Writing using UK English or USA English?
By makatas
@makatas (1098)
Greece
June 11, 2011 5:31am CST
Hello again mylotters! I wish you are having a wonderful day!
I have been in some thoughts lately regarding the way I should be writing in discussions. It is quite obvious that most users of mylot come from the US, and I really do not know if there is chance that US users would not like a person's writing style, if he uses spelling of UK English.
Personally I have been taught UK English, and though the differences are not many, and I possibly know most of them, I have come to wonder on it.
Even my browser's typo corrector shows my typing as wrong occasionally, just because it favors (favours?) US English instead.
I will give you some examples:
"Favourite" is indicated as wrong.
"Colours" same.
So what should I do? Would you, US friends of mine or US users in general, get annoyed to read something written in UK English?
4 people like this
12 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
11 Jun 11
Use whichever version of English spelling you are used to and happy with. MyLot is an international site (although it is American and based in Kansas). Because I am from the UK, I use British English spelling and words and nobody objects (or has done yet!).
The Guidelines tell us not to "Post discussions, responses or comments criticizing members for bad/broken English or bad spelling. Everyone is welcome at myLot, we have users from all around the world and they are welcome regardless of their proficiency with the English Language."
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
11 Jun 11
Speaking as a US citizen from Kansas, I think you will do fine makatas. I actually enjoy owlwings posts a lot. I grew up in another state and learned to hear many words with a totally different accent that is much worse than the occasional changed letter. Brahma bulls were Bremers and we did not wash, we warshed. I traveled the world by way of books and I really enjoy the flavor of various accents in what I read.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Jun 11
I would just write it out in UK English and then if the publisher doesn't like it he can have the editor do a proof read give it an US English flair. I actually enjoy the UK English and learning the slang and so forth. I think if the storty is set in Endgland it should be written that way.
2 people like this
@makatas (1098)
• Greece
12 Jun 11
Well, the time I started to be taught English, the top certificate was from Cambridge, and the relative one from USA was not considered a good choice.
I will repeat however, that I know the differences aren't many, but somehow, you might agree with me, American English are simplified in terms of spelling.
Thank you!
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Jun 11
Perhaps so. I like my English but find the UK's interesting.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
11 Jun 11
Which ever way you are the most comfortable is fine with me, and would be for most of the people I know. It is good of you to want to be so considerate, but I do not think it really matters. I have many friends from the UK on the Lot and there has never been any discussion about how to communicate best.I would say that as long as you do not use text speak, I am fine with whatever you write. Text speak and abbreviations make me wild. I personally enjoy reading where sometimes the "u" is included after the "o" and "z" is used instead of "s". It is still highly readable and gives me a taste of nostalgia because I have read many mysteries with the UK flair.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
13 Jun 11
Low star rating and low earnings as well. I think you will do quite well.
@allknowing (130064)
• India
11 Jun 11
I too have noticed it. My spell checker will insist that I spell 'organising' as 'organizing' (z instead of s) and so many other objections but I do my own thing. myLot accepts both versions and even those with spelling errors and grammatical errors too!
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215470)
• Chile
11 Jun 11
Never trust a computer as the final word in spelling. In Spanish, my native language, there are words whose letters are the same but have accent or not depending on the meaning. The machine reads word by word but knows nothing of meanings
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
12 Jun 11
You are right there marguicha. Just when I feel all is hunky dory there would be red lines galore which prompts me to use the search engine and invariably what I type appears to be the right spelling!
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
11 Jun 11
Hi there,
I would not ever been annoyed with different uses of the English language at all. In fact no matter how much I have tried to proof read sometimes as it is been submitted I can there is an error and or a word I preferred to be spelled differently.
We all do the best we can and in fact my Firefox at times feels to be better in English then me, lol because though I know the word is spelled wrong Firefox seems to think it knows best.
You will be fine and I do not see anything annoying and or disturbing about what you are typing and in fact there are some users who have a great difficulty and I do not feel annoyed at all, in fact I feel very proud of anyone who is not afraid to try as with time they will get better and that is a plus factor for me as well as encouraging to others to not be afraid and try.
@makatas (1098)
• Greece
12 Jun 11
Indeed, I think those whose mother tongue is not English have added a serious effort into learning the language for many years, and that is something they can be proud of.
Thank you for your reply. I added you as a friend, so if you feel like accepting it I would be glad. Have a nice day!
@naija4real (1291)
•
11 Jun 11
I advise you to use any of the internationally recognised english language be it that of the united kingdom or that of the american. Which ever of this english language that you use is acceptable in as much as you are friendly to other members. avoid insulting people and try to be very polite and also avoid be a racist. If you abide by all this golden rules you are on your way to earn your small little pay.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215470)
• Chile
11 Jun 11
This is an international site an it only asks us to write in nglish. I do the best I can, considering that my native language is not English. Sometimes I write colous, sometimes I write colors. I think if the rest understand us is enough. And I think that if anyone gets annoyed, he/she is just a person that will get annoyed for anything and you must not worry about it. At least I don´t mind about my English and I have a lot of wonderful friends here from all the world (including the US).
@millertime (1394)
• United States
12 Jun 11
How does that saying go? Americans and Brits are two peoples separated by a common language. 
I don't think a few spelling differences will keep anyone from either country from understanding what you mean. As a matter of fact, I wasn't aware of the spelling differences until I started using MyLot so I consider it a learning experience. I think you can spell either way and it will be fine. 
I don't think a few spelling differences will keep anyone from either country from understanding what you mean. As a matter of fact, I wasn't aware of the spelling differences until I started using MyLot so I consider it a learning experience. I think you can spell either way and it will be fine. @frogzy (84)
• India
11 Jun 11
generally, US English is highly used in computer and internet fields. So, IMHO, using US English is better than UK English. So it is easier to read, understand, explain and translate!
Sorry, if anything wrong, please correct me Lotters!
@makatas (1098)
• Greece
12 Jun 11
I do not think translation will be different, or reading will be harder if it's done on UK English. So I will disagree on you with this. Plus let's not forget the original language is UK English.
Thank you for your reply, welcome to Mylot and have a nice day!
@Porkchopchop (324)
• Hong Kong
11 Jun 11
You don't have to think this much. The most important function of a language is for people to communicate with others. So the question you should ask yourself is whether you can convey the meaning and express the feeling using English. Sometimes people might not understand what others' talking about because of cultural difference. But I don't really think the difference in spelling of one letter would cause this kind of misunderstanding.
And you know there are people of different races living in the US together, they should have get accustomed to people using English from different area of the world. So just enjoy interacting and discussing with other mylotters here!
@Fleura (29128)
• United Kingdom
27 Oct 15
I don't know whether writing in British English would annoy Americans, but I come from Britain so that's what I use, at least when writing for myself. When I'm working (which also involves writing) then I use UK or US English whichever the client prefers.
Incidentally you should be able to change your language settings so you are not told that you're wrong all the time.
