A CATALOGUE OF AMERICAN-ENGLISH
USED ERRONEOUSLY
IN
SHERLOCKIAN PASTICHES
Was
Watson an American? It has long been believed that he spent some
time in that country, probably in San Francisco. His writings,
however, show little evidence of an American accent.
We therefore offer this list of frequently used American-English
words, phrases & spellings that really ought not to belong in a
Watsonian chronicle, together with other mis-uses that occasionally
creep into pastiches, as a service to future authors.
The American-English is given first, followed by an
British-English equivalent, or explanation. Where possible an
example from a published pastiche is given with a British-English
translation, and an example from the canon.
Click on these links for publication details of editions used for indexing:
Attorney: Solicitor
("The Case of the Eccentric Bequest" (Jane Rubino), p.151. "The card stated that he was an attorney with the firm of Moseley and Gayle...a prominent firm in Devereaux Court...Wills, business contracts. Marriage settlements." should read "The card stated that he was a solicitor with the firm of Moseley and Gayle...a prominent firm in Devereaux Court...Wills, business contracts. Marriage settlements.")
From the canon: (NORW) "a young London solicitor named John Hector McFarlane, junior partner of Graham and McFarlane, of 426 Gresham Buildings, E.C."
Bathrobe: Dressing gown.
(Sherlock Holmes and the Hapsburg Tiara (Alan Vanneman), p.8. "I clad myself in bathrobe and slippers" should read "I clad myself in dressing gown and slippers".)
From the canon: (EMPT) "He had thrown off the seedy frockcoat, and now he was the Holmes of old in the mouse-coloured dressing-gown which he took from his effigy."
Beets: Beetroot or beet. Beet is an uncountable noun in British English and not preceeded by "a", it does not have a plural, one would ask for "a beetroot", "some beetroot" or "beet" rather than "a beet" or "beets". Beetroot is the usual term for red beet (American "beets").
(The Haunting of Torre Abbey (Carole Buggé), p.102. The phrase "red as a beet" should more properly be "red as beet" or "red as a beetroot".)
From the canon: Not used
Bleachers: Stands. The seating at a soccer or rugby ground is referred to as the stands.
("The Problem at Stamford Bridge" (Van Allen Plexico), p.49. "The new stadium reared up just ahead of us, its bleachers and metal framework gleaming in the sun" should read "The new stadium reared up just ahead of us, its stands and metal framework gleaming in the sun".)
From the canon: Not used
Blocks: The British do not measure city distances in "blocks". Use time, distance or "streets", e.g. " We walked along the street for five minutes or so", "The bank was a hundred yards down the street from our house", or " Just keep walking and you'll find it two streets down from here" (i.e. you'll pass two side streets before you get to it).
(The Monster of St. Marylebone (Wayne Worcester), p.181. "We found Sidney Gibbons not two blocks away" could read "We found Sidney Gibbons not two streets away")
From the canon: (TWIS) "For two streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot."
(SCAN) "He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Edgeware Road."
(HOUN) "Dr. Mortimer and Baskerville were still visible about two hundred yards ahead of us in the direction of Oxford Street."
Bum: see Hobo
Burglarized: Burgled
("The Kohinoor Gem Shop Burglary" (Ned Hubbell), p.117, "You mean the place was burglarized" should read "You mean the place was burgled".)
From the canon: (SIXN) "When Dr. Barnicot came down this morning he was astonished to find that his house had been burgled during the night."
Candy: Sweets is the current term in the UK, although there are no examples of either usage in the canon.
From the canon: Not used
Chaise lounge: Chaise longue. This is from the French for "long chair".
("The Adventure of the Beggar's Head" (Michael Mallory, p.187, "He redirected his finger to the chaise lounge by the window" should read "He redirected his finger to the chaise longue by the window".)
From the canon: Not used
Checkbook: Chequebook. The British, being closer to France, write "cheques" rather than "checks". Watson also includes a hyphen.
("The Entwined" (J.R. Campbell), p.214, "Catherine Drayson's father...pulled a checkbook from the drawer of his desk" should read "Catherine Drayson's father...pulled a chequebook from the drawer of his desk")
From the canon: (PRIO) "I fancy that I see your Grace's cheque-book upon the table."
Come have / Come get / Come stay (etc): Come and have / Come and get / Come and stay (etc)
(The Great Game (Michael Kurland), p.255, "You must all come have dinner with me" should read "You must all come and have dinner with me")
From the canon: (PRIO) "Mr. Holmes, I should be pleased if you would come and stay with me at Holdernesse Hall."
Drapes: Curtains. Watson doesn't refer to "drapes" in the canon.
