Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Grammar Girl, Grammar Girl's, QDnow, and Quick and Dirty Tips are all trademarks of Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Today's topic is "although" versus "while." Omorose Panya grammar Interesting podcast. I agree that, though (mostly) interchangeable, "while" and "although" should be discerned. In other news I used to wonder whether there is a difference between "among" and "amongst". Since there is non between "while" and "whilst," I assume the same rule applies, yes? http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=18511#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=18511#Comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:24:00 GMT njw grammar I was taught in journalism school to avoid other uses of the "temporal" conjunctions to avoid confusion. Thus, "while" should be reserved for simultaneity ("While my kids finished dinner, I emptied the dishwasher.")Likewise, "since" should be used to indicate the passage of time ("Since you've been gone, I've been miserable.") and NOT as a synonym for "because." Similarly "As" should also not be used as a synonym for "because." I am rather ruthless about enforcing these rules as a professional editor--I believe when you have a choice between two words that fit and one has only that specific meaning (there is no other meaning for "although" or "because" so their use creates no possible confusion) and the other has multiple meanings, ALWAYS choose the word with the single meaning. Precision. It works for me. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=17952#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=17952#Comments Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:20:08 GMT Christina grammar Sigh. I feel the same way about "since" and "because." My other cheek is getting a lot of sun these days. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=16857#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=16857#Comments Tue, 05 May 2009 18:07:24 GMT dewwop grammar what is the word that describes the sentence you are writing? is there a word for that? please email http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=16318#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=16318#Comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:10:01 GMT Mike grammar I always thought that the word "whilst" definitely implied a comparison, whereas the world "while" was more to suggest a time component...............? Eg, "Whilst Grammar Girl is friendly and informative while giving advice, the Headmaster tends to be more pedantic". http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=13885#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=13885#Comments Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:17:19 GMT giezelle grammar Go Aideen O'Brien! I refuse to believe that "while" and "whilst" are completely synonymous! Check their roots; they surely came about for some reason! Go Aideen with the explanation and examples! Though not corroborated, I think you're pointed in the right direction at the very least! Check it out whilst supplies last! %P http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=13436#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=13436#Comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:02:54 GMT Kristin grammar Grammar Girl: If it really makes you gnash your teeth together when you see "while" in place of "although," consider this sentence: "While I don't like to see typos, I understand that they happen." This sentence could easily be rewritten with "while's" meaning, "at the same time." e.g., "I don't like to see typos; at the same time, I understand that they happen." I hear you, though. When people don't use grammar the same way I do, it makes me want to strike out at them verbally. I can't help it; I'm a grammar snob. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=12075#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=12075#Comments Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:23:12 GMT Aideen O'Brien grammar I agree that whilst is not used in the US and so while can be used anywhere that a British person uses whilst. However, it does not follow that whilst can be used anywhere that while can be used. For example, I recently read a sign in a store which detailed a special offer saying "whilst stocks last". That seemed completely incorrect to me. I looked around on the internet, and the following is the best definition of the correct usage of whilst that I've seen: As a rule of thumb, whilst is used when the verb that follows is a form of 'to be', as in "whilst I'm ... ", "whilst he was". I would take it further though and say that it can be applied anywhere where you are attributing the word to a person or active action e.g. "whilst I agree with x, I don't agree with y", "can you wait here whilst I go to buy the tickets". "Whilst stocks last" is describing a condition, not an action/person, which is why I disagree with its use. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=11739#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=11739#Comments Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:05:29 GMT Bippy grammar How about the "aarvdark" typo? I think I like to say it better that way :) (up there with the paragraph starting "My only vindication..."). http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=11541#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=11541#Comments Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:00:05 GMT bekky grammar I am addicted to this website. As a freelance writer and copywriter I cannot afford to make mistakes; and everyone needs a little bootcamp once in a while. Keep up the good work! Bekky http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=1781#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx?commentid=1781#Comments Thu, 23 Aug 2007 01:34:59 GMT Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:24:00 GMT http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/although-versus-while.aspx feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Managing Editor) feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Webmaster) en-us