Ameripicking

[snick_backup]

I was reading along in my latest issue of Mighty Avengers, and suddenly I sat up and said, "Huh, I did not this author was British." I looked him up, and lo he was. I got clued in because he used one of those tricky phrases that I think doesn't get included in the sweater/jumper list of American and British English differences.

So, here are three phrasings that always tell me that an author isn't American and which I wouldn't expect from an American character (generally speaking; I assume there are regional differences, but these have all been faithful indicators for me in the past as to authorship):

1. Using 'meant to' where I would use 'supposed to.' I usually interpret 'meant to' as being about, say, purpose or life meaning or someone's (say a parent's or God's) intentions for someone else. 'Supposed to' is much more immediate and includes expectations one puts on oneself.

Good example: Vivian always knew she was meant to work with kids.

Bad example: We're meant to be unpacking our stuff, but it's kind of turned into a housewarming.

Fixed example: We're supposed to be unpacking our stuff, but it's kind of turned into a housewarming.

2. 'Different to.' This FAQ breaks down the UK/US usage. Basically, US speakers never say 'different to,' ever. I would instead use 'different from' (which is apparently fairly standard worldwide) or 'different than' (which is more of an American-specific usage).

3. Singular/plural usage of collective nouns. I actually don't see non-American writers use this for American characters, so maybe everyone already knows about it, but I think it's cool, so I'm going to tell you about it anyway. Basically, American English always uses collective nouns (ex: family, team) as singular and British English sometimes uses them as plural, if the context treats the difference members as indivduals.

British English: The company are braced for lay-offs.

American English: The company is braced for lay-offs.

(I am not totally confident of my British English example there; someone tell me if it sounds ridiculous.)

Crossposted from Dreamwidth. Comment here or there. ( DW replies)

Comments

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Also, would you punctuate the quote marks in this paragraph in the same way as I have? Now I'm curious

Now I'm curious what you mean by that! I'm staring at your paragraph and don't see anything strange about the quote marks.

[morbane.livejournal.com]

Some style guides I've seen in the past have suggested that American readers would have written,

I can't stand "different than."

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

Most of us americans would write it I can't stand "different than."

[morbane.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's useful to have confirmed.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Most of us americans would write it I can't stand "different than."

With the final quote marks outside the punctionation? I'm an american who is really lousy when it comes to rules of grammar but isn't the punctionation supposed to be OUTside?

[snickfic]

For Americans, yes. That's how our textbooks teach it.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thank you for confirming that!

[morbane.livejournal.com]

So everybody writes,

Here's an example of someone pulling out a "key phrase".

?

[snickfic]

No, I wouldn't punctuate it like that. I'd put the period inside the quotation marks. The only things I can think of that I'd put outside the quotation marks would be question marks or exclamation points as appropriate, or sometimes I semi-colon, like so:

She said, "I'll die if I go with you"; I didn't believe her.

[morbane.livejournal.com]

Neat, thanks.