User talk:Mclay1/Britishisms

Latest comment: 10 years ago by Radiopathy in topic Block of flats

Elk

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I found your page extremely interesting and useful: I added the distinction between elk (BE) and moose (AE) along with the distinction between wapiti(BE) and elk (AE). Hope you don't mind, greetings from Italy.

Thank you. I didn't know those two. Always happy if someone decides to add something (although you are the first), especially if it's formatted correctly like your addition. McLerristarr | Mclay1 03:37, 13 December 2010 (UTC)Reply

Breeze Block

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Interesting and useful list, thanks. I was surprised to find "breeze block" as a synonym of the American "cinder block." I grew up calling them all Besser blocks, though I know that's a brand-name. However, to me, a Breeze Block was a ventilated type of Besser Block, used for privacy walls, landscaping, etc. It was the same overall size as other Besser Blocks, but didn't have a vertical hollow. Instead it had a pattern of horizontal slots going through, to allow the breeze through. They are useful when enclosing the understorey of a high-set house, like when renovating a typical Queenslander. Now I've looked at various resources on the internet, and they all agree that Breeze Block is the British equivalent term for the American Cinder Block. I find it a little amusing that Breeze should be a synonym for Ash. Something to do with the quality of air during the industrial revolution in Britain, perhaps? PS have you considered adding an Australian English column to your table? In some cases we use the British, sometimes the American option, and sometimes we have yet another term. "Pij" (talk) 23:15, 2 July 2011 (UTC)Reply

Yes, I will add an Australian column at some point. I took most of this list from a similar list on Oxford Dictionaries Online. There's no Australian column in their list so I'd have to use my own general knowledge and research when I do mine. I would be interesting though to see if their are more British or American terms in Australia. McLerristarr | Mclay1 11:23, 6 July 2011 (UTC)Reply

Block of flats

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"Block of flats" translates to "apartment building" in Americanese. Some apartments are condominiums, but most are for rent, like flats. Radiopathy •talk• 15:49, 15 February 2014 (UTC)Reply