Justin Webb's America

We keep talking

• Justin Webb
• 24 Dec 07, 08:37 AM GMT

The differences between American and British English still confound me even after many years living in the US.

The latest, in a piece I wrote about Kansas evangelicals, is the misuse of the term "Bible basher", which in British English means what "Bible thumper" means in American English.

Some kind correspondents have pointed out that this rather damaged the sense of the piece, at least for US readers!

Hey ho... We keep talking, at least, even if we do not always understand each other.

I am particularly sorry to have messed that one up though, as I like American English. For instance, my children talk about "turning eight" instead of having their eighth birthday: which to me sounds both odd and cute. Or does "cute" mean clever?

Talking of which - Roger Federer for man of the year? Did not see that coming... and intend to Google the chap right away...

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