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"'''While'''" is a word in the [[English language]] that functions both as a [[Noun|noun]] and as a [[Grammatical conjunction|subordinating conjunction]]. Its meaning varies largely based on its intended function, position in the phrase and even the writer or speaker's [[Dialect|regional dialect]]. With exception to its form as a noun, it is completely [[Synonym|synonymous]] with the word "'''whilst'''". |
"'''While'''" is a word in the [[English language]] that functions both as a [[Noun|noun]] and as a [[Grammatical conjunction|subordinating conjunction]]. Its meaning varies largely based on its intended function, position in the phrase and even the writer or speaker's [[Dialect|regional dialect]]. With exception to its form as a noun, it is completely [[Synonym|synonymous]] with the word "'''whilst'''". |
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Revision as of 20:51, 23 August 2010
 | This article appears to be a dictionary definition. |
"While" is a word in the English language that functions both as a noun and as a subordinating conjunction. Its meaning varies largely based on its intended function, position in the phrase and even the writer or speaker's regional dialect. With exception to its form as a noun, it is completely synonymous with the word "whilst".
Usage
Noun
A while and awhile are often confused due to the nature that while is often accompanied by the indefinite article. The main difference is that a while means "an amount of time" or "some duration" whereas awhile is an adverb meaning "for some amount of time" or "for some duration".[1]
- "I slept for a while before dinner."
- "I slept awhile before dinner."
Both of these sentences yield the same effective meaning. Whilst does not operate in this context and its usage would be incorrect.
Conjunction
The primary function of the word as a conjunction is to indicate that two separate clauses occur at the same time.
- "The days were hot while we were on vacation."
- "I read a magazine whilst I was waiting."
While can also be legitimately used in the contrastive sense, comparable to the words "although" or "whereas", provided that it is not ambiguous (although some commentators, such as Eric Partridge, have frowned upon such use):
- "While I like cats, my husband is allergic."
- "While Sally plays, Sue works."
The latter sentence can mean either "during the time that Sally plays, Sue works" or "although Sally plays, Sue works" and is thus ambiguous.
Fowler's Modern English Usage disapproves of several uses of the conjunctive while. At times it is inappropriately used as a coordinating conjunction: "and" or "but" should be used instead. Its usage as "elegant variation" is also discouraged, as it is masquerading as a "formal word".[2]
In some northern British dialects of English, while is translated into standard English as "until".[3]
While and Whilst
In standard British English and Australian English, whilst is synonymous with while in meaning and usage. In American English and Canadian English, whilst can be considered pretentious or archaic.[4][5]
Some publications on both sides of the Atlantic disapprove of whilst in their style guides (along with "amidst" and "amongst"); for example:
- Times Online Style Guide: "while (not whilst)"[6]
- Guardian Style Guide: "while not whilst"[7]
- Hansard: the Canadian Parliament record: "while not whilst"[8]
The American Heritage Guide writes that, "while using whilst runs the risk of sounding pretentious, it can sometimes add a literary or ironically formal note to a piece of writing."[9]
Notably, there are no style guides that explicitly recommend the usage of whilst over while in any circumstance. The general consensus among scholars of English is that whilst is an unnecessary and archaic word whose primary usage is by Britons who prefer what they perceive as a more "noble" word. Its etymology derives from the early English whiles and, simply put, while is the word that has replaced whilst in modern English[4], just as "thee" and "thou" were replaced by "you".
See also
References
- ^ http://www.dailywritingtips.com/a-while-vs-awhile/
- ^ "while": Fowler's Modern English Usage, Second Edition, ed. Sir Ernest Gowers 1965 and 1983, and Pocket Fowler's Modern English Usage. Ed. Robert Allen. Oxford University Press, 1999
- ^ while until – indexes p. 142, Basic Broad Yorkshire by Arnold Kellet, ISBN 1-870071-82-4. Smith Settle Ltd., 2001
- ^ a b http://www.articlesbase.com/languages-articles/english-usage-whilst-or-while-795377.html
- ^ Strunk, W., and White, E.B. The Elements of Style. 4th ed. 2000. Allyn & Bacon, Boston. Pg. 63-64.
- ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2941-583,00.html
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide/page/0,5817,184822,00.html
- ^ http://www.hansard.ca/styleguide.pdf
- ^ Houghton Mifflin Company (2005). The American Heritage guide to contemporary usage and style. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,. p. 503. ISBN 0618604995.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)