[Lion in Winter]

Originally Posted by kimilseung I use only British spelling at work, I am hoping my boss kicks up a fuss, and I will then complain about lack of cultural tolerance and derogatory ethnic slurs. I think there might be a bit of a pay cheque in it.

I'm trying for a similar angle on "say something, your accent is so cute". I mean, they wouldn't do that to someone from India or China, now would they?

[Beaverstate]

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter I'm trying for a similar angle on "say something, your accent is so cute". I mean, they wouldn't do that to someone from India or China, now would they?

Those accents aren't cute.

[WEBlue]

Originally Posted by GeoffM American spelling for Americans, British for the British. Simple as that. . . .

I try for this too, since I'm new to the US. Orient here, not orientate. Town center not centre. (Except there's one annoying town called "Centreville"--hubby says that's an American town with silly British pretentions.) License not licence. It's good mental exercise!

In our time living abroad, I taught English in international schools with students from different countries, & had to brush up on the way English words were spelled all over the world, so as to mark their papers fairly. Some countries use both British & American spellings (Japan for one), depending on when the word entered into common use there.

[Xebedee]

I have reversed all the on/offs on the light switches in my house and also the hot/cold for all the taps.

Its not technically a change in spelling, but slightly enjoyable.

[kimilseung]

Originally Posted by Xebedee I have reversed all the on/offs on the light switches in my house and also the hot/cold for all the taps. Its not technically a change in spelling, but slightly enjoyable.

and I refuse to drive on the right. It is shocking to see the anger when I just stand up (well sit down) for my cultural rights!

[Sally Redux]

Originally Posted by Xebedee I have reversed all the on/offs on the light switches in my house

That's a really good idea I still get confused.

[robin1234]

Originally Posted by kimilseung and I refuse to drive on the right. It is shocking to see the anger when I just stand up (well sit down) for my cultural rights!

Much more culturally-sensitive and non-judgemental to drive in the centre of the road.

[Lion in Winter]

Originally Posted by kimilseung and I refuse to drive on the right. It is shocking to see the anger when I just stand up (well sit down) for my cultural rights!

I get a similar reaction when I put the day before the month when putting down dates. Honestly.

[Lion in Winter]

Originally Posted by robin1234 Much more culturally-sensitive and non-judgemental to drive in the centre of the road.

That's the Mexican way of doing it. It took me a while to get used to that.

[kimilseung]

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter I get a similar reaction when I put the day before the month when putting down dates. Honestly.

I did not understand why I was the only person to be present for most meetings, till I realized how culturally insensitive my colleagues are.

[robin1234]

Originally Posted by kimilseung I did not understand why I was the only person to be present for most meetings, till I realized how culturally insensitive my colleagues are.

Meeting was more productive that way, no?

[coastieexpat]

I try to cater my spelling to the audience, however it does feel really strange spelling it " wrong ".

I feel as if somebody is going to hit me over the knuckles with a ruler

[Sassyjaybabe]

At work I use American spelling, but when I write on any website, write letters (even to other Americans) I write using English spellings, its how my brain works!

[kimilseung]

Originally Posted by Sassyjaybabe At work I use American spelling, but when I write on any website, write letters (even to other Americans) I write using English spellings, its how my brain works!

I have difficulty knowing which is which for many words. I can stop and think with words like theatre/er as I know the Brit spelling is French influenced, but I have to think. Others like grey/gray I have to look up.

[Primula]

Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing That's coz us Brits are dead classy, like ...

Word!

Originally Posted by rebs Depends on the meaning - curb for curtail or limit and kerb for the edge of the pavement.

Well I never knew that! Thanks.

Originally Posted by Weeze I used to make an effort to change the autocorrect from US spellings back to English on my iPad. Now I generally can't be arsed and get lots of " you are spelling like an American" responses. Actually I'm just lazy.

On my first trips back to England after I had emigrated, I used to rack my brain for the English words so that I wouldn't alienate my younger siblings. Pavement for sidewalk, serviette for napkin, etc., etc. But, as the decades went by, I couldn't remember the Brit words so I stopped doing this. I was reading an English novel the other day and I had to look up the word spanner. It sounded familiar, but I had no clue that it's a wrench.

Originally Posted by Bink Do you say Mom or Mum?

I'm confused. Isn't mum pronounced mom? I thought it was just the spelling that is different here.

Originally Posted by kimilseung I think there might be a bit of a pay cheque in it.

There might be a pay check in it.

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter I'm trying for a similar angle on "say something, your accent is so cute".

Jeez, it's a compliment!

Originally Posted by Xebedee I have reversed all the on/offs on the light switches in my house and also the hot/cold for all the taps.

Are you saying that in England the settings of the switches and taps (faucets!) are different from ours?

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter I get a similar reaction when I put the day before the month when putting down dates.

That is a pain here. 4/4/12 is okay, but something like 4/8/2012 is confusing to other countries. How are they supposed to know its April 8 and not August 4?

Originally Posted by coastieexpat I feel as if somebody is going to hit me over the knuckles with a ruler

Or a straight edge.

Originally Posted by kimilseung Others like grey/gray I have to look up.

I have the same problem with that too. Some words I just simply avoid. Some words I never pronounce either. Lieutenant, for one; I will not touch that word with a 10-foot pole.