British vs. American Spellings

[Tori]

Personally, I think it doesn't really matter what spelling you use. It's an issue of style. I'm American but to me, certain words (such as harbour and theatre) just look better spelled the "British" way. I also don't think that means I'm pretentious. We shouldn't judge a person's spelling based on their nationality.

Thoughts, Armadillos?

[xxxsylviaplathxxx]

There is nothing better in the world than writing "cheque" instead of "check." It just looks nicer.

[boringrocks]

Technically, a lot of English sticklers consider it wrong to use an English from outside of the country in which you're writing, regardless of what your preference or education was.

So even though I think British English often looks nicer, I've always felt it's a safer bet as an American to stick with American spelling when writing formally. This does not dictate my conduct in text messages, however.

[Tori]

I know what you mean....I've had points taken off for using "harbour" and "whilst" in essays before....and I didn't even notice I'd done it! In fact, I didn't even know "whilst" was wrong!

[embonpoint]

... "Whilst" is a British English thing? I never thought it mattered which you used - whilst/while.

[boringrocks]

If I may, "whilst" isn't really wrong, but it's nonstandard, which drives certain English professors crazy. Using "whilst," which has no difference in meaning than "while," is technically no different than using "thou" instead of "you."

It's technically not a matter of British vs. English, just more of a question of necessity. Personally, I like "whilst," but that's probably because I enjoy pretentiousness so much.

[Gina]

I'm also a fan of being pretentious. My English teacher must agree; she's the sponsor of our theatre company, and our hoodies say "[School Name] Theatre Company". I felt validated when I saw them.

[rayyychul]

I see nothing wrong with using British or American spellings as long as you stick with one. Any professor that marks down for non-standard spellings should be spoken to and the situation should be rectified; you're not erroneous in using the spellings, nor are you being pretentious.

As a Canadian, British spellings have been standard throughout my schooling, but there are some words that (I find) are always spelt the American way - fetus (rather than foetus) and encyclopedia (rather than encyclopaedia) are two that come to mind.

I suppose "Canadian" English is a mishmash of both American and British English!

[xxxsylviaplathxxx]

Whilst is an incredible word.

Also, I can't stand oe or ae, just because I'm American. I find them cumbersome.

[Epif]

Technically, a lot of English sticklers consider it wrong to use an English from outside of the country in which you're writing, regardless of what your preference or education was.

I kind of agree (at least, for words that I recognize as "British" as opposed to "American"). When Inglourious Basterds came out, I couldn't stop mispronouncing it ("in-glahr-ee-ous base-turds") not because I disliked the spelling, but because it's an American movie with non-American English spelling.

And on another note, I have always considered "theater" to be more akin to "movie theater" and "theatre" to be more akin to the building that shows stage plays, which I suppose makes sense, as there were stage plays long before the "New World."

[Mary Sandals]

I'm an American and from school I learned American spellings. From my reading I have discovered British spelling and I really am not bothered when one is used over the other. I do think it makes more sense that if you are American to use the American spelling and if you are British to use the British spelling. I am guilty (as a foreign language student) of falling into the habit of writing "theatre", though

[Dodger Thirteen]

I usually just damn Noah Webster whenever I'm marked off for British spellings. I dislike writing works like "favourite" and "colour" without the "u." It just looks wrong. Words like "theatre" and "centre" also just look better. I picked up these spelling at an early age - I don't even know how. They just kind of popped up one day and never left. Wasn't even aware they were British spellings until high school and my teachers started marking off for them.

One thing I refuse, though, is giving up the American "z" for "realize" and the like. The "s" just looks strange.


I get away with it a lot at uni, though, as most of my professors are Canadian and they spell that way themselves.

[embonpoint]

I don't really mind which people use, but what I HATE is that now some British spellings are changing to the 'American' way. For example, I studied chemistry last year and we were told that sulphur had to be spelt with an 'f' and in biology, 'foetus' became 'fetus', 'haemoglobin' became 'hemoglobin' etc. That, I really hate. There's nothing wrong with how we spell it and I take great exception to being told to change it, for no reason whatsoever.

[brosephargh]

I don't understand why we can't all just get along with out words. I honestly think that people who take it personally or find someone pretentious for using a British spelling over an American spelling are the type of xenophobes we ought to be rooting out. English can be whatever way we interpret it be - as is our joy as writers and readers. For someone to say that preferring a certain spelling or pronunciation of a word is "wrong" or "lesser" than another is simply rude and a suppression of our individualities. I'm American, and if I deign to use a British spelling in an essay, for the aesthetic quality or the style it brings to my work, then I damn well will be using it, despite the grade penalty I might receive.

I dislike the idea of "American" English versus "British" English anyway, simply because a rift in language is the root of a rift in culture, which is something our countries ought to be long past. I say we call all of it English, with all of its different spellings, and use whichever the hell we please.

Sorry for ranting, but this particular topic bothers me.

[Lady Macbeth]

I grew up with Canadian spellings and had no idea that they were any different from British spellings until high school, at which point I felt rather linguistically awkward for spelling half my words the British way and the other half the American way. I still find it kind of unusual, but I've only to remind myself that Canadian spelling is a valid third system and it all seems better.

Personally, I am a bit of a stickler for spelling according to the country in which you're writing, or at least that in which you were educated. I frequently see my classmates writing "color" and "favorite" and it makes me cringe every time. You are Canadian, friends! Do not omit the U!