Round or around?

[galindez]

Round or around. What is the difference?

[HotBunyip]

Round or around. What is the difference?

Hi galindez,

I am quoting from 'Practical English Usage' by Michael Swan.

In British English 'round' can be used for movement or position:

'She walked round the car and looked at the wheels.
We all sat round the table.
Where do you live? Just round the corner.

Also in British English round is used to talk about going to all (or most) parts of a place, or giving things to everybody in a group:

We walked round the old part of the town.
Can I look round.
Could you pass the cups round, please?

around ((or about) refer to movements or positions that are not very clear or definite:

The children were running (around ( or about) everywhere

Also used to talk about time-wasting or silly activities:
Stop fooling around (or about) . We're late.

It can also mean 'approximately':

What time shall I come? around ( or about) eight.

In American English (I am still quoting as I am Australian) about is mostly used to mean 'approximately' or 'not exactly'.

Americans (still quoting) normally use around where British English uses round.

I hope that helps.

Take care,

HotBubyip

[Tdol]

Just adding copyright details:
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Media: Paperback
Released: 07 July, 2005
ISBN: 0194420981
http://www.usingenglish.com/amazon/us/0194420981.html

[galindez]

Thanks.

[HotBunyip]

Hi tdol,

Was I in error in not quoting the copyright details or should I not have quoted from the book at all? A friendly question as I am new to contributing.

Take care,

HotBunyip

[Tdol]

HotBunyip,
When quoting, it's better to include copyright or the URL to be on the safe side. There have been some problems with this issue in forums, though we haven't had any. Fair use of copyright allows for quoting, so there's no problem with quoting and you did name the source, but when quoting at any length, it's better to give full credits.

All the best