("The Adventure of the Locked Room" (Andrew Salmon), p.73, "Mr Farris had all of the drapes pulled" should read "Mr Farris had all of the curtains pulled".)
From the canon: (HOUN) "I drew aside my curtains before I went to bed"
Druggist: Chemist
(The Strange Doings of J. Leslie Ryder (Daniel Gracely), p.63, "She rode as far as the druggist's" should read "She rode as far as the chemist's".)
From the canon: (SILV) "What chemist sold him the powdered opium?"
Fall: Autumn
(The Haunting of Torre Abbey (Carole Buggé), p.146, "Still I sang, thinking as I did of lying in my own mother's arms, late on a fall evening such as this" should read "Still I sang, thinking as I did of lying in my own mother's arms, late on an autumn evening such as this".)
From the canon: (REDH) "I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair."
First floor: Ground floor. British buildings begin with the ground floor at entry level, the next floor up is the first floor, and the numbering continues from there upwards. Holmes & Watson's rooms at Baker Street were on the first floor which would be the "second floor" in American-English.
From the canon: (3STU) "On the ground floor was the tutor's room. Above were three students, one on each story."
Fourth: Quarter
("The Murder of the Enigmatic Husband" (Ned Hubbell), p.98, "Even a fourth of that is quite a sum" should read "Even a quarter of that is quite a sum".)
From the canon: (SIGN) "A quarter of the treasure shall be yours."
Go find / Go look for / Go get etc.: Go and find / Go and look for / Go and get
(The Haunting of Torre Abbey (Carole Buggé), p.98, "I want to go find William. I'm worried about him" should read "I want to go and find William. I'm worried about him".)
From the canon: (STUD) " "Then let us go and look at the room." With which inconsequent remark he strode on into the house followed by Gregson, whose features expressed his astonishment."
Gray: Grey
(Night Watch (Stephen Kendrick), p.70. "His gray eyes glittered in anticipation" should read "His grey eyes glittered in anticipation".)
From the canon: (HOUN) "Stapleton was neutral tinted, with light hair and grey eyes."
Harbor: Harbour (Many American "-or" words end with "-our" in British English, e.g. "Honour", "Glamour", "Armour", "Splendour")
("The Tattooed Arm" (Marc Bilgrey), p.139. "The Constable gave us the name of the town's only inn and public house, The Harborview" should read "The Constable gave us the name of the town's only inn and public house, The Harbourview".)
From the canon: (LAST) "Each pigeon-hole had its label, and his eyes as he glanced along them read a long series of such titles as “Fords,” “Harbour-defences,” “Aeroplanes,” “Ireland,” “Egypt,” “Portsmouth forts,” “The Channel,” “Rosythe,” and a score of others."
Hobo: Tramp / Vagabond
("In Flanders Field" (H. Paul Jeffers), p.25, "I'd seen him become...a hobo to solve the case of the Norwood builder" should read "I'd seen him become...a tramp / vagabond to solve the case of the Norwood builder".)
From the canon: (NORW) "A passing tramp sees them through the window, the blind of which is only half down."
(BERY) " "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," said Mr. Holder."
In back of us: Behind us
(The Haunting of Torre Abbey (Carole Buggé), p.19."As we entered the kitchen I heard footsteps in back of us" should read "As we entered the kitchen I heard footsteps behind us".)
From the canon: (PRIO) "Suddenly, however, we heard a step behind us, and there was the landlord, his heavy eyebrows drawn over his savage eyes, his swarthy features convulsed with passion."
Math: Maths. The abbreviated form appears to be early 20th century in origin. It's probably better to use "Mathematics" or "Arithmetic".
("The Two Umbrellas" (Martin Rosenstock), p.386. "I never liked math" should read "I never liked maths" or "I never liked mathematics" or "I never like arithmetic".)
From the canon: (VALL) "Is he not the celebrated author of The Dynamics of an Asteroid, a book which ascends to such rarefied heights of pure mathematics that it is said that there was no man in the scientific press capable of criticising it?"
Named for: Named after
(The Strange Doings of J. Leslie Ryder (Daniel Gracely), p.21. "It is the office of Peter Vernet, my cousin...he was named for our grandfather" should read "It is the office of Peter Vernet, my cousin...he was named after our grandfather".)
From the canon: Not used in this context, but: (LAST) "In our code everything likely to come up is named after some spare part."
On (Baker Street, etc.): In (Baker Street, etc.). British usage speaks of buildings being 'in', not 'on', a particular street.
