Arrive AT or Arrive TO?

[Mannahnin]

IME, this gets shortened to half-past and drops the hour as it can be properly inferred as either in the range of the current, previous, or next hour. If not, the literal ( 2:30 )

Sure. "Half past" as a short reference to 30 minutes past the hour when which hour has already been established is both American and British English.

It's the specific construction "half [number of hour]" which I don't see/hear used by Americans. Always by Brits or Irish. Not sure about but wouldn't be surprised if it's used in the Commonwealths.

 

[Morrus]

Sure. "Half past" as a short reference to 30 minutes past the hour when which hour has already been established is both American and British English.

It's the specific construction "half [number of hour]" which I don't see/hear used by Americans. Always by Brits or Irish. Not sure about but wouldn't be surprised if it's used in the Commonwealths.

It’s just us being lazy. The correct term is half past two. We say half two for the same reason we say thanks instead of thank you or bye instead of goodbye.

 

[Mannahnin]

It’s just us being lazy. The correct term is half past two. We say half two for the same reason we say thanks instead of thank you or bye instead of goodbye.

Hey, we're lazy too!

I don't know why it's never caught on here, while the latter two are endemic.

 

[dbolack]

Sure. "Half past" as a short reference to 30 minutes past the hour when which hour has already been established is both American and British English.

It's the specific construction "half [number of hour]" which I don't see/hear used by Americans. Always by Brits or Irish. Not sure about but wouldn't be surprised if it's used in the Commonwealths.

That would match with my 50 years of being an ignorant American, yes.

 

[pukunui]

Here’s a question for the English in the thread: My wife wanted to know if England had any sandy beaches, so I googled it. Yes, you do. However, in the process of looking at the search results, I came across a number of them using a strange (to me) phrasing – namely, “can I swim in x beach?”

As an American, I would say “swim at the beach”. You swim in the water at the beach, but you don’t swim in the sand!

Is that a thing that people in the UK say? Or is it just Google being weird?

 

[Ryujin]

Here’s a question for the English in the thread: My wife wanted to know if England had any sandy beaches, so I googled it. Yes, you do. However, in the process of looking at the search results, I came across a number of them using a strange (to me) phrasing – namely, “can I swim in x beach?”

As an American, I would say “swim at the beach”. You swim in the water at the beach, but you don’t swim in the sand!

Is that a thing that people in the UK say? Or is it just Google being weird?

Not just the UK. To rephrase, if I'm at X beach can I swim?

 

[pukunui]

Not just the UK. To rephrase, if I'm at X beach can I swim?

I'm confused by your response. Are you saying you've heard people in other countries asking if they can swim in a beach?

 

[Morrus]

Here’s a question for the English in the thread: My wife wanted to know if England had any sandy beaches, so I googled it. Yes, you do. However, in the process of looking at the search results, I came across a number of them using a strange (to me) phrasing – namely, “can I swim in x beach?”

As an American, I would say “swim at the beach”. You swim in the water at the beach, but you don’t swim in the sand!

Is that a thing that people in the UK say? Or is it just Google being weird?

No, I've never heard that. And yes, we do have sandy beaches, but I much prefer the stark, dramatic, rocky coastlines. I've never been much of a sunbather!

 

[pukunui]

No, I've never heard that. And yes, we do have sandy beaches, but I much prefer the stark, dramatic, rocky coastlines. I've never been much of a sunbather!

LOL. Fair enough!

I guess it's either just google being weird, or it's gotten the phrasing from somewhere else - like people for whom English is a second language?

 

[Morrus]

I guess it's either just google being weird, or it's gotten the phrasing from somewhere else - like people for whom English is a second language?

Are they actually using the word 'beach' in the phrase? I'm wondering if you're seeing references where the name of the water and the name of the beach are the same or something (not that I can think of any examples of that). But if the word beach is literally being used then I guess that's not it.