Friday, February 16, 2018

British Predilections

According to Grammar Girl, writing or saying among is much more correct than using amongst for Americans.

Perhaps I read too many British novels, and I confess to having a strong predilection for British TV, but I have become quite fond of amongst.

Of course, I am also Canadian, and I can often not ascertain what our stance should be. We tend to spell like Brits (e.g. honour as opposed to honor, or theatre rather than theater), but our lexicon is much more Yankee-ish (e.g trunk vs. boot, theatre vs. cinema, or pharmacy vs. chemist).

I feel betwixt and between as it were, and I scratch me 'ead a lot when it comes to both speaking and writing.

As was the case with fly-less underwear, life continues to confuse me.

But whatever the level of my perplexity, I find myself increasingly drawn to amongst, so I will likely continue to use it — at least sometimes and probably more in prose than speech.

There you have it; I wouldn't make a good American.

Now, perhaps you will permit me write of my fondness for whilst over while. Ah, maybe not, eh?


7 comments:

Jenn Jilks said...

I like the choices we can make, being in between! I use whilst a lot, too.

Joanne Noragon said...

It never occurred to me those were options.

Mage said...

I still love the underwear whilst enjoying all else.

Debbie said...

i am amongst those who agree with you, whilst i consider myself a good american!! hehehe

Shammickite said...

Amongst and whilst are definitely WRONG!
It could be A-WHOLE-NOTHER argument.... oh how I hate that expression!

Kay said...

I don’t use whilst, but now that I see it on your post, amongst looks rather loverly.

Jenny Woolf said...

Something about the "st" sound obviously appeals to you.... maybe you should start saying "hast" instead of "have" :)