around and round

[b.a.d.]

Hi! Is it ok for informal speech to replace around with round and vice versa in phrasal verbs like that:

no fooling 'round (instead of 'fooling around')
come 'round (instead of 'come around')

?

Thanks

 

[AlexAD]

I am not a teacher nor a native speaker.

Here is the excerpt from the OALD, 8th edition:

Around and round can often be used with the same meaning in BrE, though around is more formal:

1. The earth goes round/around the sun.
2. They live round/around the corner.
3. We travelled round/around India.
4. She turned round/around when I came in.

In NAmE only around can be used in these meanings.

Around, round and about can also sometimes be used with the same meaning in BrE.

1. The kids were running around/round/about outside.
2. I've been waiting around/round/about to see her all day.

In NAmE only around can be used in these meanings.

About or around can be used in both BrE and NAmE to mean 'approximately': We left around/about 8 o'clock.

I hope, this will help you.

P.S. Dear moderators, could you please add a pop-up tip for the contraction of NAmE if you can.

Thanks, Alex.

 

[b.a.d.]

Well, thanks a lot, pal :up)) But I'd better like to know what native speakers think about whether there's principal difference between 'around' and 'round' in informal speech.
Thanks

 

[5jj]

I'd [STRIKE]better like to [/STRIKE] rather know what native speakers think about whether there's [STRIKE]principal[/STRIKE] a real difference between 'around' and 'round' in informal speech.

Well, I am a native speaker of BrE, and I agree with the editors of the ALD, who are also native speakers.

Note that we do not write 'round. Round is a word in its own right in modern English, not a short form of around.

 

[5jj]

@ b.a.d.

Be careful with "Well, thanks a lot, pal". It can give the impression that you are implying, "Thanks for nothing" = "That was no help".

 

[AlexAD]

@ b.a.d.

Be careful with "Well, thanks a lot, pal". It can give the impression that you are implying, "Thanks for nothing" = "That was no help".

5jdjon, is it because of the leading well? Otherwise I would not be sensible untill I have heard this being told with irony in a voice.

I would be grateful if you would correct my grammar in the post.

Thanks, Alex.

 

[SirGod]

*Not a teacher

I avoid using the structure "thanks a lot" which, as fivejedjon said, can imply irony. Example:

F: Hey, I have bad news and good news.
B: Tell me both in one sentence.
F: Your car's airbags work!
B: Great, thanks a lot, now I have to go to work on foot.

 

[5jj]

5jdjon, is it because of the leading well? Otherwise I would not be sensible untill I have heard this being told with irony in a voice.

The 'well' and the 'pal' increase the chance of sarcasm. Just 'Thanks a lot' is not sarcastic - unless the intonation tells us that it is .

Otherwise I would not be sensible untill I have heard this being told with irony in a voice.

I think you mean: I would not be aware of this unless I could detect irony in the tone .

In modern English, sensible normally means "able to make good judgements based on reason and experience rather than emotion; practical". (ALD)

 

[AlexAD]

I agree it can. And sometimes it's quite obvious to see.
But at the same time how would you express your booming feelings if you didn't use 'Thanks, a lot. Thank you very much. et cetera?

I think that depends on how the person is feeling about it ;-)

 

[AlexAD]

Otherwise I would not be sensible untill I have heard this being told with irony in a voice.

I think you mean: I would not be aware of this unless I could detect irony in the tone .

In modern English, sensible normally means "able to make good judgements based on reason and experience rather than emotion; practical". (ALD)

Yes, 5jdjon, I do. Thank you for your correction. I used 'sensible' in the meaning of 'aware of sth' that is under the point #3 in the OALD. Here, they give us an example, 'I am sensible of the fact that mathematics is not a popular subject'. Now, I'll rather use your variant.

Thanks, Alex.

 

[5jj]

I used 'sensible' in the meaning of 'aware of sth' that is under the point #3 in the OALD. Here, they give us an example, 'I am sensible of the fact that mathematics is not a popular subject'. Now, I'll rather use your variant.

Definition #3 is correct, but perhaps old-fashioned for most speakers today. The dictionary gives the note "formal or literary".

 

[AlexAD]

Thank you, for having stressed that. Some entries in the dictionary marked as old-fashioned while the others marked as formal or literaly. But I recognize that the time changes some things fast and native speakers' comments are a great help.

Thanks, Alex.

 

[b.a.d.]

Guys, thank you for clearing up two topics at once! ;-)