("The Adventure of the Project" (Rock Dilisio), p.21. "We stopped for dinner at the Cafe Pufferbelly on Fanshaw Place" should read "We stopped for dinner at the Cafe Pufferbelly in Fanshaw Place".)
From the canon: (SECO) "There is evidence that a woman, who might have been Mme. Fournaye, was seen for some hours upon Monday night watching the house in Godolphin Street."
Out the window / door / house etc.: Out of the window / door / house etc.
(Castle Rouge (Carole Nelson Douglas), p.238. "I finally forced myself upright against the stones and leaned to peer out the window" should read "I finally forced myself upright against the stones and leaned to peer out of the window".)
From the canon: (TWIS) "Then I seized my coat, which was weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the window, and it disappeared into the Thames."
Pants: Trousers. British "pants" are men's underwear.
(The Thundering Underground (Jake & Luke Thoene), p.59. "I can't believe we dropped Duff off for work in Leonard Shomar's pants" shoud read "I can't believe we dropped Duff off for work in Leonard Shomar's trousers".
From the canon: (STOC) "Holmes stood by the table, with his hands deep in his trousers' pockets and his chin upon his breast."
Period: In punctuation terms a "period" is referred to as a "full stop".
(Murder in the Bath (Michael Mallory), p.82. "The period after the t indicated that it was the end of a sentence" should read "The full stop after the t indicated that it was the end of a sentence".)
From the canon: Not used.
Railroad: Railway
(Night Watch (Stephen Kendrick), p.128. "The charred scrap we found refers not to our late queen, nor the railroad station" should read "The charred scrap we found refers not to our late queen, nor the railway station".)
From the canon: (GOLD) "We have had inquiries made as to any stranger seen on the country roads or at the railway station."
Real Estate: Probably "Property" is the best word to use. "Real Estate Agents" or "Realtors" are "Estate Agents"
From the canon: Not used in this sense.
Sidewalk: Pavement.
(Night Watch (Stephen Kendrick), p.33. "The snow on surrounding sidewalks reveals no footprints of any kind" should read "The snow on (the) surrounding pavements reveals no footprints of any kind".)
From the canon: (SIGN) "I had thought of that. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement, whereas the barrel passed down the roadway. No, we are on the true scent now."
Stoop: Most British houses do not have what Americans recognise as a "stoop", a raised covered platform along the front of the house. A doorstep, or, at most, a covered porch, would be more characteristic. One should therefore refer to the "front step(s)", "doorstep" or "front porch". 221B, Baker Street would probably just have had a front step or steps.
(The Curse of the Pharoahs (Kel Richards), p.51. "I found Rev Silas Menzies waiting on the stoop" should probably read "I found Rev Silas Menzies waiting in the porch".
From the canon: (YELL) "It was a pretty two-storied place, with an
old-fashioned porch and a honeysuckle about it."(STOC): "I scribbled a note to my neighbour, rushed upstairs to explain the matter to my wife, and joined Holmes upon the doorstep."
Street Names: Probably because of the British habit of giving the same name to many streets (e.g. in London you will find Ravenscroft Avenue, Ravenscroft Close, Ravenscroft Road and Ravenscroft Street), or because many street names in London are also the names of districts, when giving addresses, for example to cab drivers, the full name of the street is given . Also Brits do not give abbreviated intersection addresses as is common in American cities (e.g. "48th & 3rd").
(No Ordinary Terror (J. Brooks Van Dyke), p.94. "It is handmade by a craftsman on Regent" should read "It is handmade by a craftsman in Regent Street".
P.91: "She...hailed a passing hansom. "Queensway and Exeter" " should probably read "She...hailed a passing hansom. "The corner of Queensway and Exeter Street" " or simply "She...hailed a passing hansom. "The corner of Exeter Street" " , probably with a "Please".)
From the canon: (SCAN): "'Drive like the devil,' he shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road.' "
(SIGN): "At the foot of Kennington Lane they had edged away to the left through Bond Street and Miles Street. Where the latter street turns into Knight's Place, Toby ceased to advance."
(FINA): "As I passed the corner which leads from Bentinck Street on to the Welbeck Street crossing a two-horse van furiously driven whizzed round and was on me like a flash."
Suspenders: Braces. British suspenders are straps used to keep stockings up.
From the canon: (STOC) "A coat and waistcoat were lying on the floor, and from a hook behind the door, with his own braces round his neck, was hanging the managing director of the Franco-Midland Hardware Company."
Time Expressions: In British usage "to" is used rather than "of", and "past" rather than "after" when giving a time (e.g. "ten to eight" or "five past three").
(Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula (Loren D. Estleman), p188. "I have two minutes of six o'clock" should read "I have two minutes to six o'clock".)
