home office vs. main office?

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi, is there a difference between the terms ‘home office’ and ‘main office’ when talking about a company’s headquarters?

Many thanks,
Torsten[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: Almost at the top[YSaerTTEW443543]

2

Hi Torsten,

I would plump for ‘main office’. ‘Home Office’ has a special connotation here because of the government department of that name.

Alan

3

Hmmm, this must be yet another one of those interesting little differences between American English and British English. The expression “home office” is commonly used as a synonym for “headquarters” here in the US. Of course, nowadays it also common to hear people use it to refer to an office they have at home.

I’d say the capitalized version (Home Office) is not widely known in the US. :wink:
dictionary.reference.com/browse/home+office?r=66

Thanks for pointing that difference out, Torsten. :lol:
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[size=75]“One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives.” ~ Mark Twain[/size]

4

Hi Amy and Alan,

What about the term ‘head office’? Is that used in the UK or the US too?
Thanks,
Torsten[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: Checking the map[YSaerTTEW443543]

5

Hi Torsten,

‘Head office’ is certainly familiar to me and suggests ‘headquarters’ or ‘main office.’

Certainly I’m au fait with ‘home office’ as an office in the home. In fact I’ve got such a version in my home.

It’s amazing really the similarities between AmE and BrE. Why, they might even be the same language. Quite astounding.

Alan

6

This is a common error. It has been etymologically proved that BrEng ultimately originated in the plains of central Asia, whereas AmEng was invented on boats: any similarity must be accidental.

7

Hi Cerberus,

What I said, for the record, was said with my tongue firmly in my cheek! The barb was directed at Amy, alias Esl_Expert.

Alan