The DU Lounge

raccoon

(31,126 posts) Fri Jul 29, 2016, 11:53 AM Jul 2016

How come Brits talk about fortnights but Americans don't? Come to think of it, I bet Aussies don't

either. Canadians? IDK.

Or maybe my question should be, Brits, do yall still talk about fortnights? Or is that something one only sees in books?

14 replies

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How come Brits talk about fortnights but Americans don't? Come to think of it, I bet Aussies don't (Original Post) raccoon Jul 2016 OP

Many Americans use fortnight unc70 Jul 2016 #1

Then you're weird. Or maybe a spy from the UK. nt raccoon Jul 2016 #2

Yes, and maybe so unc70 Jul 2016 #3

I thought it was frillips of photons per furlong squared per fortnight ... eppur_se_muova Jul 2016 #11

I was going to mention that! The most obscure measure in the world. nolabear Jul 2016 #13

I still use that word every couple of weeks or so. n/t Ron Obvious Jul 2016 #4

We only use it in speed measurements... Wounded Bear Jul 2016 #5

That's when we Americans have our independence fireworks each July pinboy3niner Jul 2016 #6

Are fortnights biweekly or bimonthly? Tom Kitten Jul 2016 #7

Both, I think sakabatou Jul 2016 #8

Yes. eom lastlib Jul 2016 #12

I would be happy to discuss fortnights astral Jul 2016 #9

I'd say we Aussies use 'fortnightly' for things that occur regularly on a fortnightly basis SwissTony Jul 2016 #10

they still use stone also Enrique Jul 2016 #14

unc70

(6,121 posts)

1. Many Americans use fortnight

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Fri Jul 29, 2016, 12:25 PM

Jul 2016

I probably use the word about once every fortnight or two. Would probably use it more frequently in the UK.

For professional reasons, familiar with micro fortnight. (Still love VMS.)

And of course an old favorite, furlongs per fortnight

raccoon

(31,126 posts)

2. Then you're weird. Or maybe a spy from the UK. nt

Reply to unc70 (Reply #1)

Fri Jul 29, 2016, 12:36 PM

Jul 2016

unc70

(6,121 posts)

3. Yes, and maybe so

Reply to raccoon (Reply #2)

Fri Jul 29, 2016, 01:12 PM

Jul 2016

I am weird, but typical so for a DUer. Not from the UK, though I did own a company there for a while, and not really a spy.

eppur_se_muova

(36,293 posts)

11. I thought it was frillips of photons per furlong squared per fortnight ...

Reply to unc70 (Reply #1)

Sat Jul 30, 2016, 07:26 PM

Jul 2016

obviously, a measure of illumination.

nolabear

(41,991 posts)

13. I was going to mention that! The most obscure measure in the world.

Reply to unc70 (Reply #1)

Sat Jul 30, 2016, 09:14 PM

Jul 2016

Furlongs per fortnight!

Ron Obvious

(6,261 posts)

4. I still use that word every couple of weeks or so. n/t

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Fri Jul 29, 2016, 03:37 PM

Jul 2016

Wounded Bear

(58,713 posts)

5. We only use it in speed measurements...

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Fri Jul 29, 2016, 04:36 PM

Jul 2016

Furlongs per fortnight.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)

6. That's when we Americans have our independence fireworks each July

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Fri Jul 29, 2016, 04:41 PM

Jul 2016

Tom Kitten

(7,350 posts)

7. Are fortnights biweekly or bimonthly?

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Sat Jul 30, 2016, 02:48 AM

Jul 2016

Both?
At least I know how long they are!

sakabatou

(42,176 posts)

8. Both, I think

Reply to Tom Kitten (Reply #7)

Sat Jul 30, 2016, 04:22 AM

Jul 2016

It's 14 days

lastlib

(23,288 posts)

12. Yes. eom

Reply to Tom Kitten (Reply #7)

Sat Jul 30, 2016, 08:20 PM

Jul 2016

astral

(2,531 posts)

9. I would be happy to discuss fortnights

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Sat Jul 30, 2016, 11:49 AM

Jul 2016

if I knew what they were.

SwissTony

(2,560 posts)

10. I'd say we Aussies use 'fortnightly' for things that occur regularly on a fortnightly basis

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Sat Jul 30, 2016, 04:44 PM

Jul 2016

Here's a link to a Fortnightly tax table (Oz Gov site)...

https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Fortnightly-tax-table/

If we're speaking a little less formally, we'd probably say something like "every two weeks".

Enrique

(27,461 posts)

14. they still use stone also

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Sat Jul 30, 2016, 09:24 PM

Jul 2016

as a unit of weight. I like it

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