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Pedants' corner

Draught or draft?

(6 Posts)
RosieandherMaw Sat 21-Jun-25 16:21:58

I suppose it was inevitable given the hot weather but why am I seeing all these references to “drafts”?
To recap
Draft
1.
prepare a preliminary version of (a document).
"I drafted a letter of resignation"
2.
select (a person or group of people) and bring them somewhere for a certain purpose.
"he was drafted in to help fix the engine"
adjective
Not a current of air in an enclosed space!
Of course we also have draught horses and use the word draught with reference to ships.
But most of all, it is the English word for *a light current of air whether caused by ill- fitting windows or by design on hot days”

Scribbles Sat 21-Jun-25 16:40:47

I think the draft spelling in the context of a cool current of air is from the US where they only use 'draught' for beer dispensed from a keg or cask - and even that is losing ground to the alternative spelling.

I'm a pedant about many things but I'm usually happy to accept and use American spellings because they generally make sense in relation to the way the word is pronounced.

However, one that I find hard to cope with is 'expiration' instead of 'expiry', as in credit card validity. That's just bonkers!

welbeck Sat 21-Jun-25 21:18:46

Isn't that like the American
Hospitalisation
Burglaries.

And yet they pry [?spelling] something open
when we would prise it.

welbeck Sat 21-Jun-25 21:20:39

That's not what I wrote.
And checked.
Naughty phone.
I wrote
Hospitalization
Burglarize

Allira Sat 21-Jun-25 22:16:19

Many people enjoy a pint of draught beer in this hot weather.

RosieandherMaw Sat 21-Jun-25 22:35:04

Even in Spoons!