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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

We love to say maths because it’s funny.

Now do lorry.

Then nappy.

lorry = truck? Must watch more BBC to figure this one out.

[Anonymous]

I'm Canadian and it used to be that in Canada, college=two year program (like trade school, practical nursing, secretarial programs etc), and university was where you would go to get a bachelor (or higher degree).

Now, the lines are much more blurred - you can take bachelor's programs at some colleges (for example, interior design), colleges offer post-grad diploma programs you can take after finishing an undergraduate degree etc.

To add to the confusion, I went to a university that followed the oxford college model - so I was part of a college within my university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Canadian and it used to be that in Canada, college=two year program (like trade school, practical nursing, secretarial programs etc), and university was where you would go to get a bachelor (or higher degree).

Now, the lines are much more blurred - you can take bachelor's programs at some colleges (for example, interior design), colleges offer post-grad diploma programs you can take after finishing an undergraduate degree etc.

To add to the confusion, I went to a university that followed the oxford college model - so I was part of a college within my university.

I'm also Canadian and middle aged, so "college" used to be for people who couldn't get in to "university".

[Anonymous]

why can't we all just get along?

[Anonymous]

My favorite is Hamburger and French Fries. Story is amazing.

At the Worlds Fair a guy basically invented the hamburger. He used a new invention actually made in Germany to grind meat. He then put it in a patty, BBQ it and put it between two slices of bread. It is American buy Hamburg comes from the German Grinding machine.

Now before fair he realizes he needed a side dish. He called a friend in Texas and he heard of a way to slice potato’s in strips and fry them. His friend lived in Paris Texas. The reporting covering event in his handwritten note wrote the Sliced Fried potato recipe cane from France (he thought Paris France not Paris Texas) and the reporter called then French Fried potatoes hence French Fries.

How names happen is fascinating.

Ironically the one guy basically invented the Hamburger AND French Fries but never patented it or opened a restaurant. He could have made a fortune.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Canadian and it used to be that in Canada, college=two year program (like trade school, practical nursing, secretarial programs etc), and university was where you would go to get a bachelor (or higher degree).

Now, the lines are much more blurred - you can take bachelor's programs at some colleges (for example, interior design), colleges offer post-grad diploma programs you can take after finishing an undergraduate degree etc.

To add to the confusion, I went to a university that followed the oxford college model - so I was part of a college within my university.

I'm also Canadian and middle aged, so "college" used to be for people who couldn't get in to "university".

Americans saying "Uni" really grates on me. It's an intentional attempt to sound like you're from another country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Canadian and it used to be that in Canada, college=two year program (like trade school, practical nursing, secretarial programs etc), and university was where you would go to get a bachelor (or higher degree).

Now, the lines are much more blurred - you can take bachelor's programs at some colleges (for example, interior design), colleges offer post-grad diploma programs you can take after finishing an undergraduate degree etc.

To add to the confusion, I went to a university that followed the oxford college model - so I was part of a college within my university.

I'm also Canadian and middle aged, so "college" used to be for people who couldn't get in to "university".

Americans saying "Uni" really grates on me. It's an intentional attempt to sound like you're from another country.

No, it’s said in order to not confuse people who are from another country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Oh leave logic out of it! Though logically aluminium makes much more sense than aluminum.

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

Technically, yes, but the field as a whole is a collective noun. "Mathematics isn't my favorite subject."

And do you say "econs," so it matches "economics"?

Brits are also sure that "gotten" sounds childish, but they say "forgotten," so perhaps we could just leave them to their smug illogic and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Oh leave logic out of it! Though logically aluminium makes much more sense than aluminum.

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

Technically, yes, but the field as a whole is a collective noun. "Mathematics isn't my favorite subject."

And do you say "econs," so it matches "economics"?

Brits are also sure that "gotten" sounds childish, but they say "forgotten," so perhaps we could just leave them to their smug illogic and move on.

Oh leave logic out of it! Though logically aluminium makes much more sense than aluminum.

[Anonymous]

Ah so snobs on here dislike reading 'maths' and joke about its pronunciation, and at the same time would probably see 'sport' as an outright mistake instead of sports. Whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The stupidest idea was University of Maryland’s creation of the confusing:

“University College”

https://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/maryland/university-of-maryland-university-college/

Best I’m able to discern, UMD coined this name for their GED-admitting college in a misguided attempt to boost self esteem among lower-performing students.

Wish everyone would just stop with the equity nonsense.

Or they named it after University College at Oxford which has been around since the 13th century. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_College,_Oxford

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite is Hamburger and French Fries. Story is amazing.

At the Worlds Fair a guy basically invented the hamburger. He used a new invention actually made in Germany to grind meat. He then put it in a patty, BBQ it and put it between two slices of bread. It is American buy Hamburg comes from the German Grinding machine.

Now before fair he realizes he needed a side dish. He called a friend in Texas and he heard of a way to slice potato’s in strips and fry them. His friend lived in Paris Texas. The reporting covering event in his handwritten note wrote the Sliced Fried potato recipe cane from France (he thought Paris France not Paris Texas) and the reporter called then French Fried potatoes hence French Fries.

How names happen is fascinating.

Ironically the one guy basically invented the Hamburger AND French Fries but never patented it or opened a restaurant. He could have made a fortune.

Ok I don't know how the hamburger was invented but am now extremely suspicious this story since that's obviously not how "French fries" came to be. No one know who invented them but the French and the Belgians argue over where they originated. The are basically the national food of Belgium, after waffles. And the British call them "chips". Americans only call them French fries because we had to Americanize "frites". They were absolutely not invented by some guy in Paris, Texas.

I kind of like the idea that this is how a hamburger was invented, but Europeans have been grinding up meet and cooking it for a long time so I"m also guessing no.