item per se, but a matter of different customs. (So technically off-topic. So, sue me.)

It's about British vs. American (and Canadian) calendars.

American and Canadian calendars begin the week on Sunday.

British calendars follow the European practice of beginning the week on Monday.

See: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2013/04/30/desktop-wallpaper-calendar-may-2013/#more-160784

Particularly:

 

[Joe]

I saw an episode of Doc Martin where he attends to a man who has sliced off part of his finger. The doctor calls for a bowl, some ice and cling film to cover the bowl (after the severed finger is put on ice). The Oxford Dictionary of US English defines cling film as "British term for plastic wrap." Actually, more Americans might just call it Saran Wrap, after the trade name.

 

[mlp]

Ground floor is first floor in the US for the most part, but I have been in buildings in NYC where in the elevator it is Lobby 1 2 3 etc.

I've only seen that in situations where the lobby is below, or at least partially below, ground level, but then I have spent very little time in NYC.

The ground floor being the first floor is a case where new world terminology makes more sense intuitively, IMO.

 

[Joe]

I was reading in excerpt from Edna O'Brien's memoirs in the May issue of Vogue and came across two expressions that struck me as interesting.
She told the story of receiving a check (cheque) from a publisher. She was delighted, and splashed out, buying gifts for her sons and perfume for herself.
The Collins Dictionary defines splash out as "adverb often foll by on (informal (mainly British) to spend (money) freely or extravagantly (on something)."
An American would have said splurged.

The other expression occurred in her telling the story of how she broke up with her husband, and the tense and stressful time for both of them. Her husband met with her one morning and "he was obviously unslept." Onelook found only one online dictionary that defines this word; it means "having been without sleep."
(Wordnik.)

Some people might object that O'Brien is Irish, but it seems that she writes in British English. I found it remarkable that her books have been burned in Ireland.

 

[Alice-Bee]

I saw an episode of Doc Martin where he attends to a man who has sliced off part of his finger. The doctor calls for a bowl, some ice and cling film to cover the bowl (after the severed finger is put on ice). The Oxford Dictionary of US English defines cling film as "British term for plastic wrap." Actually, more Americans might just call it Saran Wrap, after the trade name.

We call it cling film because its film that clings...its just easier to remember.


I have heard the term splash out but I wouldnt use it...id just say 'treat myself' etc.
And Ive never heard of 'unslept' I would say 'he looked rough' if someone wasnt looking well.

 

[kazyeeqen]

I flinch when people say 'saran wrap' I kind of hate brands that turn into nouns for items. 'Tampax', 'kleenex', 'saran wrap'...

I would always say tampons, tissues and plastic wrap.

And plastic wrap is easy to remember, it's made of plastic.

 

[Alice-Bee]

Imagine if it was that way for everything though...itd get pretty weird. But I agree I dislike brand naming. Like Hoover isnt the item its a brand. You shouldnt hoover, you should vacuum.

 

[Amy SF]

I flinch when people say 'saran wrap' I kind of hate brands that turn into nouns for items. 'Tampax', 'kleenex', 'saran wrap'...

I would always say tampons, tissues and plastic wrap.

And plastic wrap is easy to remember, it's made of plastic.

It doesn't bother me to say kleenex etc. because these names have been around a long time. But what's a little weird to me is "hoovering a rug" instead of vacuuming a rug. For some reason, even though we have Hoover vacuums here in the US, we don't say "hoover" when we mean "vacuum", as a verb, that is. And using brand names as the words isn't as ridiculous as it could be. We don't say "We're going to chevrolet to the movie theater" or "I need to colgate my teeth."

 

[Alice-Bee]

Unless its a Northern thing, most Ukers say hoover not vacuum...vacuum sounds so American to me.
I would say 'tissue'...or snot rag.

 

[SummerRain]

Another vote for hoover and tissue.

I think the US say "Bic" where we'd say Biro? I think both are brand names...? I don't think people in the UK say tampax instead of tampon... but as more US tv is around in the UK you notice people picking up americanisms like "trash" and "couch" and "tampax".

Snot rag?

 

[Alice-Bee]

Yeah sorry...You dont wanna hear what I call feminine products
Ive noticed more couches and trashes. Its Settee/sofa and rubbish.

 

[Muggle]

The only things I call all varieties of the product by a brand name is sellotape and blue tack (but I think the brand spells it differently)

 

[Alice-Bee]

^same...stickytape sounds American again to me. Not sure what else you could call blu tak? Blue ****? Stuff to hang posters with? Like post its..are they post its or sticky notes?

 

[Muggle]

Oh yeah, post it notes, that's another thing I say

 

[Amy SF]

Well, we say post-its. Or, rather, I say post-its. Some people say "I'm gonna put a sticky/sticky note on her computer" but I say post-its.

Stickytape is not American. I think we just say "wall tack".

And here in the US we say both sofa and couch. I tend to say sofa. I think it's a regional thing, like when I say "soda" and people elsewhere in the US say "pop".

 

[ledboots]

^same...stickytape sounds American again to me. Not sure what else you could call blu tak? Blue ****? Stuff to hang posters with? Like post its..are they post its or sticky notes?

I call blu tak sticky tack and I say sticky notes.

Never heard anyone say Bic, for pen or cigarette lighters?

 

[Amy SF]

Oh, and while some people in the US may say "kotex" and "tampax" even when it's not the actual brand, I just say "pad" and "tampon".

 

[Amy SF]

And here's another one: I've heard some people say "clicker" for a TV remote, but I say "remote".

If you're ever stuck for the right term for something when you visit another country, just say what my mother always said, "the thingamabob that does the job".

 

[Alice-Bee]

I call my remote 'the stick'

Everyone in my family does.

 

[Renee1]

Old Canadians say chesterfield instead of couch or sofa. I like it.