From the canon: (GREE) "It was a quarter-past seven when we left Pall Mall, and my watch showed me that it was ten minutes to nine when we at last came to a standstill."
Trash: The earliest usage of this to mean domestic rubbish is dated to 1906 and is American. "Rubbish", "litter" or possibly "refuse" sound more British, to be thrown in the "dustbin" (always outdoors and metal) or the "rubbish bin" or just plain "bin", or maybe the "waste paper basket", or on the "refuse heap" or "rubbish heap".
("The Shocking Affair of the Steamship Friesland" (Jack Grochot), p50. "I tossed it out with the trash also" should probably read "I tossed it out with the litter also").
From the canon: Watson uses "Garbage" (which to my ears also sounds more American than British) but not in relation to domestic waste: (ILLU) "Johnson is on the prowl...he may pick up some garbage in the darker recesses of the underworld", and (3GAB) "the garbage papers which cater to an inquisitive public".
"Refuse" is also used figuratively: (ILLU) "I am one of a hundred that he has tempred and used and thrown into the refuse heap"
"Rubbish" is used in relation to large scale waste from excavations, etc: (SIGN) "the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds" and (HOUN) "A huge driving-wheel and a shaft half-filled with rubbish showed the position of an abandoned mine".
In STOC there is reference to "a waste-paper basket" and in HOUN, Holmes sends Cartwright "to see the waste-paper of yesterday" at each of the twenty-three hotels in Charing Cross.
"Litter" is used a number of times, in the phrase "a litter of...": (SIGN) "in the midst of a litter of lath and plaster"; (HOUN) "a litter of empty tins"; (PRIO) "the litter of iron and wood which was scattered about the floor", and Holmes says when Watson presses him to tell the story of the Musgrave Ritual rather than carry on tidying the flat "What, and leave the litter?"
Vest: Waistcoat. A British vest is a singlet worn as an undergarment.
From the canon: (TWIS) "He took off his coat and waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from the sofa and armchairs."
Write: Write to. The British do not "write someone" they "write to someone".
("The Adventure of the Damsel In Grey" (Michael Mallory), p.48. "I must write Holmes immediately and tell him" should read "I must write to Holmes immediately and tell him".)
From the canon: (EMPT) "Several times during the last three years I have taken up my pen to write to you, but always I feared lest your affectionate regard for me should tempt you to some indiscretion which would betray my secret."
Aberdeenian: A person from Aberdeen is an Aberdonian.
(Sherlock Holmes and the Golden Bird (Frank Thomas), p.43. "He had a hearty respect for the acumen of the Aberdeenian" should read "He had a hearty respect for the acumen of the Aberdonian")
From the canon: (VALL) "He was a silent, precise man with a dour nature and a hard Aberdonian accent."
Albert Hall: The Royal Albert Hall is always referred to as such, or more commonly "The Albert Hall". It is never spoken of without the "The" as just "Albert Hall".
("The Adventure of the Missing Countess" (Jon Koons), p.310. "The opera we saw was The Magic Flute at Royal Albert Hall. It was to begin at eight o'clock. As you are no doubt aware, Albert Hall is not far" should read "The opera we saw was The Magic Flute at the Royal Albert Hall. It was to begin at eight o'clock. As you are no doubt aware, the Albert Hall is not far".)
From the canon: (RETI) "Carina sings to-night at the Albert Hall, and we still have time to dress, dine, and enjoy."
From the canon: (HOUN) "This explanation was borne out by the post-mortem examination, which showed long-standing organic disease."
Bart's: St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where Holmes & Watson met is familiarly referred to by Watson as "Bart's", not "St. Bart's", although I have seen "St. Bart's" used in other circumstances.
(Night Watch (Stephen Kendrick), p.17. "A lovely young nurse in training I had met on my rounds at St. Bart's" should read "A lovely young nurse in training I had met on my rounds at Bart's".)
From the canon: (STUD) "Turning round I recognized young Stamford, who had been a dresser under me at Bart's."
Cheerio: Is a word meaning "Goodbye" or used as a toast when drinking (although more usually then as "Cheer-ho" or "Cheerie-ho"), not a "friendly greeting" as stated in the glossary to the Baker Street Mysteries series by Jake & Luke Thoene.
From the canon: Not used
Cornish Pie: The Cornish pasty is the traditional pie of Cornwall. Watson would have been run out of the county for calling them "Cornish pies".
("The Tattooed Arm" (Marc Bilgrey), p.138, "On a counter were a stale loaf of bread and a few traditional Cornish pies" should read "On a counter were a stale loaf of bread and a few traditional Cornish pasties".
