# How to tell where Dopers are from (syntax, spelling, etc.) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 30, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144 "2003-04-30T13:47:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/1 "2003-04-30T13:47:38Z")
I’m really curious if people can tell whether the poster is American or Canadian or from the UK or whatever without looking at the location. For instance, anytime I see a word that I end in -or and I see -our I know it’s probably somebody from the UK. (And everytime I see it I say it different in my head, like flavour ends up flay-vow-er in my inside voice) And when somebody is bitching about the US, I know it’s a Canadian. (kidding, of course 😃 ) Can you tell where people are from, especially Americans, by phrases or spelling? ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/2 "2003-04-30T13:59:52Z")
i think you can get a gut instinct on people just from the way they phrase things. Sometimes its difficult to call, sometimes its bloody obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/3 "2003-04-30T14:07:46Z")
Words with (what feel to me like) too many suffixes point out an American. Burglarisation. 😃 Someone typing “yis” or “yiz” etc for you-plural is invariably from Dublin. Even Scandinavians who speak and write excellent english can give themselves away by their nouns and verbs not agreeing “the river runs through the forest” (Scandies often put “river run” and “rivers runs”). Also if Vs and Ws are mixed it is a dead giveaway. Obviously not all XXX do YYY, but chances are if you see YYY it was an XXX that did it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/4 "2003-04-30T14:14:05Z")
And, I often spell words with -our; I think its from having been reading Tolkien since I was 7 years old. A lot of my spellings fluctuate between American and British versions. That said, whenever I see anyone use “bloody” as **garius** just did, and a few other select words/phrases that I can’t think of right now, it’s often a give-away. I mean, **Bruce\_Daddy** , I can tell just by reading this one post of yours that you’re from **Greenville, SC, USA**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/5 "2003-04-30T14:19:10Z")
Perhaps the most obvious giveaway is the use of metric measurements where we USA folks would likely use the old English units. I used to think “bloody” was a pretty good indication that someone is from the UK. However, I see many US posters using this word as well. People who use “whilst” instead of “while” tend to be from Australia. Words that we Americans end in _-ed_ are sometimes ended with a _t_ in the UK (learnt, burnt, etc.) Other words that tell me someone is from outside the USA: flat = apartment lift = elevator telly = television, TV programme - program/TV show petrol = gas/gasoline bonnet = hood (as in a car) boot = trunk (also, as in a car) tyre = tire pyjamas = pajamas trousers = pants (we sometimes say _trousers_ here, but it’s not as common) ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/6 "2003-04-30T14:26:58Z")
I could add to that a little. It becomes more difficult I think in choosing between someone from say, The UK and someone from here in Australia or New Zealand. Our spelling of words tends to be the same, as does the usage of various terms such as that noted above by **dwc1970**. I think the same may apply to a few other places as well…any South African posters out there? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/7 "2003-04-30T16:58:47Z")
I can usually tell where a Doper is from by looking to the left. . . . . What? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/8 "2003-04-30T17:02:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bruce\_Daddy \* > \*\*\… without looking at the location. \ \*\* 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/9 "2003-04-30T17:07:23Z")
you can add Ireland to that list **UnwrittenNocturne** A very Irish thing to do is using “me” instead of “my”. eg. I love me Ma (Mother). ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/10 "2003-04-30T17:24:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bruce\_Daddy \* > \*\*\… without looking at the location. \ \*\* Whoops. Looks like that part slipped by me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/11 "2003-04-30T18:52:36Z")
I’m American born and raised, but I often use British words phrasing due to my overexposure as a youth to Monty Python, Douglas Adams, and Doctor Who. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/12 "2003-04-30T20:31:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ferrous \* > \*\*I’m American born and raised, but I often use British words phrasing due to my overexposure as a youth to Monty Python, Douglas Adams, and Doctor Who. \*\* That sounds like rubbish to me. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/13 "2003-04-30T22:34:31Z")
Well, after a recent post, I discovered that not many people seem to know what “you’re grand” means outside of Ireland and the UK. “Thanks a million” is Irish too, as is any reference to the “Auld Fella”. _ **minor whinge alert** _ In any medical/biology post American spellings of Greek words set my teeth on edge. Oestrogen/Estrogen Foetus/Fetus Anaemia/Anemia Haemoglobin/Hemoglobin etc. Foetus does not rhyme with “let us”, don’t spell it like that! ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/14 "2003-04-30T23:09:53Z")
Don’t judge a Poster’s location by her behaviour. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Honeydew\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19b73/32.png) [@Honeydew\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honeydew_1)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/15 "2003-04-30T23:18:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iteki \* > **Someone typing “yis” or “yiz” etc for you-plural is invariably from Dublin.** Cheek :eek:… depends which side of the river they come from really doesn’t it :D:p ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/16 "2003-04-30T23:49:48Z")
Especially for Rhino’s honey 😉 “Loike, Oi couldn’t agree more, roight. I met these people at a porty in Rathmoines, and they were SO Northsoide. Anyone coming to Annabels? Should be a roight laff!” ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/17 "2003-05-01T00:32:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bruce\_Daddy \* > \*\*That sounds like rubbish to me. \*\* Er…what? Which part? The fact that it’s a clumsily constructed sentence with at least one word left out, or the content? ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/18 "2003-05-01T00:41:14Z")
> [@](#): > > “Thanks a million” is Irish too Wha? I’ve heard that phrase hundreds of times in non-Ireland places. Canadians spell some things the British way too. Only Americans spell the American way. Since most posters on the SDMB are from the US, that doesn’t narrow things down all that much. I find it difficult to really tell where native English speakers are from without looking at their location, as people like up odd slang from friends and suchlike. For instance, the farthest south in the US I’ve ever been is Missouri, but I say “y’all” all the time - I picked it up from a good friend in high school who was from Texas. Probably place names and units of measurement are the only real true giveaways. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/19 "2003-05-01T01:09:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iteki \* > **Words with (what feel to me like) too many suffixes point out an American. Burglarisation. 😃** Yeah, except we’d spell it **burglarization**. 😃 We like zees. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144/20 "2003-05-01T03:10:39Z")
Which they’s forr-aye-ners call “zeds.” :shrug: I dunno. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-where-dopers-are-from-syntax-spelling-etc/172144.md?page=2)