home office vs. main office?

[Torsten]

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

Many thanks,
Torsten
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Alan]

Hi Torsten,

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

Alan
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[Esl_Expert]

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.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/home+office?r=66

Thanks for pointing that difference out, Torsten.
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[Torsten]

Hi Amy and Alan,

What about the term 'head office'? Is that used in the UK or the US too?
Thanks,
Torsten
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Alan]

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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
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[Cerberus™]

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.

[Alan]

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
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