How to Write

This is a resource page for Magnificent Seven writers who speak English, but not necessarily "American." It was created by Firefox, KT, and Nancy to help them avoid writing dialogue that our good ol' American boys are never likely to speak, or think thoughts in ways that they would not think them. For example, Ezra telling Vin, "I think I'll remove my jumper before checking under your bonnet." would make perfect sense to a British reader, but (unless Vin and Ezra had a some very serious social issues that most of would prefer not to think about), an American Ezra would never utter such a sentence. Below is a glossary of common words that, although they are, in fact, English, have a different meaning, or no meaning at all, in American English. There are also some helpful hints for writing US-Western dialogue, and, just for the heck of it, a temperature conversion scale (so you can see why Americans chuckle merrily when a non-American writes about the boys dripping with <albeit gloriously sexy> sweat in 34-degree weather). Keep in mind that this is purely for fun. It is not intended to insult or demean any of the many talented Brits, Canadians, Australians or New Zealanders who write M7 fan fic, or those truly amazing souls who are able to write in English as a second language. If you have a word you would like to add, or an American word you would like to have explained, please let your friendly webmaster know. Hints Temperature Conversion Related Links What is a... Western/Southern expressions GLOSSARY (Warning: the naughty words are here, too!) Codes C-Clothing | F-Food | G-General | K-technology | L-Lega M-Medical | P-People | S-Slang | T-Transportation A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z Notes There are 4 columns for each glossary entry. The first column is the British (UK) or Australian (Aus.) word. In the next column is the word Americans would use. Some of these are only close approximations and are denoted (app.). The next column is the category code, to clarify whether we are talking about food, people, etc. The last column will indicate either the word's American meaning, or it will have the annotation (seldom used), meaning that even though Americans would understand it, they would likely not use it in everyday conversation. Words that appear in red and blue are discussed further in the Hints section. British American Code U.S. Meaning 999 911 M A&E ER M popular US cable network (Arts & Entertainment) advert commercial G aerial antenna K airborne aeroplane airplane T pre-WWI aircraft American football football G American muffin muffin F answerphone answering machine K anti-clockwise counter-clockwise G antispetic (Salvon/Detol) peroxide (app.) M arse ass G ATO (Aus.) IRS (Internal Revenue Service) G bank holiday public holiday G bangers sausages F gang members barmaid/barman bartender P barrister lawyer, attorney P L beer mat coaster G bill (restaurant) check, tab G invoice bin trashcan G storage container biro ballpoint, pen G biscuit cookie F savory scone blinkers blinders G turn indicators (auto) bloke guy P S bloody damned, godammed (app.) S covered in blood Blu-tac Sticky Tac G bog toilet, john G wooded swamp bonnet hood T hat, usually for an infant boot trunk T footwear braces suspenders C dental or orthopedic appliances bugger fuck, screw (app.) S term of endearment for something young and small bum butt, ass, tush, fanny, rear S indigent person bungalow cottage (app.) G (seldom used) burk fool P call (train) stop T carpark parking garage T coach express bus T cash point ATM K cashier teller P retail store worker at cash register cat's eyes road reflectors T clear marbles with colored centers chemist pharmacist P laboratory scientist chemist shop drug store, pharmacy G cheque check G chips french fries, fries F crisps cider hard cider F clever clogs/dick wiseguy, smartass P continental quilt quilt G cot (baby) crib G council tax local tax, municipal tax G crash wreck, MVA (police) T L crisps chips, potato chips F crumpet English muffin F cutlery silverware G digestive biscuit wholewheat cracker (app.) F dim dumb, dense S faint, not well lighted dinner jacket tuxedo, tux C (seldom used) Directory Enquiries Information G diversion detour T distraction dog's body gopher G double yellow lines No Parking zone T highway dividers draughts checkers G drawing pin thumbtack G dressing gown robe, bathrobe C negligee type robe worn by women drink driving drunk driving, DUI, DWI L dual carriageway divided highway T dummy pacifier G manikin dunny (Aus.) toilet G dustbin trashcan G dustman sanitation worker, garbage collector P earth (electric) ground K economy (airline) coach T eiderdown comforter G elastoplast band-aid M elevator escalator G lift estate agent realtor P estate car station wagon T excess (insurance) deductible G faff dither G fancy dress party costume party, masquerade party G fanny pack gay (homosexual) sex P a small bag worn on a waist belt fag cigarette G derrogatory term for homosexual male flannel washcloth, facecloth G a type of fabric flat apartment G flyover overpass T ceremonial aircraft maneuver