Abroad- old fashoined?

[Ashraful Haque]

Some time ago I posted about 'overseas/abroad/out of the country,' where an American told me that 'abroad' is less used in American English today and a bit old-fashioned.

So how do I say the following:
1) He lives abroad.
2) He went to study abroad, etc.

 

[GoesStation]

It's not old-fashioned.

 

[EditorBob]

I agree with GoesStation. It's especially common when paired with studying. Speaking of living abroad is probably a little less common in colloquial American English, but it's certainly common enough that you wouldn't be misunderstood. If you were writing dialogue between two teenagers, I'd avoid it. Otherwise, I don't see the problem.

 

[Tdol]

It's fine in British English too. If I had to pick the old-fashioned one, I'd choose overseas.

 

[GoesStation]

If I had to pick the old-fashioned one, I'd choose overseas.

"Overseas" is pretty common in American English. It's often used as a synonym for abroad,​ even when the country in question shares a land border with ours and is therefore not over any seas.

 

[jutfrank]

overseas is certainly not old-fashioned, either.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

"Overseas" is pretty common in American English. It's often used as a synonym for abroad,​ even when the country in question shares a land border with ours and is therefore not over any seas.

I've been confused by this for a long time. Almost every post I read said that 'overseas' is only used if you have to fly over a sea to get to the country. But I'm more interested in learning conversational English, so in regular conversations do people make this distinction?

 

[emsr2d2]

I wouldn't use "overseas" to refer, for example, to someone who lives in Germany and has travelled to Austria. They are, however, abroad.

 

[jutfrank]

I suspect overseas came into American use from British use. From the perspective of Britain, everywhere else is across a body of water.

As post #4 says, it doesn't have to mean literally 'across the sea' for it to work from a US perspective.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I've been confused by this for a long time. Almost every post I read said that 'overseas' is only used if you have to fly over a sea to get to the country. But I'm more interested in learning conversational English, so in regular conversations do people make this distinction?

It's not about flying.

If it's on the other side of an ocean, it's overseas. If you're in San Francisco, Tokyo is overseas, no matter how you went there or whether you went there.

Of course, it's literally over one sea, not over seas. But we don't care. It's English!

 

[jutfrank]

But is, say, Mexico, also 'overseas'?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

But is, say, Mexico, also 'overseas'?

Yes, if you're in Glasgow or Soweto.

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, if you're in Glasgow or Soweto.

I meant from a US perspective, of course. I take it you're saying no.

How about if you go from Florida to Cancun by boat? Are you travelling overseas?

What do US universities call 'overseas students'?

(This is all quite hard to understand for someone who's always lived on an island! )

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I meant from a US perspective, of course. I take it you're saying no.

How about if you go from Florida to Cancun by boat? Are you travelling overseas?

What do US universities call 'overseas students'?

(This is all quite hard to understand for someone who's always lived on an island! )

Dunno. As a North American, I've always taken it to mean across the Atlantic or Pacific.

Maybe some Americans include the Caribbean. I never have, but I've never thought about it, either.

 

[GoesStation]

I suspect overseas came into American use from British use. From the perspective of Britain, everywhere else is across a body of water.

As post #4 says, it doesn't have to mean literally 'across the sea' for it to work from a US perspective.

It has always meant in a place you have to cross an ocean to get to to me. I've noticed that many Americans use it, illogically, for another country, including Canada or Mexico. This just seemed careless when I first heard it.

 

[GoesStation]

How about if you go from Florida to Cancun by boat? Are you travelling overseas?

I wouldn't use the word.

What do US universities call 'overseas students'?

They don't use the term. Those are international students to us.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

I suspect overseas came into American use from British use. From the perspective of Britain, everywhere else is across a body of water.

As post #4 says, it doesn't have to mean literally 'across the sea' for it to work from a US perspective.

So to conclude my questions:
1) Saying "my wife lives abroad" or "I'm going abroad tomorrow" is completely natural.
2) If are person goes from Toronto to New York, he is overseas.

Please let me know if I got it.

 

[Tarheel]

So to conclude my questions:
1) Saying "my wife lives abroad" or "I'm going abroad tomorrow" is completely natural.
2) If a person goes from Toronto to New York, he is overseas.

Please let me know if I got it.

1. OK.
2. No. That's not overseas.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

1. OK.
2. No. That's not overseas.

If a person goes from Toronto to New York, he is abroad?

So does that mean abroad can be used weather or not a sea needs to be crossed?

 

[Tarheel]

If a person goes from Toronto to New York, he is abroad?

So does that mean "abroad" can be used whether or not a sea needs to be crossed?

Well, if it were the other way around I'd just say the person's in Canada.