'z' or 's' - I'm confused or confuzed!

I've always thought "z" was American English and "s" is British English but while both are acceptable the "s" is more natural to us in UK.

I agree Greenfinch, that's my understanding. I don't like the 'z'!

I think the "z" is actually older British. Both are acceptable but I think the "s" is a more modern usage. When I was a young typist (a long time go) the "z" was considered a bit old hat.

My problem at the moment is writing academic (sort of) assignments and I'm rather afraid I beginning to use both at the same time - it's driving me nuts.
Also academic books consistently use 'z'. However, some people on the course use 's'!

It is simpler to use the "s" as it is nearly always correct whereas "z" could be wrong. Unless it is a word like "prize" which is obvious there is always an element of doubt. The main thing is to be consistent, I think.

If your are quoting from an academic book you will need to use what the book uses and reference in the manner approved by your academic institution.

"Whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter!" Shakespear?

I am sure that when I was a child, 'z' was used more often in some relevant words than it is today. The use of 's' has crept into the language.

BUT, never in the word 'confuse'. That has always been spelt with an 's'. I feel pretty certain of that.

Is this another of those 'Oxford spell it with a ' ' and Cambridge spell it with a ' '' deals?

Oxford Dictionary online It comes from the Latin, confusus, and old French confus.

I also think z or zee, as Americans pronounce it, instead of an s, is very much American English. If I remember rightly from reading Bill Bryson, they sometimes use old English that we have abandoned here. We have quite a few disparities as far as spelling is concerned.

Yes. They seem to have hung onto the 'z' longer than we have.

I am sure z was used more when I was a child but now s is more normal

Yours sincerely
Rosequarts

If predictive text on my kindle uses z where it's possible to use s I always change to s. I think z looks American.

Set your pc or mob to 'british' English and the 'z's disappear except where they're meant to be eg zoo.

It's the spellcheck on Gransnet that underlines the s. I do not use spellcheck on anything else, but cannot seem to get rid of it on this site.
However, Gransnet is always underlined as well.

I always change z to s if predictive text throws up the z.
I email quite a bit to the USA so find the kerb/curb - theatre/theater etc. etc. is endless. My son has lived there for 11 years and pretty much spells the USA way.... pretty confusing for him as he is dyslexic.

rosequartz/s.

I don't seem to have a spell check on GN (as you may have notised)

Me neether!

In fact I don't think Gransnet has its own spell check, does it?

I think –ize, as in civilize, has been the preferred British spelling for some decades and –ise is the alternative. I seem to remember a complete revision of the style book at the publishers for whom I worked some time in the 1970s because of this. There are, as always, exceptions – advise not advize for example.

Way back in the mists of time, I was taught that z or s depended on whether the word implied instigation of change in the object of the verb...but I cannot remember which is which and don't think it matters.

There is also something to do with the Great Vowel Shift (also from the mists of my education) which had a big influence on English spelling.

So, honestly, does it matter? None of it is to do with Americanization / Americanisation, that's for sure.

Civilisation, civilized - I must have a split personality!