Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Marlen]

Dear teachers,

Is there a difference between "meantime" and "meanwhile", meaning or register wise?

Here are a couple of sentences:

1. The flight will be announced soon. Meanwhile/In the meantime, please remain seated.

2a. Jim went to answer the phone. Meanwhile/In the meantime Pete started to prepare lunch.
2b. Bob spent fifteen months alone on his yacht. Ann, meanwhile/in the meantime, took care of the children on her own.

3a. I'm changing my email address but for the meantime / ?meanwhile? you can use the old one.
3b. We need some new curtains but these will do for the meanwhile / ?meantime?.


4. I didn't see her for another five years, and in the meantime /?meanwhile? she had got married and had a couple of kids.

- COMARING TWO THINGS
I. The incomes of male professionals went up by almost 80%. Meanwhile/?In the meantime?, part-time women workers saw theri earings fall.
Ia. Stress can be extremely damaging to your health. Exercise, meanwhile/?in the meantime?, can reduce its effects.

- AT THE SAME TIME BUT IN ANOTHER PLACE
II. He was having enjoying himself in Las Vegas, meanwhile/?in the meantime? back at the farm there was big trouble.

Thank you very much in advance for your assistance.
Marlen

[mescalero]

Marlen:

You can use meantime and meanwhile interchangeably as you have done below. I think that all of your sentences look good.

Good Luck!!!!
_________________
- Mike

Open English World
http://www.openenglishworld.com