Question for you Americans

skippymac · Feb 2, 2013, 07:55 AM

Hi there,

I've been watching Breaking Bad and someone used the phrase "a little ways down the road", also seen it other places like HIMYM off the top of my head.

Now I know what the phrase means but here in the UK I'm pretty sure we'd say "a little way down the road". What's with the s? really confusing me

Cheers

mobilehaathi · Feb 2, 2013, 08:15 AM

Not everyone adds the s. It is a local dialect thing...

Shrink · Feb 2, 2013, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippymac

Hi there,

I've been watching Breaking Bad and someone used the phrase "a little ways down the road", also seen it other places like HIMYM off the top of my head.

Now I know what the phrase means but here in the UK I'm pretty sure we'd say "a little way down the road". What's with the s? really confusing me

Cheers

Simple answer...if you Brits would only learn to speak English properly, you'd know that the way American's speak the language is the right way!

Actually, the way Americans do anything is the right way!!!

Jaffa Cake · Feb 2, 2013, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippymac

What's with the s?

I think they're just using up some of the 's' surplus they have left over from trimming it off the end of 'maths'.

skippymac · Feb 2, 2013, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobilehaathi

Not everyone adds the s. It is a local dialect thing...

Ah I see, cheers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaffa Cake

I think they're just using up some of the 's' surplus they have left over from trimming it off the end of 'maths'.

Haha, I had a friend at school who said math, he used to get a lot of crap

maflynn · Feb 2, 2013, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobilehaathi

Not everyone adds the s. It is a local dialect thing...

I'd say its less local, though I'm sure not everyone uses the S.

Where I'm from, we seem to say a little ways down the road yet Breaking Bad is set in the west coast (I believe I really haven't watched it).

SandboxGeneral · Feb 2, 2013, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maflynn

I'd say its less local, though I'm sure not everyone uses the S.

Where I'm from, we seem to say a little ways down the road yet Breaking Bad is set in the west coast (I believe I really haven't watched it).

I will say "a little ways" at times myself; not sure why. Yes Breaking Bad is set in the southwest, filmed in New Mexico.

TPadden · Feb 2, 2013, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippymac

Ah I see, cheers.

Haha, I had a friend at school who said math, he used to get a lot of crap

At 3 AM, while vacuuming the house, mowing the lawn, or rebuilding the engine in your car, it really doesn't matter whether you say math or meth.........

chrono1081 · Feb 2, 2013, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shrink

Simple answer...if you Brits would only learn to speak English properly, you'd know that the way American's speak the language is the right way!

Actually, the way Americans do anything is the right way!!!

Sadly people where I live believe that. In fact, I know a person who thinks Americans invented English...yep...thats Pennsylvania for you.

mobilehaathi · Feb 2, 2013, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maflynn

I'd say its less local, though I'm sure not everyone uses the S.

Where I'm from, we seem to say a little ways down the road yet Breaking Bad is set in the west coast (I believe I really haven't watched it).

Well I don't know the particular localization or how widespread it is...I just know I've heard it both ways.

rdowns · Feb 2, 2013, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippymac

What's with the s? really confusing me

Cheers

To hell with the s. What's up with all those extra U's.

Scepticalscribe · Feb 5, 2013, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaffa Cake

I think they're just using up some of the 's' surplus they have left over from trimming it off the end of 'maths'.

Bravo. If there was an icon for applause, I'd use it now.

SkyBell · Feb 5, 2013, 03:54 PM

I've grown up in Texas and Arkansas, and it's always been "a little ways" for me and everyone I've known. In fact, I probably use that phrase a bit too much.

Kissaragi · Feb 7, 2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shrink

Simple answer...if you Brits would only learn to speak English properly, you'd know that the way American's speak the language is the right way!

Actually, the way Americans do anything is the right way!!!

It's true, we are terribly backwards over here.

ucfgrad93 · Feb 7, 2013, 11:21 AM

I'm from the South and it is not uncommon to hear a little ways. I use it ocassionally along with a "Y'all."

TPadden · Feb 7, 2013, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

..... I use it ocassionally along with a "Y'all."

That's deep south; mid south use "U'ens" ......

Kissaragi · Feb 7, 2013, 11:26 AM

The op seems to completely ignore that the UK also has various accents with many local phrases and strange words. Im not sure why its a surprise america might have them too across the different states, or why a country all the way across a damn great ocean might have some small differences in language to us in the UK.

