round/around

Question

travel round/around the worldAre both the choices correct? What is the difference? It seems to me that in british english and American English "round" is used differently. I'd appreciate your help.

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

round - BrE
around - AmE

BruceInUK · Answer

I agree that "round" is often used as a preposition in British English, but this is nonetheless incorrect. The word "around" is a preposition, but "round" is an adjective (or it can be a noun, e.g. a round of golf or a round of voting). It should never be used as a preposition.

For example, the following sentence shows correct usages of both words:

The knights of the round table were seated around the table.

Milky · Answer

Where does it say that it should never be used as a preposition? "Round",when used as a preposition, is simply "around" with the "a" dropped. It has got nothing to do with the adjective "round".

I, and a few million others, use it that way all the time:

round (DIRECTION) MAINLY UK http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?dict=CALD&key=68764&ph=on
preposition, adverb (US USUALLY around)
in a particular direction:
The garden is round the back (of the house).
I used to live round (= near) here when I was a child.
You must come round (to my house) sometime soon.
UK NOT STANDARD We're going round (= to) the pub for a quick drink.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=68764&dict=CALD

round (AROUND) MAINLY UK http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?dict=CALD&key=68752&ph=on
preposition, adverb (US USUALLY around)
in a circular direction or position; around:
The Moon goes round the Earth.
We ran round (the outside of the house) to the back, looking for the dog.
The idea has been going round and round in my head all day (= I can't stop thinking about it).
When one engine stopped, we had to turn round (= turn to face the opposite direction) and fly home.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=68752&dict=CALD

BruceInUK · Answer

I would say it's acceptable in spoken English, but personally I'm not keen on using "round" as a preposition in written English. Although I'm British, I prefer the American usage of "around".  But if dictionaries say it's OK to use "round" in place of "around", fair enough.

Milky · Answer

<I would say it's acceptable in spoken English, but personally I'm not keen on using "round" as a preposition in written English. >

"I'm not keen on" is along way from "It should never be used as a preposition." One should take care with one's words when giving advice to students - lest one cares to risk being labelled a prescriptivist.

And one may be suprised to learn that the BNC gives these scores out of 1 million words:

http://view.byu.edu/x3.asp?s=n&w4=round&c4=&w5=Here&c5= 572

http://view.byu.edu/x3.asp?s=n&w4=around&c4=&w5=Here&c5= 355

round/around

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