The joys and differences between US/CAN spelling...

[trailmix 77]

When you're in a restaurant and want to pay at the end of your meal, do you ask the waiter for your bill, or ask him for your check?

In Canada I always used to ask for the bill. Here I ask for the check.

It is always bill. I don't even understand asking for a 'check'? It makes no sense does it?

[JillA 2]

When you're in a restaurant and want to pay at the end of your meal, do you ask the waiter for your bill, or ask him for your check?

In Canada I always used to ask for the bill. Here I ask for the check.

It is always bill. I don't even understand asking for a 'check'? It makes no sense does it?

I say cheque too... Not the type of cheque you cash, it's a different type of cheque

[TimandJoyce 1]

Washroom vs restroom, my hunnie says " I am going to the restroom." And I always reply "are you planning on taking a nap in there?"

Oh yes!! It's so funny!! I told Tim that you actually see it spelled up here!

The one he caught me on was the difference between BBQ and grill. Here, we just say BBQ. "Come on over for a BBQ!!" Simply put; we're burning hamburgers outside!! He was real curious when my sister was going to BBQ the salmon we caught. Then after dinner he says..."ohhhhh you meant GRILL the salmon!!" I blinked at him..."yes..what did you think?" He says...it's only BBQ when you put BBQ SAUCE on it!!!! Oh...silly me...of course!!

*shrugs*..I've so much to learn....

[trailmix 77]

When you're in a restaurant and want to pay at the end of your meal, do you ask the waiter for your bill, or ask him for your check?

In Canada I always used to ask for the bill. Here I ask for the check.

It is always bill. I don't even understand asking for a 'check'? It makes no sense does it?

I say cheque too... Not the type of cheque you cash, it's a different type of cheque

Yeah, I was just using uscan's spelling - I mean that is what they are asking for - the cheque - still makes no sense

[Texanadian 10]

And the one word I can't get over is 'check' which I always saw as 'cheque'.

I was flying to Texas back in our dating stage many years ago. I drove to Seattle. Grabbed a hotel there that would let me park my car for free in their parking lot. And then they would shuttle me to and from the airport. All I needed was to stay for one night in their hotel ($89). It was nice because you could get a good night's sleep and not worry about your car. Lots of time to get to the airport.

Well after sleeping for the night, I got up and went down the street to an IHOP. I mused that they really are an international house of pancakes after all, since I'd been to them in Canada too. As I walked in the door there was a sign that said "no checks." I chuckled to myself in silent laughter wondering what the heck anybody would want to check. It never dawned on me that they meant cheque.

When you're in a restaurant and want to pay at the end of your meal, do you ask the waiter for your bill, or ask him for your check?

In Canada I always used to ask for the bill. Here I ask for the check.

Wife calls that a "ticket." And the stickers that go on license plates or windows she calls "tags." It was confusing. When she would say I need a tag, I thought she meant paperwork.

[Sam and Ben 2]

Washroom vs restroom, my hunnie says " I am going to the restroom." And I always reply "are you planning on taking a nap in there?"

Haha, Ben and his brother and I argue over this constantly!

As far as I'm concerned restroom makes far less sense than washroom... and yet they constantly pick on me when I say "Do you guys know where the washroom is?" I wasn't even aware that was a Canadian thing... I thought it was as interchangeable as bathroom or restroom. Apparently not.

End of the meal, I ask for the bill or tab. Usually bill, now that I think about it. Cheque is something I use as payment, not something I pay...

Tag is sticker on a plate, label, etc.

(Speaking of license plates, it bothered me so greatly that vehicles in FL are only required, by law, to have a plate on the back. Everytime we went out, hubby-to-be would roll his eyes when I began to rant about how we HAVE to have both front and back here... Odd, yes, heh, but nonetheless, bothersome...)

And I don't think I have an altogether Canadian accent or anything else like that. Outside of "eh", I think you'd only notice in my actual typing that I'm very much not American (yet!). And then, of course, to see an "eh" typed out is rather rare.

[scandal 951]

When you're in a restaurant and want to pay at the end of your meal, do you ask the waiter for your bill, or ask him for your check?

In Canada I always used to ask for the bill. Here I ask for the check.

It is always bill. I don't even understand asking for a 'check'? It makes no sense does it?

I say cheque too... Not the type of cheque you cash, it's a different type of cheque

Yeah, I was just using uscan's spelling - I mean that is what they are asking for - the cheque - still makes no sense

I'm not saying it makes sense... I'm just saying it's in common usage in the US, and I have found myself adopting it too.

