# What are some \*subtle\* differences among various dialects of English? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2017, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145 "2017-09-12T06:34:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/21 "2017-09-12T16:27:28Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > … > And **Leaffan** , I don’t think the ‘rent/let’ works like that here in England. I certainly rented a van a few weeks ago, I don’t think I’ve ever heard ‘let’ for anything that wasn’t a building. > > I’m renting a flat as well, via a lettings agent. I’ve got a copy of the government ‘How to rent’ guide, and my rental agreement right here. Hmmm… Maybe it’s just a Scottishism? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/22 "2017-09-12T16:39:11Z")
> [@filmstar-en](#): > > In Northern English, it is common to hear very affectionate terms of endearment used in normal friendly greetings and exchanges between people who may not know each other. Hello, darling! Thank you, love! Excuse me, sweetheart! It is most common when adults talk to children or between senior citizens. I guess it arises because people feel relaxed in their community and it is certainly charming to hear. It tends to be a working class thing and is often very funny. One of the things that I love about Sarah Millican is her tendency to refer to people as ‘flower’ or ‘pet’, which I understand is because of her sandancer roots. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/23 "2017-09-12T17:04:26Z")
Let’s not forget “cunt”. In American English, it’s just about the worst thing you can call a woman, and you would pretty much never use the term when speaking about a man. In Britain, it seems about as socially unacceptable as calling someone a bitch or a dick in the US-- not fully acceptable for polite company, but used frequently in casual conversation. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/24 "2017-09-12T17:12:15Z")
The British use of “sacked” (U.S. meaning: _fired from a job_) in all registers of English, from the slangiest, most relaxed speech all the way up to the toniest, stuffiest periodicals. In the U.S., “sacked” is uncommon for “fired” … but when “sacked” is so used, it is in very informal speech. “Fired” is a neutral term that nevertheless tends to get replaced with “terminated” in many official registers of written English (e.g. ‘legalese’, employee manuals, etc.). The oddity – from what I’ve experienced, anyway – is that British “sacked” seems to be deemed a fitting word in high-register circumstances where Americans would use “terminated”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/25 "2017-09-12T17:32:00Z")
Be careful if you are ever asked if you want a “regular coffee” in certain parts of New England. That will be with cream and sugar. In Australia, if you order a beer, you be might asked if you want a "schooner’. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/26 "2017-09-12T17:35:40Z")
let’s not forget the Pittsburghese (and some other regions) dropping “to be” out of sentences. it’s jarring the first time you hear or read someone saying “my water heater needs replaced.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/27 "2017-09-12T17:40:36Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > let’s not forget the Pittsburghese (and some other regions) dropping “to be” out of sentences. it’s jarring the first time you hear or read someone saying “my water heater needs replaced.” You-uns need a new water heater? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/28 "2017-09-12T17:50:48Z")
Generally in the US, we form a contraction with the word “have” only when it’s an auxiliary verb. “I’ve been there before.” “I’ve seen that movie.” But we don’t usually (at least IME) contract it when it’s the primary verb. “I have no idea.” “I have a copy of that book.” But I think our British friends frequently do use a contraction in the second case, right? To me, there us something sooo British about a deadpan “I’ve no idea.” ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/29 "2017-09-12T17:54:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You-uns need a new water heater? Close. It would be “Yinz need a new water heater ?” ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/30 "2017-09-12T17:57:15Z")
