Grammar Girl here. I'm Mignon Foggerty and this week I have a quick and dirty tip about

the difference between all the different forms of cannot and a meaty middle to get you

in the mood for Halloween. But before we get to the quick and dirty tip, I want to catch

up on some of the great stories you shared after last month's segment about differences

between British and American English.

Aki wrote, my favorite little known difference between British and American English is that

the British take a decision while we Americans make a decision. After living abroad for

several years and hanging out with English pals, I found myself both making and taking

decisions. Occasionally after returning to the US, I had to stop and think about word

choice. Thanks, Aki. Peter is British and said he is always fascinated by words that

have subtle differences in meaning that can cause confusion if you aren't aware.

He wrote, pavement is the British word for sidewalk, but the American word for the

black, tar, and stone mixture that's used to pave the road surface, which we call tarmac.

Telling my children when they were younger to be sure to walk on the pavement and stay

away from the curb would cause a brief look of consternation to cross my American in

laws' faces. And he wrote that quote, quite has a similar meaning in American to vary.

It sometimes has that meaning in British English too, but it more usually means a little,

but not a lot. The exact opposite. I have to be really careful to remember that one

when talking with my wife's family. Unquote.

Thanks, Peter. And Catherine wrote in about the difference between straight away and

right away. She said, I'm American and noticed my son always says straight away instead

of right away. His stepmother is Canadian with an English father, thanks Catherine.

...