Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

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03/30/2023 00:45

Subject: Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

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Anonymous

Why is a sweet, carbonated beverage called “soda” in some places, “pop” in some places, or a “soft drink” in some places?

Why do different regions have different words for the same thing?

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03/30/2023 04:06

Subject: Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Why is a sweet, carbonated beverage called “soda” in some places, “pop” in some places, or a “soft drink” in some places?

Why do different regions have different words for the same thing?

I propose we create an international English standards body. Countries that fail to comply with standardized usage, pronunciation, and spelling will be heavily sanctioned.

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03/30/2023 04:38

Subject: Re:Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

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Anonymous

Petrol vs gas
Favourite vs favorite
Neighbourhood vs neighborhood
Hydro vs water

Dammit!

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03/30/2023 06:07

Subject: Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

Why do you drive on the wrong side of the road?

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03/30/2023 07:09

Subject: Re:Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

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Anonymous

Because it truly doesn't matter.

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03/30/2023 07:17

Subject: Re:Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

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Anonymous

Whenever somebody says that their child goes to University, I know they’re not from the US.

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03/30/2023 07:24

Subject: Re:Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

I read Emily Blunt’s Wikipedia page and it says the ages she was when she attended each school (“She started attending Hurtwood House at age 16”). I don’t understand. Are there cutoff dates there?

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03/30/2023 08:04

Subject: Re:Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Whenever somebody says that their child goes to University, I know they’re not from the US.

Or, they went to hospital.

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03/30/2023 08:18

Subject: Re:Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:I read Emily Blunt’s Wikipedia page and it says the ages she was when she attended each school (“She started attending Hurtwood House at age 16”). I don’t understand. Are there cutoff dates there?

Their mandatory education ends at 15/16 (5th form in the UK/10th grade in the US) with a standard exam. Students who want to go to university continue for two more years (6th Form) specializing in 2-4 subjects and taking A-levels (roughly equivalent to APs). Most schools go all the way through but some students switch to a new school (college) for A-levels.

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03/30/2023 08:26

Subject: Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And why is the main dinner course in American cuisine called an entree!

Why is laboratory pronounced differently in British and American English?

Maths vs Math as an abbreviation?

I demand answers to these eternal mysteries that Google can’t explain!!

NP. “Maths” is like nails on a chalkboard for me! Glad Americans changed that one.

Totally agree with this statement.

When a poster uses the word "maths", I tend to tune out.

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03/30/2023 08:30

Subject: Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:I know that “community colleges” and “liberal arts colleges” don’t offer master’s degrees or higher. But in other countries, college = high school.

Except in France, where college = middle school

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03/30/2023 08:32

Subject: Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And why is the main dinner course in American cuisine called an entree!

Why is laboratory pronounced differently in British and American English?

Maths vs Math as an abbreviation?

I demand answers to these eternal mysteries that Google can’t explain!!

NP. “Maths” is like nails on a chalkboard for me! Glad Americans changed that one.

Totally agree with this statement.

When a poster uses the word "maths", I tend to tune out.

It always sounds weird to me as an American but it does make sense — after all, mathematics is plural.

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03/30/2023 08:37

Subject: Re:Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Seriously. When I was studying abroad in Germany from an elite liberal arts college, the German professors thought our group was basically high school students and the kid from the University of Vermont who was along with our group was some kind of advanced academic.

I was attending an elite liberal arts college in the US and had a German visiting professor for Econ 101 who told us that if we were university students he would use calculus to teach us the supply/demand curve but since we were just college students he would graph it as a straight line. Took me a long time to figure out what he meant, eventually I realized he thought we were kind of dumb. Sorry, didn't just think it--told us to our faces.

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03/30/2023 08:39

Subject: Re:Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously. When I was studying abroad in Germany from an elite liberal arts college, the German professors thought our group was basically high school students and the kid from the University of Vermont who was along with our group was some kind of advanced academic.

I was attending an elite liberal arts college in the US and had a German visiting professor for Econ 101 who told us that if we were university students he would use calculus to teach us the supply/demand curve but since we were just college students he would graph it as a straight line. Took me a long time to figure out what he meant, eventually I realized he thought we were kind of dumb. Sorry, didn't just think it--told us to our faces.

Sorry, should have added, this is hilarious about the UVM kid. I mean, its fine, but....

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03/30/2023 08:53

Subject: Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Why do you drive on the wrong side of the road?

Boom. And regarding math/(s), try being an American math teacher married to a Brit. “It’s Math.” “It’s MathS!” “It’s math!” “It’s MATHS!!”” “IT’S MATH!!!!” “IT’S MATHS!! What. Do you only do one math?!” “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?!” Basically our daily conversation.