Hee! I still say university as well, and it takes me a moment when people say they're going to college.

Oh, and there's another one: "as well." I use "too" only in very specific circs: "Hey! Me too!"

Thanks for the pointer, deb. The classic Britspeak in my own accent, and that I'm writing in Giles and Spike, affects the Americans at times.

Is

"True—but that could be a good thing. If you let me put these down inside, I’ll go and get the rest—Xander gave me a lift, but he couldn’t stay to help carry."

For the second time that day he stood back to allow me to enter. This time, I went back past him almost at once, saying, "I can help for maybe two hours, then I have to get to class."

Am, yup, definitely. I'd be tempted to add something like "...carry stuff" at the end of the first one, just because I can hear Willow saying it.

It's a huge balancing act, isn't it? I'm Britlingual but I'm sadly lacking in the current slang - even "pants!" was new to me as of a year ago. So mine is the phrasing and slang I used as a child, and I'd bet a lot of it is obsolete.

It's difficult. But I think you're right about "carry stuff"-- very Willow.

Do you ever find yourself wanting to write something with phrases like "going down the pub" or "going out to the shops", and then remember, it's an American speaking, and really, they wouldn't?

I've programmed myself to double-check in my head for that. Because I do it all. the. time.

Actually, I'd say "Xander gave me a ride" because a lift is pretty Brit too.

Deena, is it? Because when I think lift, I think what Americans call an elevator. But "Can I catch a ride" or "Gotta go, my ride's here", yup - very American.

Beg to differ on "fetch", there are enclaves, generally more rural, where "fetch" is common. Heck, how many people have played "fetch" with the dog. The phrase "let me fetch that for you" or something to that effect was not uncommon in my childhood--or even now. (Southwestern Pennsylvania, a bit linguistically behind the times, but not completely out of step with the rest of the world.) It would seem more countrified, though, and I don't know if a young Californian would use it. Unless she'd heard her grandma use it regularly.

I sometimes say fetch, but more often, "can I get that for you" or, "I got that thing you wanted", or "I picked up what you asked for". I say, "Greg gave me a ride over" or "I got a ride from Bozo".

"True—but that could be a good thing. If you let me put these down inside, I’ll go and fetch the rest—Xander gave me a lift, but he couldn’t stay to help carry."

For the second time that day he stood back to allow me to enter. This time, I went back past him almost at once, saying, "I can help for maybe two hours, then I must be off again."

Actually, this is how I'd write this bit, trying to think in Willow-speak.

"True, but, that's a good thing, right? If I could just put these down? inside?" I waited for him to move. He was a little slow, today, but that wasn't really surprising. "Thanks. And then I'll go get the rest. Xander gave me a ride over here, but he couldn't stay to help so it's all just piled on the sidewalk, willy-nilly." I juggled my hands, trying to demonstrate willy-nilly. It's hard to do when you're carrying things. "I can help for, like, 2 hours, and then I have to get to class."