From http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/pick+up+the+tab -

pick up the tab and pick up the check

to pay the bill. Whenever we go out, my father picks up the tab. Order whatever you want. The company is picking up the check.

Regarding accents, I never thought I had a detectable Canadian accent either, but I've been stopped several times by Americans who ask me "You're from Canada, right?" I'm told it's the "out and about" that gives it away. I don't discern it myself, but clearly people can pick it out of my speech even years after I've left Canada.

Here's a discussion of the whole out and about thing...

http://www.antimoon.com/forum/2002/252.htm

[Texanadian 10]

Front license plates.....the bain of my existence. I hate 'em.

Every surrounding state in Texas doesn't have them. NM, OK, LA, AR....none of them have front plates. Looks so much nicer when you cross state lines and see clean front ends. At least Texas has the best window tint laws.

I had to run a plate when I lived in BC too. Well at least I was supposed to. My Texas front plate is hanging up on the wall in the spare bedroom next to my old BC plate. It didn't help that my friends in Alberta would gloat about not having to have a front plate.

Front plates flat out suck.

[scandal 951]

Front license plates.....the bain of my existence. I hate 'em.

Every surrounding state in Texas doesn't have them. NM, OK, LA, AR....none of them have front plates. Looks so much nicer when you cross state lines and see clean front ends. At least Texas has the best window tint laws.

I had to run a plate when I lived in BC too. Well at least I was supposed to. My Texas front plate is hanging up on the wall in the spare bedroom next to my old BC plate. It didn't help that my friends in Alberta would gloat about not having to have a front plate.

Front plates flat out suck.

Ontario has front plates. As far as I can recall, Quebec does not.

Illinois does.

[Sprailenes 47]

I don't say bill or cheque I just say: "Give it to him" and point at my husband.

[La Souris 19]

Front license plates.....the bain of my existence. I hate 'em.

Every surrounding state in Texas doesn't have them. NM, OK, LA, AR....none of them have front plates. Looks so much nicer when you cross state lines and see clean front ends. At least Texas has the best window tint laws.

I had to run a plate when I lived in BC too. Well at least I was supposed to. My Texas front plate is hanging up on the wall in the spare bedroom next to my old BC plate. It didn't help that my friends in Alberta would gloat about not having to have a front plate.

Front plates flat out suck.

Ontario has front plates. As far as I can recall, Quebec does not.

Illinois does.

Question about that... I'm from Quebec, and there's no room for a front plate on my car and they do have them in Mass. Is there a "system" other than glue? (Glue would not work, it's not a flat surface) - Thanks

Spelling: "check" is really ugly Other words, I'll live with...

[trailmix 77]

I don't say bill or cheque I just say: "Give it to him" and point at my husband.

[thetreble 19]

There are always things coming up here and again. I will tell you that I have not succumbed to the US form of spelling and don't plan to. I think it would be hard to stop doing something after 20 years of doing it.

The other day a colleague of mine came into our office and I said, "Oh hi Spencer! Tim's been after you..."

He said, "what?"

I said, "Tim's been asking after you..."

He looked at me like a deer in headlights...until a girl at work said to me, "amanda, I don't think any of us know what you mean...is tim chasing after spencer?" I was laughing hysterically!

[trailmix 77]

There are always things coming up here and again. I will tell you that I have not succumbed to the US form of spelling and don't plan to. I think it would be hard to stop doing something after 20 years of doing it.

The other day a colleague of mine came into our office and I said, "Oh hi Spencer! Tim's been after you..."

He said, "what?"

I said, "Tim's been asking after you..."

He looked at me like a deer in headlights...until a girl at work said to me, "amanda, I don't think any of us know what you mean...is tim chasing after spencer?" I was laughing hysterically!

- that's funny, I can see how if you weren't familiar with the term it would seem really odd haha

Yeah, I was just using uscan's spelling - I mean that is what they are asking for - the cheque - still makes no sense

I'm not saying it makes sense... I'm just saying it's in common usage in the US, and I have found myself adopting it too.

I didn't say you did. Why would you want to adopt a phrase that makes no sense?

Edited June 6, 2009 by trailmix

[thetreble 19]

It was! Didn't realize that we say "calling after" or "asking after" or just plain "after" in those types of situations.

It's those little things though that make you go..oh wow...we be differenttttt