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Pedants' corner

American spelling

(26 Posts)
AlieOxon Sun 22-Sept-13 14:35:24

I had got used to the lack of a 'u' in a lot of words.....but when it comes to 'rouble', guess which vowel is dropped?

vampirequeen Sun 22-Sept-13 15:56:13

I can't stand American spelling on toys and games aimed at UK children. If they're going to sell their product here make sure that words like colour are spelt correctly.

annodomini Sun 22-Sept-13 16:39:27

American spelling on American products is perfectly excusable. However, I do object strongly to spelling such as lite (on low-fat products) and nite. What is the point?

absent Sun 22-Sept-13 20:02:48

AlieOxon Since the word is pronounced roobl, it is perfectly logical to drop the o; it also accords with the transliteration. However, rouble is also used as a variant in the US.

vampirequeen Sun 22-Sept-13 20:55:21

American spelling on products made for the UK market is not acceptable.

thatbags Sun 22-Sept-13 20:59:28

lite and nite have fewer digits. I think that's the point.

I thought ruble was the correct spelling of the Russian standard monetary unit. I've only ever seen it spelled ruble.

Ana Sun 22-Sept-13 21:02:34

I don't understand what you mean by the point of using nite and lite being because they have fewer digits, thatbags. What point?

thatbags Sun 22-Sept-13 21:05:57

Cheaper to get stuff printed is what I'm thinking. May be wrong. There's also the possibility of them being seen as modern and catchy.

thatbags Sun 22-Sept-13 21:06:32

I don't really care one way or another but the question was asked and that's what I think.

thatbags Sun 22-Sept-13 21:07:40

So long as people know what is meant, spelling hardly matters on margarine (foul stuff) or yogurt, in my opinion.

annodomini Sun 22-Sept-13 21:15:14

American spelling is as correct as ours. Historically speaking, the language crossed the Atlantic before dictionaries standardised spelling. The differences are minimal and mutually comprehensible.

GrannyGear Mon 07-Oct-13 14:15:19

I don't find any problems reading American novels. I seem to adjust to colour/color and honour/honor etc after the first few pages.

Perhaps the spelling differences are minimal, annodomini, but the vocabulary and usages aren't. The usual example given is "She was mad about her flat." in UK English this would mean "she was very please about her apartment" in US it would be "she was angry about her puncture".

gracesmum Mon 07-Oct-13 14:45:27

As a just a bout-life long "Wing Nut" (West Wing fan if you don't know) I am always amused when people are described as being pissed - to mean angry (pissed off to us I assume) and I have this mental picture of them several sheets to the wind! (simple pleasures I know) grin

JessM Mon 07-Oct-13 15:17:07

My American friend understands me - she lived in Wales fore 2 years. Her husband often does not and also has to have English translated for him when they watch British TV programmes. We once got our lines thoroughly crossed when I was trying him to give him driving directions in a dark and stressful situation. (You have to say "back up" for instance if you want them to go into reverse)

KatyK Mon 07-Oct-13 17:22:15

I remember when we went to shops not stores.

Anne58 Mon 07-Oct-13 17:23:55

And watched films, not movies.

absent Mon 07-Oct-13 18:17:27

And caught trains at the railway station, where we drank coffee with milk not a flat white.

JessM Mon 07-Oct-13 18:22:49

I think my niece referred to her "bangs" yesterday shock

Galen Mon 07-Oct-13 18:23:36

And ascended in lifts, not elevators.
Rubbers were something you used to erase mistakes
Trousers were held up by braces and stockings by suspenders!

Maggiemaybe Mon 07-Oct-13 18:45:01

I was ticked off by my children yesterday for talking about a stroller. I think it's a much nicer word than pushchair - it conjures up an image of a bit of gentle ambling instead of the hard graft it so often is!

Enviousamerican Mon 07-Oct-13 18:47:37

Couldn't they just be called synonyms? smile

absent Mon 07-Oct-13 18:50:55

Bags There is no reason why lite should be cheaper to print than light. Printing wouldn't be charged by the letter.

AlieOxon Mon 07-Oct-13 19:10:00

Has anyone noticed the number of novels written by Americans and set in Britain, where they 'pass' pretty well....
...........until someone refers to a 'row house' or goes to 'wash up' before eating?

merlotgran Mon 07-Oct-13 19:20:46

When I retired, 'Pay Attention' was being replaced by 'Listen Up'

annodomini Mon 07-Oct-13 19:20:51

Elizabeth York's Inspector Linley detective stories have many examples of that, Alie.