There was a huge difference between an American 'period' and an English 'full stop' to me for decades. The same thing having two different names in the same lan

There was a huge difference between an American 'period' and an English 'full stop' to me for decades. The same thing having two different names in the same language only became apparent to me well into my life. Hearing US stand-ups ending lines, punctuated with a throaty 'Period!' I thought were referencing time immemorial, not just 'that's the end of my sentence'.