English Study Thread - Polish your forums communication skills!

[blai]

Basically, while is a word that functions both as a noun and as a subordinating conjunction (ex. I ate a while before you got here / I ate while you were on your way here). Whilst is a conjunction that's a synonymous to while mostly/purely used in British and Australian English and it shouldn't be used as a noun. In terms of conjunctions whilst is the more formal of the two synonyms and quite frankly isn't used much at all. Kind of like your vs thy but not really.

[Adorien]

Thanks, Adam! 'Whilst' really sounds more formal.

[Doraku]

I was wondering these days, is there a difference between "while" and "whilst" and if there is, when is each of them used?

I don't think there is any differences between them, except "whilst" is an old English words and "while" is the modern one.

[blai]

^ and the fact that you can't use whilst as a noun. ex. "I ate a while before you got here / I ate a whilst before you got here"

So yeah, it's used in British, it's an older (like thy) word and it can't be used as a noun.

[Adorien]

Okay, got it. Thanks for explaining!