Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

mpfs- isn't the "l" business universal, ie we (the royal one, as in Mrs T) always double them in that kind of situation, and you, in America, do not??

jigjag, if you need any advice about relationships, ask away!!! (grin)
For 29 years I have been looking at censuses. The 1911 one has great scope for amusement. There was a column for "Infirmities". among which was recorded "bad- tempered" and "greedy". Less amusing (but one can see why) was the reaction of some women - "No persons in this house, only women". "If I can't vote I don't count".
A few people included their pets - name Tom, occupation, mouse-catcher, number of children , about 100.
Occupations from the 1881 census-
Knight of the Thimble (presumably this really existed)
Dead
Beef twister
Rotter's boy (? to do with linen rhetting? Yeah, I know it can be spelled retting)
There are also some wonderful names and some surnames which indictate foundlings- Churchyard for example.
Much earlier some first names were extraordinary. In my own family tree, Xenobia, Admonition and Philadelphia occur. I have read of Humiliation. Poor children (kids are baby goats)
Think that's enough for now

I don't think there is anything wrong with "whilst" in that context. It seems the word was used more generally in the past in cases where we would now only use "while". Eg: I served for a whilst with the earl of Leicester.

As for unusual job titles in censuses, how about:
abecedarian (a teacher of the alphabet)
zythepsarist (a brewer)
eggler (a dealer in eggs)
legerdemainist (a magician)
tiger (a liveried groom)
couranteer (a journalist).

Not all these words are in the dictionary, not even the 20-volume OED, so I think some people are just being whimsical.

orson
Whilst I take your point, "while" exc;usively refers to duration in time.

With respect, chrise, I would say that using "whilst" in your sentence is no better than using "while". "Whilst" can always be replaced by "while", but "while" cannot always be replaced by "whilst".

Some people object to using "while" when "although" or "whereas" are meant.

While/whilst I agree with you... [Although]
I vote Conservative while my wife votes Labour... [whereas].

But that is the height of pendantry.

I tripped on one of those Travel Dodge things in Asda. I reported it and the assistant said she would have to escalate the complaint.

Grunger

I like it! I remember that when the Luxurious Inter-Floor Transporter was invented, the Americans called it elevator, which seems inaccurate, but we stuck to the acronym.

ChrisE and Orson, the while/whilst stuff has been interesting. It's something I barely notice, but that's a good thing really - I don't want to spend all my days simmering!

Grunger

I was sorry to hear about your trip on the 'thingy' but was delighted that the assistant was going to escalate your complaint - better that than parking it.

Rosalind

I feel for the dead person trying to complete the census. It is hard enough for the living.

I helped with the 2001 census, having 4 areas in South Wirral. It was very enjoyable, but you had to ask people how many households were in the property, to give them forms. I got some strange answers. One man told me that he and his girlfriend were one household, and his wife was another. They had 2 bedrooms, but shared other rooms and had meals together. All 3 were happy with the arrangement.

I applied for the 2011 census but failed the aptitude test! Only "test" I have ever failed. I taught a class with the Christian names: Blessing, Goodness, Mercy amongst others.

jigjg

Very surprised you failed the aptitude test!
Love the story of the two households, no doubt a pragmatic arrangement.
What an interesting class!

Rosalind, I forgot to post that I enjoyed reading about the censuses. The infirmities part was great fun, do you think I could put down 'pedant' on my form?

Mathsprofrockstar, I've decided to ignore - completely - the travelator and I feel 'travellator' is just as inelegant. I'm unlikely to ever need to use the word, so I will cope.