Why do people use the word "whilst" instead of "while"?

Question

I know they mean the same thing, but people are using "whilst" in posts that have spelling and grammatical errors. So it looks like an illiterate person trying to sound smart.I'm not a spelling/grammar nazi by any means, but this is what I'm talking about...

i.e. eye cant belieb by cat got ran over bye some womans hoo wuz two bizee txting whilst drying tew c ware she wuz boing

Seriously, this is the shite I keep coming across and it's driving me nuts. If it's an honest mistake or if English is not your first language, then I'm fine with it.Throwing "whilst" in any sentence, even the ones with no spelling or grammatical errors just seems out of place.I thought this word was obsolete and only used in formal/poetic writing.

Mircat · Accepted Answer

Whilst is almost never used in America and most people would laugh at you for using it.  The UK is where you might hear it used sometimes.  It's an old fashioned word and really shouldn't be used at all.

https://hansengel.wordpress.com/2007/12/04/while-versus-whilst%E2%80%94getting-our-facts-straight/

Anonymous · Answer

Why not?!  As Mircat says, "whilst" is more used in Britain than in the USA.

In the English language there are many words with alternative forms - it is nice to give the less-used form a whirl from time to time.

? · Answer

It's a variant usage that goes with issues of style, region, and individual speaker.

There's no very clear pattern of use, but "whilst" generally has two uses:
1) as an 'elegant variation' on "while" in the time sense, often used in formal style.
"You may wait here whilst I am in the library."

2) as a separate adverb meaning "whereas" / "depsite the fact that" / etc.
"Whilst we would like to employ you, we have no vacancies."

Personally, I'd never, ever use "whilst" in the time sense, and not in the "whereas" sense except in formal writing.

? · Answer

I always thought it was a cultural thing, I har people from the UK use that term but rarely if ever here in the US. There are other words I hear in the UK that are not used elsewhere but I can't think of any examples right now. Cultural differences? I like Whilst, though. it sounds more formal, more poetic.

Higher Mammal · Answer

I think "whilst" is a British saying.

? · Answer

Use Of Whilst

Bazza · Answer

I use both, and for different reasons/meanings:

while :  during the time that; at the same time as
"…texting while driving…"

whilst : =  whereas : (that is, not related to situations involving a time period.)

"Whilst he concedes that many of the proposals are deficient, he nevertheless seems determined to have them implemented."

Tracy Love · Answer

Relax a bit and be more accepting, looking at the communication for what it means.

busterwasmycat · Answer

whilst is a dialectic variant of while (or the reverse, depending upon your viewpoint), so no.

Big Spider on Your Pillow · Answer

It makes them sound sophisticated while it makes you look dumbfounded

Why do people use the word "whilst" instead of "while"?

12 Answers