TedM · Feb 7, 2013, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippymac

Ah I see, cheers.

Haha, I had a friend at school who said math, he used to get a lot of crap

What's wrong with math?

Shrink · Feb 7, 2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippymac

I had a friend at school who said math, he used to get a lot of crap

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedM

What's wrong with math?

I believe that those benighted add-extra-letter-for-no-reason, funny talking folks in the UK call it "maths".

Listen, I think those folks are still smarting over that little set-to in 1775, and talk funny just because they're cranky about it.

skippymac · Feb 7, 2013, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedM

What's wrong with math?

Nothing wrong with it in my eyes, but some are very agaisnt it

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shrink

I believe that those benighted add-extra-letter-for-no-reason, funny talking folks in the UK call it "maths".

Listen, I think those folks are still smarting over that little set-to in 1775, and talk funny just because they're cranky about it.

Hahah that we do. Although it is the shortened form of "mathematics" so I believe both maths and math are valid

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kissaragi

The op seems to completely ignore that the UK also has various accents with many local phrases and strange words. Im not sure why its a surprise america might have them too across the different states, or why a country all the way across a damn great ocean might have some small differences in language to us in the UK.

Accents and dialects in the UK are generally speaking completely separate from spelling and grammar. Whilst it is true that there are a large number of words that are exclusive to certain regions, standard words are always spelt the same across the country. Also, it is generally true that whilst people may not speak with perfect grammar, written forms of the language are expected to be grammatically correct.

Also generally in American English, although I may not use a particular word or spelling, I can see where it comes from, eg. elevator or sidewalk. The point of this thread was that I can't see why people not only say, but also write down "a little ways" with the s, because as far as I can see, it's grammatically incorrect. I welcome being corrected on this point, as I'm just looking for an explanation

Kissaragi · Feb 7, 2013, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shrink

Listen, I think those folks are still smarting over that little set-to in 1775, and talk funny just because they're cranky about it.

You guys cheated! *folds his arms and sulks*

dukebound85 · Feb 7, 2013, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaffa Cake

I think they're just using up some of the 's' surplus they have left over from trimming it off the end of 'maths'.

maths....sounds sooo weird

it's math people lol

Shrink · Feb 7, 2013, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kissaragi

You guys cheated! *folds his arms and sulks*

See, see...I told you they're still smarting about LOSING!!!

Kissaragi · Feb 7, 2013, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shrink

See, see...I told you they're still smarting about LOSING!!!

It should have been best of three, we would have won then.

Shrink · Feb 7, 2013, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kissaragi

It should have been best of three, we would have won then.

LOLed literally. Still laughing.

Well, one for the UK on this exchange...

Feb 2, 2013, 07:55 AM	#1
skippymac macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hampshire, UK	Question for you Americans Hi there, I've been watching Breaking Bad and someone used the phrase "a little ways down the road", also seen it other places like HIMYM off the top of my head. Now I know what the phrase means but here in the UK I'm pretty sure we'd say "a little way down the road". What's with the s? really confusing me Cheers __________________ 13" 2.4GHz 2010 MBP, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD/128GB SSD, OS X 10.8.2 32GB Black & Slate iPhone 5, evasi0n'd \| 32GB Nexus 7 3G, cyanogenmod'd
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Feb 2, 2013, 08:15 AM	#2
mobilehaathi macrumors 68030 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA	Not everyone adds the s. It is a local dialect thing... __________________ Of crimes---none is greater than having things that one desires; Of disasters---none is greater than not knowing when one has enough. Of defects---none brings more sorrow than the desire to attain.
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Feb 5, 2013, 03:54 PM	#13
SkyBell macrumors 603 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas	I've grown up in Texas and Arkansas, and it's always been "a little ways" for me and everyone I've known. In fact, I probably use that phrase a bit too much. __________________ MR's PowerPC Fangirl eMac 1.42 GHz - 10.4.11 Pink iPod mini 2G 4 GB R.I.P Apple Computer, 1976-2007
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Feb 7, 2013, 11:21 AM	#15
ucfgrad93 macrumors G4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Colorado	I'm from the South and it is not uncommon to hear a little ways. I use it ocassionally along with a "Y'all."
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Feb 7, 2013, 11:26 AM	#17
Kissaragi macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2006	The op seems to completely ignore that the UK also has various accents with many local phrases and strange words. Im not sure why its a surprise america might have them too across the different states, or why a country all the way across a damn great ocean might have some small differences in language to us in the UK.
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