While No One Was Looking

''While'' is a word in the English language that functions both as a noun and as a subordinating conjunction. Its meaning varies largely based on its intended function, position in the phrase and even the writer or speaker's regional dialect. As a conjunction, it is synonymous with the word ''whilst'', a form often considered archaic in American English, as well as in some style guides on both sides of the Atlantic.

Usage

Noun

''A while'' and ''awhile'' are often confused due to the fact that ''while'' is often accompanied by the indefinite article. The main difference is that ''a while'' means "an amount of time" or "some duration" whereas ''awhile'' is an adverb meaning "''for'' some amount of time" or "''for'' some duration".

:"I slept for a while before dinner."
:"I slept awhile before dinner."

Both of these sentences yield the same effective meaning. ''Whilst'' is only a conjunction, and so its use here would be incorrect.

Conjunction

The primary function of the word as a conjunction is to indicate that two separate clauses occur at the same time.

:"The days were hot while we were on vacation."
:"I read a magazine while I was waiting."

''While'' can also be legitimately used in the contrastive sense, comparable to the words "although" or "whereas", provided that it is not ambiguous (although some commentators, such as Eric Partridge, have disapproved of such use):

:"While I like cats, my husband is allergic."
:"While Sally plays, Sue works."

The latter sentence can mean either "during the time that Sally plays, Sue works" or "although Sally plays, Sue works" and is thus ambiguous.

''Fowler's Modern English Usage'' disapproves of several uses of the conjunctive ''while''. At times it is inappropriately used as a coordinating conjunction: "and" or "but" should be used instead. Its usage as "elegant variation" is also discouraged, as it is masquerading as a "formal word".

In some dialects of Northern England, ''while'' is translated into standard English as "until"; for example, "At least wait while we're done."

Whilst

In standard British English and Australian English, ''whilst'', as a conjunction, is synonymous with ''although'', ''whereas'', ''but'' or ''while''. Unlike ''whilst'', ''while'' is also used as a noun (as in "rest for a while") or a verb (as in "while away the hours").

The usage of ''whilst'' is chiefly British. For example, the BBC World Service website "Learning English", in their "Ask about English" section, uses the word ''whilst'' when explaining the usage of "while and whereas".

In American English, ''whilst'' is considered to be pretentious or archaic.

Some publications on both sides of the Atlantic disapprove of ''whilst'' in their style guides (along with "amidst" and "amongst"); for example:
* BBC News: "while and not 'whilst'"
* Times Online Style Guide: "while (not whilst)"
* Guardian Style Guide: "while not whilst"
* Hansard: the Canadian Parliament record: "while not whilst"

The American Heritage Guide writes that, "while using ''whilst'' runs the risk of sounding pretentious, it can sometimes add a literary or ironically formal note to a piece of writing".

'' Practical English Usage'' by Michael Swan

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