football (UK) soccer G American football football (Aus.) Aussie Rules football G fortnight two weeks G (seldom used) fringe (hair) bangs G fruit machine slot machine G full stop (writing) period G gangbanger swinger P member of a street gang garden yard G specific area for flowers or vegetables gearstick stick shift T (seldom used) girth (saddle) cinch T git jerk, asshole P S Western slang for "go away!" give way yield T glove box glove compartment T gobsmacked stunned G golden syrup pancake syrup F grill broil F cook over open flame guard (on a train) conductor T hand brake parking brake, emergency brake T (seldom used) handbag purse C (seldom used) (on) holiday (on) vacation G refers only to specific days such as Christmas, Easter, etc. hoover vacuum cleaner G slang for "to eat greedily" HP Sauce A1 Steak Sauce F indicators turn signals T Inland Revenue (UK) IRS (Internal Revenue Service) L jacket potato baked potato F jelly Jell-O F preserved fruit condiment jumper sweater C bibbed dress worn only by females kerb curb T kip sleep nap, snooze, siesta (Southwest) G knackered beat, exhausted S knickers in a twist panties(f)/shorts(m) in a bunch S knickers panties C knee-length trousers landlord/landlady proprietor P owner of a rental property lead (for a dog) leash G leg it run for it G (to) let (to) rent G (seldom used) letter box mail box G lift elevator K lollypop lady/man crossing guard P long-sighted far-sighted G loo toilet G lorry truck, semi, tractor-trailer rig T lounge living room G pub, usually with live entertainment manual (auto) stick T (seldom used) mince hamburger, ground beef F mobile cell phone K motorway interstate, freeway (West coast), turnpike (East coast) T multi-story parking garage T mum mom P chrysanthemum nappy diaper C naughts & crosses tic tac toe G neat (drinks) straight F (seldom used) note bills, paper money G number plate license plate, car tag, tags G off licence liquor store G overtake pass G pants underwear, shorts, boxers, jockeys C trousers parcel package G pavement sidewalk T asphalt part of roadway petrol gas T photocopier copy machine, Xerox K (seldom used) physiotherapy physical therapy M pickle relish F preserved vegetable, usually cucumber pillarbox mailbox G pint beer F piss off fuck off S to make angry pissed drunk S extremely annoyed, angry plaster band-aid M platform (train) tracks T passenger waiting area ploughed plowed G polystyrene styrofoam G pork scratchings pork rinds F post mail G (seldom used) postmortem autopsy M (seldom used) post code Zip Code G postman/woman letter carrier, mail man/woman P (seldom used) power point outlet, electric socket K pram baby carriage G prefect (school) hall monitor P property real estate G pub bar G purse wallet, pocketbook C handbag pushchair stroller G pylon high tension tower L queue line, stand in line, line up G railway railroad T rashers bacon F Red Indian Native American, Indian P ring (stove) burner G ring up call, phone K roof (car) top T (seldom used) roof rack luggage rack T roundabout traffic circle, rotary T rubber eraser G condom rump steak sirloin steak F run the bath fill the tub G runner beans string beans F salad cream mayonaise, salad dressing F snags (Aus.) sausages F squash Kool-Aid (app.) F garden vegetable steward/stewardess (airline) flight attendant P (seldom used) sultanas raisins (app.) F surgery doctor's office, clinic G an actual medical procedure, such as the removal of the appendix torch flashlight G flaming stick trainers sneakers, cross-trainers C trolley shopping cart, grocery cart, buggy (South) G street car, tram trousers pants, slacks C tube subway T television tyre tire T underground subway T VAT sales tax G verge lawn edge G vest undershirt C waistcoat waistcoat vest C wanker (Aus.) jerk, idiot, moron P wardrobe closet G weed wimp, wuss P marijuana wellies golashes C whilst while G (seldom used) whinge whine, gripe, bitch S windscreen windshield G windscreen wipers windshield wipers G wing (auto) fender G Yorkshire pudding popover F Z pronounced "zee" T zebra crossing crosswalk T zonked exhausted S Temperature Conversion Scale US (F) UK (C) 0 -18 5 -15 10 -12 15 -9 20 -7 25 -4 30 -1 32 0 34 1 40 4 45 7 50 10 55 13 60 16 65 18 70 21 75 24 80 27 85 31 90 32 95 35 100 38 Related Links British-American Dictionary HINTS FOR WRITING "AMERICAN" Words and phrases probably best avoided: bloody - this word does not convey the same impact in American English, where it literally means "covered with blood" and is not a profanity. boy - Most African-American males (even children) take offense to being called 'boy' and even their friends would be unlikely to address them this way. dick - slang term for penis fag - very derrogatory term for a male homosexual. An extreme insult. jumper - a bibbed dress worn by females only. knock up - In the UK, this means to pay a call on, to visit, but in the US, it means to make a woman pregnant! rubber - condom stone - this word is never used in American English to mean a unit of weight. whinge - this word does not exist in American English; use whine, gripe or bitch instead brilliant - In American English, this