>>On 9 Sep 2004 16:31:18 GMT, Areff <m...@privacy.net> wrote:

>>>First off, you get Oy!ed for using that expression "the States".  This is
>>>a deprecated usage outside of military and diplomatic contexts.  Odd thing
>>>is, the British think Americans commonly use "the States" (they don't),
>>>and the Americans think the British commonly use "the States" (they do,
>>>but only because they mistakenly think that's what Americans commonly do).

>>Naturally.  We have mandatory weekly meetings to discuss how Americans
>>have improved our language, and how we might ape them.  It's the main
>>topic of conversation on the Clapham Omnibus.

>What?  You've cut down the meetings to once a week?  Are we no longer
>respected over there?

>Navy types talk about returning "state-side".  I don't know if this
>also an expression used by the other services.

>>"Mark Barratt" <mark.barr...@enternet.hu> wrote in message
>>news:2qb0otFtik1bU1@uni-berlin.de...

>>>Goofy wrote:

>>>>Should I say 'half hour' or 'half an hour'?  For example, I waited half
>>>>(an) hour to get on the bus.

>>>I would say "(for) half an hour", here.

>>>>Or there is half-(an)-hour break before the class.

>>>This one would be "a half-hour break".

>>>The difference seems to be whether the expression is being used as a
>>>noun or as an adjective.

>>>>For this matter, also 'half second' or 'half a second', 'half minute' or
>>>>'half a minute', and 'half day' or 'half a day'?

>>>The same applies.

>>I think it's largely pondial:

>>AmE: a half-hour

>>BrE: half an hour

> Not simply pondial, though. I say both and hear both in the US. It
> depends on the phrase Some quick googling suggests that both sides say
> "for half an hour" but the US is more willing to say also "for a
> half-hour" than is the UK.