crackers and.biscuits

[Ju]

Dear all,

In terms of what I have seen in the supermarket, crackers are salty and biscuits are sweet. May I clarify it as it affects my writing.

Many thanks.

 

[teechar]

Have a look at the information in the link below.

http://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-biscuits-and-crackers

 

[GoesStation]

A biscuit is a different thing in British and American English. Be sure to use the right word for the dialect you're writing in.

 

[TheParser]

May I clarify it as it affects my writing.

NOT A TEACHER

Hello, Ju:

As it affects your writing, I wanted to bring something to your attention.

I read the link carefully, but to the best of my knowledge, it did not mention something very important: The delicious "biscuits" shown in the link are called cookies in the United States.

In this country, a "biscuit" is a "small round cake of bread." It is neither salty nor sweet. One may add butter/margarine or jam/jelly. American biscuits are often eaten with ham and eggs, a traditional American breakfast.

You may wish to go to the "images" section of Google and type in "American biscuits." There are many excellent illustrations. (I do not know how to link. Sorry.)

 

[emsr2d2]

In this country, a "biscuit" is a "small round cake of bread." It is neither salty nor sweet. One may add butter/margarine or jam/jelly.

In the UK, that's a scone.

 

[emsr2d2]

American biscuits are often eaten with ham and eggs, a traditional American breakfast.

That would certainly not work in the UK! Biscuits are sweet. People eat ham and eggs on toast, on crumpets or on muffins (the savoury kind, not the sweet kind).

 

[GoesStation]

A popular breakfast in my neck of the woods is biscuits and gravy. To make biscuits, you add fat to flour, and bake it. To make gravy, you add flour to fat, and simmer it. I've left out a few minor details but that covers the essentials.

 

[Tdol]

In terms of what I have seen in the supermarket, crackers are salty and biscuits are sweet. May I clarify it as it affects my writing.

This would work in a British supermarket, where we don't eat biscuits and gravy.

 

[Skrej]

In the UK, that's a scone.

A scone in the US is a slightly sweetened (AmE) biscuit, usually triangular in shape. They're not as sweet as a muffin, nor as moist, but they usually are slightly sweet, whereas a biscuit almost never is (unless you're using it as a shortbread for a fruit-based dessert.)

Now the whole 'should cornbread be sweet' debate is an entirely separate argument that's raged for a hundred years or more.

 

[probus]

A biscuit is a different thing in British and American English. Be sure to use the right word for the dialect you're writing in.

I am in need of teaching here. Long ago when I was in England a Brit asked me "Are cookies biscuits or cakes?" So I get that "cookies" is an AmE term. But I thought we all understood the meaning of biscuit. What is the dialect difference?

 

[GoesStation]

I am in need of teaching here. Long ago when I was in England a Brit asked me "Are cookies biscuits or cakes?" So I get that "cookies" is an AmE term. But I thought we all understood the meaning of biscuit. What is the dialect difference?

An American biscuit is a round, thin, bland, flaky, fatty, soda-raised bread eaten with sausage gravy or butter and jam. A British biscuit is what Americans call a cookie; a small, bite-sized, crunchy or chewy cake made with flour, sugar, fat, and sometimes eggs, and flavored with chocolate, vanilla, ginger, fruit, or other flavorings.

 

[Tdol]

I am in need of teaching here. Long ago when I was in England a Brit asked me "Are cookies biscuits or cakes?" So I get that "cookies" is an AmE term. But I thought we all understood the meaning of biscuit. What is the dialect difference?

Biscuits are crunchy and cakes are soft. Both are generally sweet. There are a few grey areas, but the more you need teeth to eat it, the more likely the Brits are to call it a biscuit.

 

[emsr2d2]

And then there's the famous "Is a Jaffa Cake a cake or a biscuit?" controversy, raging in the UK for years, caused by the fact that VAT is payable on biscuits but not on cakes. The case went to court and McVities (the manufacturer) won its claim that it's a cake so no VAT is payable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaffa_Cakes