When, while, whilst
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Tarheel
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I was distracted by girls in bikinis while I was on the computer. What was the question? ;-)
I'll do it when I have time to get to it. Meanwhile, I'm looking at those girls in bikinis. ;-)
(I don't think I've ever heard anybody use "whilst" in my entire life.)
Do those examples help you to see the difference between when and while?
I'll do it when I have time to get to it. Meanwhile, I'm looking at those girls in bikinis. ;-)
(I don't think I've ever heard anybody use "whilst" in my entire life.)
Do those examples help you to see the difference between when and while?
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You should come to the UK, Tarheel.
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Well I have, but it's very British, quite archaic, and no different in meaning from 'while'.
Incidentally, there are a few other cases of -st being appended to an adverb with no change of meaning. When I was training to be an altar-boy I was told 'There's nothing in the Hail Mary about "a monk swimming"' [one such pair is among/amongst] ;-)
b
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Not heard? Archaic? I'm shocked. I use it frequently and my flatmate employs it regularly in his blog posts (which I proofread and edit).
"While" refers to a time period.
"Whilst" can be used to mean "although".
While you were on the phone, I cooked dinner.
Whilst I like prawns for dinner, you prefer salmon.
She wrote most of a novel while travelling on the bus to work.
She writes novels, whilst I write poetry.
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/while#while_1
"While" refers to a time period.
"Whilst" can be used to mean "although".
While you were on the phone, I cooked dinner.
Whilst I like prawns for dinner, you prefer salmon.
She wrote most of a novel while travelling on the bus to work.
She writes novels, whilst I write poetry.
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/while#while_1
MikeNewYork
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"While" can be used for "although" in AmE.
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I was going to mention that one, but didn't feel it was appropriate here; I guess I should cultivate a higher expectation of my readers!I think there was once a similar pairing between 'again' and 'against' (which now have totally distinct meanings). I know there's still a dialectal 'agin' - /ǝgɪn/ - meaning 'against'; I've heard people say 'I'm agin it'.
b
MikeNewYork
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You wrote "when" both times. How would one choose?
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