U.K. friends, how common is "whilst" in everyday speech? I'm editing a manuscript that takes place in Scotland (though the characters are from England), and I've been marking all instances of "whilst" because it seems so formal and foreign to my American ear.

Is someone born and raised in England more likely to say: "I wish we could have paid you more whilst we were gone," or "while you we were gone"?

Thanks in advance for your insight!

 

'Whilst' is very common and in ordinary use, not at all formal, though 'while' is several* times more common. That's going by British texts overall. There may be regions where 'whilst' is more common.

* Ten times more common: I had misremembered; I thought it was about six or seven.

 

I don't think I've ever said or written "whilst" in my whole life.

For me, it's literary/poetic/old-fashioned.

 

I use whilst... and while... (and I am not at all old-fashioned, although I do not like modern beat-combos with their long-haired crooners.)

 

Panj said in a previous thread that whilst is common in Northern Ireland: click. It may well be common in Scotland too.

 

I'm not Scottish either...

 

Nor me, and I also use whilst on occasion. I only mentioned Scotland because that's where carolinaque's manuscript is set.

 

In the North, 'while' can mean "until", so they have a reason for prefering 'whilst' for the other meaning.

I must admit I don't say 'whilst' myself, but it seems to be quite ordinary in the writing I see.

 

I'm not sure whether I use "whilst" in speech: Does anyone have any recordings of me? If I do use "whilst", I'm sure it will only be "on occasion", to use Loob's expression, and that "while" dominates.

 

There is a story, maybe apocryphal, of a level-crossing in Hull which had the notice "Do not cross while the bells are ringing." And the locals all waited obediently until the bells rang - and then crossed...

 

Though Paul's story, which I've heard from many other people, may be apocryphal, I did once hear a chap in Sheffield use "while" in the sense of "until", so yes, he probably preferred "whilst" for the other meaning.

 

Thank you all! I think I'll let her have "whilst." Sounds like she has her reasons.

Also: very interesting to know that "while"* can also be used for "until."

*Edit! I used "whilst" but meant "while."

 

I did live in Hull for some years and while for until was the way in which it was always expressed:
"Wait while I come before you do that."
"You will have to wait while Christmas if you want one of those.", etc.

 

I don't think any of us has said that, carolinaque. We've said that "while" can mean "until" in the North of England.

 

You're right! Working too quickly. I've edited my comment to reflect this.

 

Interesting comments on BE and AE usage (or not) of the word here:

While or whilst? | OxfordWords blog

 

Compare among / amongst