From the canon: Not used
High Street: Most towns and villages in the UK have a High Street. In addresses it will be written simply as "High Street"; in conversation it will invariably be referred to as "THE High Street".
("The Case of the Borderland Dandelions" (Howard Engel), p.37, "We walked the length of High Street, looking into the windows of the shops along the way" should read "We walked the length of the High Street, looking into the windows of the shops along the way".)
From the canon: (SIXN) "Sherlock Holmes and I walked together to the High Street, where we stopped at the shop of Harding Brothers."
Kilometers: While they are the official measure of distance (and therefore speed) on Europe's roads, most Brits wouldn't have a clue how far a kilometer was, even today, and certainly not in Holmes's time.
(No Ordinary Terror (J. Brooks Van Dyke), p.110, "I've had it up to seventy kilometers per hour" should read "I've had it up to forty-five miles an hour" or thereabouts.)
From the canon: (BOSC) "Hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly digesting their breakfasts at home."
Likewise, Kilograms: The official unit of weight in the UK nowadays, but only after a relatively recent changeover from pounds and ounces in the 1970s & 80s, which did not become mandatory until 1995.
(No Place Like Holmes (Jason Lethcoe), p.50, "Fifteen hundred kilograms of fireworks were reported missing" should read "Three thousand three hundred pounds of fireworks were reported missing" (thus saving Griffin Sharpe the task of performing the conversion in his head on the following page).
From the canon: (SCAN) "“Wedlock suits you,” he remarked. “I think, Watson, that you have put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you.”"
Mssr: The abbreviation for the French "Monsieur" is a simple "M."
(The Strange Doings of J. Leslie Ryder (Daniel Gracely), p.21, "The portrait she drew exactly resembles the Director of the Louvre, Mssr. Bantok" should read "The portrait she drew exactly resembles the Director of the Louvre, M. Bantok".)
From the canon: (SECO) "A comparison of photographs has proved conclusively that M. Henri Fournaye and Eduardo Lucas were really one and the same person."
Old Bailey: Like the Albert Hall, always takes "The".
(The Incredible Umbrella (Marvin Kaye), p.119, "His last meal had been in prison, awaiting trial at Old Bailey" should read "His last meal had been in prison, awaiting trial at the Old Bailey".)
From the canon: Not used
Regent Park: Regent's Park.
("The Tattooed Arm" (Marc Bilgrey), p.142, "You've no doubt visited the aquarium at Regent Park" should read "You've no doubt visited the aquarium at Regent's Park".)
From the canon: Not used
Shipshape: In full is "Shipshape and Bristol fashion". Things are kept "shipshape", not "in shipshape".
(The Haunting of Torre Abbey (Carole Buggé), p.33, "Old as he was, the manservant, Grayson kept Torre Abbey in ship-shape" should read "Old as he was, the manservant, Grayson kept Torre Abbey shipshape".)
From the canon: Not used
Sir....: Knights are referred to by their given name not their family name when addressed by title. For example, Sir Laurence Olivier would be introduced as Sir Laurence, not Sir Olivier.
(The Giant Rat of Sumatra (Daniel Gracely), p.20, "Sir Alfred Claiborne...was found stabbed to death...The late Sir Claiborne served the Foreign Office for twelve years" should read "The late Sir Alfred served the Foreign Office for twelve years".)
From the canon: (HOUN) " "This is Sir Henry Baskerville," said Dr. Mortimer...
"Pray take a seat, Sir Henry." "
Soho: Like its New York equivalent, the London district of Soho does not require a 'The'
("The Singular Affair of Mr. Phillip Phot" (The Greek Interpreters of East Lansing), p. 79, "I saw that we had progressed into the Soho" should read "I saw that we had progressed into Soho".)
From the canon: Not used
Sussex Downs: The Sussex Downs are a range of hills, not a town, so require a "the", Holmes's villa would be "in", "on", or "upon" them.
(The Secret of Sherlock Holmes (Gary F. Boothe), p.20, "Very few people know I have moved to Sussex Downs" should read "Very few people know I have moved to the Sussex Downs".)
From the canon: (Preface to His Last Bow) "He has, for many years, lived in a small farm upon the downs five miles from Eastbourne."
(SECO) "He has definitely retired from London and betaken himself to study and bee-farming on the Sussex Downs."
The Times: The Times newspaper is just the Times, not the London Times - you only call it that to differentiate it from the New York Times, people in England don't need to.
From the canon: (SIGN) "About six years ago - to be exact, upon the fourth of May, 1882 - an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan"
