UNTIL

[Colswann1]

If in doubt whether to use while or whilst, wouldn't until fit both?

Any more helpful hints to avoid those pitfalls?

[lish1936]

Colin, I'm not a grammarian or particularly knowledgeable, but here's my take. "Whilst" is probably used more in England than in the U.S., and may be considered out of date.

Also, I don't think "while" has the same meaning as until; at least not according to their respective definitions.

While (def.) During or throughout a specific time
Until (def.) Up to a specific time

Just an opinion.

[Colswann1]

Also, I don't think "while" has the same meaning as until; at least not according to their respective definitions.

Hold out there while I catch you up. Hold out there until I catch you up.

Lish hadn't you got an hint or two?

Maybe we just need a new English teacher in here, now that we've lost Jan and her grammar mate, who both left us at the same time.

[lish1936]

Also, I don't think "while" has the same meaning as until; at least not according to their respective definitions.

Hold out there while I catch you up. Hold out there until I catch you up.

Lish hadn't you got an hint or two?

Maybe we just need a new English teacher in here, now that we've lost Jan and her grammar mate, who both left us at the same time.

Colin,
Even though they are "twins" in the grammar family (conjunctive adverbs), there is a subtle nuance in definition that I think makes the difference.

For me "hold out while" connotes wait while the subject is doing. Wait time is uncertain - open-ended

"hold out until" " connotes wait until the subject is finished doing. Wait time is more specific.

Could be a distinction without a difference, but maybe Steve could shed more light on this.
Yes, I do miss Ann and Jan.

Lillian

[Come forth]

Not a grammar expert, but I do see a difference between while and until.

'I will do something until you stop talking' is different to 'I will do something while you stop talking'

The action of the speaker and hearer is different in each case. In the first case, if the 'talker' stops
so does the 'doer'; in the second case the 'doer' can only do if the 'talker' stops.

Probably clear as mud but I hope helps until/while someone comes up with something else. (Pun intended).

But again a subtle difference exists. 'Until' someone comes up with something else could be a long wait as it implies a possible period of inactivity followed by a serendipity after the wait, whereas 'while' implies that someone is actually working on coming up with something else during the wait.

Blessings, Graham.

[Sparrow]

I'm an editor also, and I believe Lish is right that the only difference between while and whilst are that whilst is archaic and while is the newer version.

I agree that until and while have different meanings. There are times you could use either and still make sense, like "wait until I figure out where it is" or "wait while I figure out where it is."

But there are other times it wouldn't work to substitute:
Vacuum the carpet while you wait for me.
You can read while I'm driving.
Don't move until I get there.
We can't go until I find the keys.

[Shann]

There would be times when you could use during as a sub for while. Ex While I'm at my appointment you can read. Or You can read during my appointment.

I have my thesaurus bookmarked. It's a great one because with one click, I can switch to the dictionary. Here is the link: http://m.dictionary.com/t/?q=while&subm ... CHT=Search

It does have whilst as a synonym. The three definitions are as long as, even though, (conjunctions) and time interval as a noun. It also has synonym s for each definition.

And I think the UK spellings lean to whilst, they also tend to use other words that end with t like dreamt instead of dream. Some people not familiar with the UK spellings will think things like colour and behaviour are typos, but I think it's good to not "Americanize" your writing, unless you are writing exclusively to a US audience. It's good to broaden one's horizons.

Oh and personally I think whilst sounds more romantic.

[glorybee]

I agree with these answers, with one clarification: "dreamt" is not the UK version of "dream", but of "dreamed" (although I believe you might find "dreamed" used there, too).

Editors and critiquers should, as mentioned here, be very aware of differences in UK writing. I hurt someone's feelings without indending to by "correcting" a UK spelling. It wasn't a common word--I'm usually pretty good at those--and I was entirely in the wrong.

When I was actually IN England, I found the spoken language far more different than I'd anticipated; I was very intimidated! In Australia, I felt more at home, language-wise.

[Shann]

You're absolutely correct I meant to say dreamed and wonder if my tablet word thingy changed it because I remember needing to retype things because it kept changing them.