On Saturday, 23 January 2016 14:09:49 UTC, Basil Jet wrote:

Although "alternate" is used in America as an, er, alternative to
alternative, here in Britain "alternate route" implies that you should
use one route the first, third and fifth times and use the other the
second, fourth and sixth times.

Yes, very well spotted. You are right.

"Offramp" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 23 January 2016 14:09:49 UTC, Basil Jet wrote:

Although "alternate" is used in America as an, er, alternative to
alternative, here in Britain "alternate route" implies that you should
use one route the first, third and fifth times and use the other the
second, fourth and sixth times.

Yes, very well spotted. You are right.

I got it

but only because I couldn't see anything else wrong and I thought it a bit
picky

On 2016\01\24 11:36, tim..... wrote:

"Offramp" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 23 January 2016 14:09:49 UTC, Basil Jet wrote:

Although "alternate" is used in America as an, er, alternative to
alternative, here in Britain "alternate route" implies that you should
use one route the first, third and fifth times and use the other the
second, fourth and sixth times.

Yes, very well spotted. You are right.

I got it

but only because I couldn't see anything else wrong and I thought it a
bit picky

Same here. I wouldn't see anything wrong if I saw the sign in real life.
Internet use makes it impossible to keep British English and American
English distinct in my head.

In article , (Basil Jet)
wrote:

Internet use makes it impossible to keep British English and
American English distinct in my head.

That problem has been around since the rise of Hollywood.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

In message , at 11:45:50 on Sun, 24 Jan
2016, Basil Jet remarked:

Internet use makes it impossible to keep British English and American
English distinct in my head.

Here's one I heard the other day in a transport context:

Q: Do you mind if I drive your car
A: Yes (and an implied 'so go ahead')

Whereas in British English it would probably mean "yes I do mind, please
don't even think about sitting in the driving seat".
--
Roland Perry

One that REALLY annoys me is customers in shops saying, "Can I get...[etc]?"

On Sun, 24 Jan 2016 08:06:28 -0800 (PST), Offramp
wrote:

One that REALLY annoys me is customers in shops saying, "Can I get...[etc]?"

Almost as bad as "Have got" when "Have" is sufficient.

Here is another odd Americanism:

Q: Have you got a pencil sharpener?

A: No, I don't.

Why? Why change the verb?

"Offramp" wrote in message
...
One that REALLY annoys me is customers in shops saying, "Can I
get...[etc]?"

I really REALLY REALLY hate people saying "enjoy" as they put a plate of
food in front of me

tim

On Sunday, 24 January 2016 17:47:08 UTC, tim..... wrote:

I really REALLY REALLY hate people saying "enjoy" as they put a plate of
food in front of me

That gets on my thingies as well! I was brought up to know that the sortest sentence in the Bible was "Jesus wept". Not, "Take this all of you. ENJOY!"