> [@](#): > > But in the same way, if you’re “at the school”, you might be at a PTA meeting, or helping to decorate the gym for the dance, or picking up your kid, but if you’re “at school”, then you’re a student. Or if you’re “at the church”, then you might be helping to set up for the fish fry, or going over the parish finances, or taking pictures of the statues, but if you’re “at church”, then you’re engaging in worship. Basically, if you include the definite article, then you’re just in a place, but if you omit it, then you’re at that place for purposes of receiving the service that is offered there. It’s curious that Americans kept this distinction for church and school (and I think for a couple of other establishments that I can’t remember), but still dropped if for hospital. We Americans do the same thing with ‘prison’ as well - ‘in the prison’ means physically present at the prison whether as a visitor, guard, or inmate, versus ‘in prison’ means serving a sentence. I think the British thing with ‘hospital’ makes sense, but my campaign to use it here has not been successful. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/31 "2017-09-12T18:01:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Generally in the US, we form a contraction with the word “have” only when it’s an auxiliary verb. “I’ve been there before.” “I’ve seen that movie.” But we don’t usually (at least IME) contract it when it’s the primary verb. “I have no idea.” “I have a copy of that book.” But I think our British friends frequently do use a contraction in the second case, right? To me, there us something sooo British about a deadpan “I’ve no idea.” I have noticed this before as well. Another subtle thing is that in Britain the “have + auxillary” will be used in situation where the simple past would be used in the U.S. For example, “I’ve been to the shops this morning” (BR) versus “I went shopping this morning” (AMER) ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/32 "2017-09-12T18:08:09Z")
There was a TV show about a pawn shop in NY that came out soon after Pawn Stars became a hit called Hardcore Pawn. It was pretty much the opposite of Pawn Stars, kind of “Jerry Springer does pawn” . One quote from the owner, “Experts? We don’t bring in experts, we are the experts”. Fighting would ensue. Anyway, when they plugged something in to see if it worked, they always said, “plug it up”. I have not heard that term before or since. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/33 "2017-09-12T18:10:11Z")
Here in Maine, “ugly” is a temporary condition. We use the word to say someone’s in a foul mood. “The boss is ugly today, stay away.” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/34 "2017-09-12T18:13:43Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > I have noticed this before as well. > > Another subtle thing is that in Britain the “have + **auxillary** ” will be used in situation where the simple past would be used in the U.S. For example, “I’ve been to the shops this morning” (BR) versus “I went shopping this morning” (AMER) Is “auxillary” even a word? I’m proofing a document right now and believe it should obviously be “auxiliary.” Or is this another British/American thing? Doesn’t seem to be… ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/35 "2017-09-12T18:20:26Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Anyway, when they plugged something in to see if it worked, they always said, “plug it up”. I have not heard that term before or since. My first husband used that phrase. He was from Kentucky. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/36 "2017-09-12T18:34:36Z")
I am dating someone for whom English is their second language and I have noticed that she interprets the word “Okay” differently. For me it is a catch all, generally positive answer but for her it means “barely acceptable” and is generally a negative connotation. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/37 "2017-09-12T18:45:09Z")
Various ways to resurrect a “plural you”: You-uns [yunz or yinz], as already noted in Pittsburg area. Yous or Yous guys; New Joisey Y’all --\> All y’all; various parts of the south Any others? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/38 "2017-09-12T18:49:28Z")
Leave you as is and bring back thou/thee/thy/thine for 2nd per. sing. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/39 "2017-09-12T19:12:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > The use of stood, versus standing. > > In North America we don’t use stood: always standing. > > “We were stood at the bar.” > “We were standing at the bar.” Yes, only the second sounds right to my American ears in that usage, but that’s the standard present participle use of the word. We would use “stood” either in the simple past “he stood there for hours” or past perfect “he had stood there for hours.” Is “were stood” really a standard UK construction for “were standing”? To me, it sounds more like something meaning “were placed” rather than the continuous sense of standing somewhere. > [@](#): > > Also, we don’t use the word nearly: always almost. > > “I nearly got hit by a car.” > “I almost got hit by a car.” In my dialect, both are common. Heck, one of the tertiary hits of the grunge era was a song called “I Nearly Lost You.” ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145/40 "2017-09-12T19:22:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Is “auxillary” even a word? I’m proofing a document right now and believe it should obviously be “auxiliary.” You are correct, the work is auxiliary. My misspelling reflects the American pronunciation. I think in Britain the final ‘i’ is pronounced. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-subtle-differences-among-various-dialects-of-english/796145.md?page=3)