British and American names for things should be interchangable

[astral276]

Americans should just learn to talk proper - like wot we do.

[madelaine]

To elaborate on my belief that the task is hopeless - it would be ok if each word didn't have multiple uses - but a vest in UK is a singlet in the US, however, a vest in the US is a waistcoat here. How does the software decide whether the US or UK useage is intended when it encounters "vest" in a listing. The origin of the listing is not sufficient as a seller might use both. This would result in many unwanted listings turning up in searches and users really hate that.

[bykimbo]

To elaborate on my belief that the task is hopeless - it would be ok if each word didn't have multiple uses - but a vest in UK is a singlet in the US, however, a vest in the US is a waistcoat here. How does the software decide whether the US or UK useage is intended when it encounters "vest" in a listing. The origin of the listing is not sufficient as a seller might use both. This would result in many unwanted listings turning up in searches and users really hate that.

Fair enough.

[suesjools]

My experience of living in UK and working in USA is that it is best NOT to make terms interchangeable on search, because eventually confusion ensues.

Someone commented that a bobbin is not exactly a spool, and it is better to keep terms accurate for good searching.

If I wanted someone searching for cotton reels also to find bobbins and spools, I would put the words, additionally, in the description

Excellent point. Language isn't likely to go global anymore than the metric system did, IMHO the quirks are what make it fun.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[philtcm]

We are countries divided by the same language,

But the UK is divided by dialects and ways of talking that are impossible to understand.So what chance is there.

Regards Philtcm

[theweaverboy]

The styles don't really mesh well either.

[TiasTreasures]

I think the Americans should start to use proper English words and spellings.
It would make it easier for us all.

We're having enough trouble teaching our kids the English we use over here.

[TiasTreasures]

To elaborate on my belief that the task is hopeless - it would be ok if each word didn't have multiple uses - but a vest in UK is a singlet in the US, however, a vest in the US is a waistcoat here. How does the software decide whether the US or UK useage is intended when it encounters "vest" in a listing. The origin of the listing is not sufficient as a seller might use both. This would result in many unwanted listings turning up in searches and users really hate that.

I agree. Yes, there was a thread a while back trying to sort this out, and I think it was abandoned because, as you say, the task is hopeless. If I'm looking for something (not just here, on any site), I look up synonyms if I don't get results at first.

And I especially agree that too many unwanted results makes me give up. That's one of the things I've found happening now on Google Shopping. Even when I put in very specific keywords I'm getting a lot totally irrelevant items (and they don't have an exclude option).

[florida33549]

We're having enough trouble teaching our kids the English we use over here.

That's the truth!

[theweaverboy]

Oh just call it what you think it should be called.

I'm going to sell some brollies anyone interested?

I love when people get confused by each others slang. Of course we don't understand UK slang and you don't really understand ours. But that’s why there is Google and Wikipedia.

Like brolly = umbrella. I didn't know that. Actually just learned that at my cousin's wedding in October. He and his bride got married at Ohio University where they met. One of the bridesmaids was from the UK and the wedding photographer was as well. I swear as we were taking pictures it is like there true accents started growing stronger. I knew an Austrian lady who spoke English with a French accent because she learned English in Morocco.

British lads just get a big expensive camera and American girls will pose for you. Just be kind of pushy and tell to make it sexy. LMAO that guy had us up on a fountain in middle of campus. It was raining off and on and the girls were in heels. One almost fell in twice.

Of course the funniest thing was when we running all over the campus taking photos and the female co-eds were staring at us. The bride though it was a headache that the university scheduled parents weekend and there was football game that weekend. She called months in advance and they said nothing was scheduled. I thought it was awesome, and I forget who but someone got on-lookers to ham it up with oo's and ah's.