word refers to intelligence, or intensely bright light. Writing that, "The food at the restaurant was brilliant!" for example, will leave most Americans baffled (or wondering if you ate a genius or a light bulb!). Words Americans mispronounce or use incorrectly: ask - It is unfortunately very common for Americans to pronounce this word as "aks" or "ax." ESL writers should be aware that this is never correct. The word should be spelled 'ask' when writing, even if you have heard it spoken differently. should of, would of, could of, must of - These phrases are incorrect. What sounds like the word "of" is actually the contraction of the word "have." It should be should've, would've, could've must've. Many Americans make this error both when speaking and writing. had went - This verb conjugation is often used by people living in the Southeastern US. It's okay to use in dialect, but the correct conjugation of the verb is either went or had gone. Examples: Correct: Vin went back to town after following Ella Gaines. Correct: JD had gone to the Seminole village ahead of the others. Incorrect: Chris had went to the Clarion to confront Mary. then and than - These words are not interchangeable, even though many American writers don't know the difference between them. "Then" refers to a moment in time. "Than" is a comparison word: greater than, more than, less than, fewer than, etc. If you can replace the word with the phrase "at that time" and the sentence still makes reasonable sense, the word you want is THEN. If you are comparing two things or people, you want to use THAN. Examples: Correct: Vin is taller than Ezra. Correct: Buck grabbed JD's gun, then told him not to fan it. Incorrect: Vin is a better tracker then the others. Incorrect: Ezra than shot the center out of the card. Expressions "in hospital" "to hospital" - Americans would say "in the hospital" or "to the hospital" "on about" - Anericans would say "going on about" "ranting about" "bitching about" "taking the mick" - In the US, it would be "pulling your leg", "bullshitting" "to the shops" - Americans say "to the store" or "shopping" "you lot" - When informally addressing a group, Americans would say "you guys" or "you people" or, in the South/Southwest, "you all (y'all)." Spelling Western US Slang ya / yer - ya means "you" and never, ever should be used for "your" or "you're"; use 'yer' if the word you mean has an 'r' in it. (They are not interchangeable, and mixing them up has the same effect on many US readers as fingernails on a blackboard.) goin', livin', havin' etc - dropping the g from the end of verbs is common in US pronunciation, but only with words having more than one syllable. shoulda, woulda, coulda, musta, etc. - the a is a substitute for have or 've Only New Englanders and occasionally Southerners drop the "r" from words such as better, letter, brother, etc. People in the Southwest almost never drop "r"s, so Josiah would not write a "letta" but Ezra might have a discussion with "Mista" Tanner. "I's" is not a contraction commonly used by adults, although it is seen a lot in M7 fan fic for some reason, and even US writers use it. The boys would be more likely to say "I'm" or "I'll" but, if "I's" is used, remember that it is a contraction for "I is" and therefore, there is no "e" in it. Words that end in "our" in all other English-speaking countries, such as neighbour, colour, honour, harbour, etc., are spelled with out the "u" in American English (neighbor, color, honor, harbor). However, most US readers are aware of this, so it's not a jarring experience for them like the ya/yer thing! Commonly accepted spellings for Western dialect: ain't - am not, are not cain't - cannot done gone - has gone fixin' - preparing to, about to gimme - give me gonna - going to gotta - got to, must, need to if'n - can mean either 'if' or 'if not' <go figure!> ya - you y'all - you all ya'll - you will yeah - yes yer - your, you're yerself - yourself Those Blue Words... antiseptics: Americans are fond of pain. 'If it doesn't hurt, it must not work,' is an accepted philosophy. Peroxide and alcohol are commonly used to disinfect injuries. arse: only Americans with an infatuation for Sean Connery will use this word. "ass" is far more common. bank holidays: Most holidays in the US are planned so that they fall on a Monday, hence the term "3-day-weekend" or "holiday week-end." The exceptions are 4th of July (for obvious reasons), Thanksgiving (which is always the 4th Thursday in November). Christmas and New Year's Day. cider: is sold in the US in both alcholic and non-alcoholic forms. Alcoholic cider is usually called 'hard cider'. conductors: are found only on trains in the U.S., never on buses rotary: is a term used almost exclusively in the New England states for a roundabout. Everywhere else, they are called traffic circles. These are rarely seen in the southwest, where many cities were planned with automobile traffic in mind. popovers: (Yorkshire pudding) is almost never seen on a menu outside of New England, so many Americans are not familiar with them.

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