Variations on a country: do U notice we use the same words, but spell different?
By Amber
@AmbiePam (120547)
United States
February 23, 2007 7:45am CST
We use the same English words, but spell them differently. America writes recognize, Britain and India write recognise. I once got in trouble in the 7th grade for spelling the word 'recognise.' I had been reading a British author and started spelling how the book was printed. I realize British, Australian, and I think Indian people(because they were under rule of England at one time) have these same differences in words and spellings. For instance, I say color. They say colour. What other words can you think of that are differently spelled, yet the same word? Which type of spelling do you like better?
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4 responses
@jessescottus (807)
• United States
23 Feb 07
When it comes to American langauge almost
all is OK as far as I am concerned. The word
change so much, their meaning, I don't think
that U should matter. Whne I was in Collage
one teacher that I had had the same problem
w/me using the U's. He said that enough was
E-nuff.
1 person likes this
@Monkeymia (206)
• Australia
23 Feb 07
I have noticed this too. I chat with a lot of Americans on scrapbooking forums and Im always mis-spelling words because of the different spellings.
The worse thing is my spell check is American so it is constantly telling me that Im spelling the words wrong.
@AmbiePam (120547)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Yeah, I bet that is hard. I wonder if there is an actual correct way of spelling a word. Like valor. Other nations spell it valour. I know not a lot of people use that word anyway, so maybe it is a poor example.
Maybe there is no universal rule. I guess you are supposed to spell it how your country spells it. That would make it hard though to be a Brit in American or an American in Australia. Our spelling would be constantly corrected! : )
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
Yes we spell favour, colour, labour instead of favor, color, and labor. We spell recognize too.
Yes either Indian or Malaysian I notice they speak and write like my husband who is British Canadian. Some words here came from French language and I noticed that my husband doesn't know how to spell those sometimes but now I don't remember which ones. English is my second language so I kind of "follow" my husband in that regard, I'd have to trust that he knows what he is talking about :)
@Beertjie (976)
• South Africa
24 Feb 07
I have noyiced it but never realy thought much of it. The way you explaned it is interesting and makes sense. I think if we can trace all the words back and look at history we will find that the countries that use it the same are related in one way or another. I can't think of any words now but good luck with the search.
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