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Rayman55 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

While or whilst

Hi,

Which is better in the following sentence?

You can minimise delays while/whilst saving money.

Thanks
  

Top answer

The two words have identical meaning. "Whilst" is old-fashioned and poetic. "While" is contemporary and used in business English and conversation.

— AlpheccaStars

  • The two words have identical meaning.
  • "Whilst" is old-fashioned and poetic.
  • "While" is contemporary and used in business English and conversation.
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5 Answers
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The two words have identical meaning. "Whilst" is old-fashioned and poetic. "While" is contemporary and used in business English and conversation.
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'Whilst' is alive and well in contemporary BrE.

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Rover_KE'Whilst' is alive and well in contemporary BrE.
OK,, I was giving the American version.
But under what circumstances would a Brit choose "whilst" over "while?"
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I think I probably use 'whilst' more than 'while', but for no particular reason.
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The Oxford Dictionary claims that in British usage, while is preferred over whilst when it means whereas, i.e., in contrasts. Otherwise, i.e., with temporal meaning, whilst and while are completely interchangeable.

Proposition 1 is true [while / whereas] proposition 2 is false.

That's the only place I've seen that distinction made.
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