Young Writers Society

I was just getting on with a critique today, minding my own business, when I came across an instance when I had to use either 'while' or 'whilst'. But I didn't know which one to use. I never have done, really - just gone on with it, picking either seemingly at random.

So, my question for all you grammar police out there - how can you tell the difference between when you say 'while' and when you say 'whilst'?

I wasn't too sure either. So I googled the definition. dictionary.com said whilst is a more archaic form of while. I didn't think that was enough so I looked up while vs. whilst. This is what I came up with:

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-whi2.htm

http://hansengel.wordpress.com/2007/12/ ... -straight/

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/whilst.html

So the general consensus is that they're the same and "whilst" is more common in UK English over American English. Whilst is also considered more pretentious by Americans.

Many thanks.

That all makes sense. I prefer using 'whilst' anyway, at least in writing (the pretentious snob that I am ).

Thanks again,

-Kyle

Wow. I have never used whilst in my life. Never.

I have seen it in writing, though.

Eh, you British-folk (or UK, whatever it is...) talk funny.

~JFW1415

Yes, whilst seems like "old" English--or the word periwinkle used, archaic.


Generally it is just more Germanic. And yeah, it would probably be more popular in UK. Like "shall". That's a UK thing. If you say that in America, it's usually because you're being silly, or your nose is pointing to the sky. That's also considered old, at least here.

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