Obscure British/American spelling differences.
Jul 16th 2016, 8:45 am
#1
Heading for Poppyland
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,545
Obscure British/American spelling differences.
We all know about colour/color and sceptical/skeptical, but I just discovered yet another common word that I never knew had variant spellings!
I was just going to send off an email that included the word "instal." In looking at my text for errors and typos, I thought - is that how you spell it? Surely it's spelled "install?" Sure enough, supposedly "instal" is British, "install" American.
I'm guessing I typed "install" but my iPad corrected it to "instal," now that I have it on British settings. Interesting that if I type "color," it wants to correct it to "Colorado" rather than "colour!!"
I was just going to send off an email that included the word "instal." In looking at my text for errors and typos, I thought - is that how you spell it? Surely it's spelled "install?" Sure enough, supposedly "instal" is British, "install" American.
I'm guessing I typed "install" but my iPad corrected it to "instal," now that I have it on British settings. Interesting that if I type "color," it wants to correct it to "Colorado" rather than "colour!!"
Jul 16th 2016, 9:42 am
#2
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,217
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
We all know about colour/color and sceptical/skeptical, but I just discovered yet another common word that I never knew had variant spellings!
I was just going to send off an email that included the word "instal." In looking at my text for errors and typos, I thought - is that how you spell it? Surely it's spelled "install?" Sure enough, supposedly "instal" is British, "install" American.
I'm guessing I typed "install" but my iPad corrected it to "instal," now that I have it on British settings. Interesting that if I type "color," it wants to correct it to "Colorado" rather than "colour!!"
I was just going to send off an email that included the word "instal." In looking at my text for errors and typos, I thought - is that how you spell it? Surely it's spelled "install?" Sure enough, supposedly "instal" is British, "install" American.
I'm guessing I typed "install" but my iPad corrected it to "instal," now that I have it on British settings. Interesting that if I type "color," it wants to correct it to "Colorado" rather than "colour!!"
Jul 16th 2016, 10:44 am
#3
Heading for Poppyland
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,545
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
Edited to add;
On further investigation, the Guardian does use "instal" but it looks like the BBC switched to "install" some years ago. I don't know about other British style guides....
Last edited by robin1234; Jul 16th 2016 at 10:56 am.
Jul 16th 2016, 12:27 pm
#4
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
Jul 16th 2016, 1:34 pm
#5
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
Words like curb and kerb confuse me and I can never remember which way around the US and British spellings vary.
It was only a couple of years ago that I discovered that the OED prefers the -ize suffixes in most cases, over -ise.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jul 16th 2016 at 2:32 pm.
Jul 16th 2016, 1:42 pm
#6
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
Likewise.
Words like curb and kurb confuse me and I can never remember which way around the US and British spellings vary.
It was only a couple of years ago that I discovered that the OED prefers the -ize suffixes in most cases, over -ise.
Words like curb and kurb confuse me and I can never remember which way around the US and British spellings vary.
It was only a couple of years ago that I discovered that the OED prefers the -ize suffixes in most cases, over -ise.
Jul 16th 2016, 1:50 pm
#7
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
If you are thinking of the edge of the pavement it is kerb with an e in the UK; a curb is a type of bit for a horse's bridle!
Jul 16th 2016, 2:03 pm
#8
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
In my defense it is midnight here and I'm knackered. 
Jul 16th 2016, 5:18 pm
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,106
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
The worst thing I find is forgetting which is the British one and which is US. S or Z? Or with pronunciation is it shedule or sKedule?
Jul 16th 2016, 6:39 pm
#10
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
Likewise on curb/ kerb. Tire/ tyre is another one that now looks wrong to me whichever one I use, along with gage/ gauge.
Jul 16th 2016, 7:31 pm
#11
Return of bouncing girl!
Joined: Sep 2004
Location: The Fourth Reich
Posts: 4,931
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
Diphthongs! I still use oestrogen, paediatrician, anaemic etc. but it's starting to look more and more "wrong" to me. Not to mention diarrhoea.
Ditto with the -er and -re endings. Theatre, metre...
Travelling still doesn't look right with one l though.
Ditto with the -er and -re endings. Theatre, metre...
Travelling still doesn't look right with one l though.
Jul 16th 2016, 8:57 pm
#13
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
The day I decide aLOOminum is right will be the day when all hope is lost, and I become American.
Jul 16th 2016, 11:00 pm
#14
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Obscure British/American spelling differences.
When it was first described scientifically and given its name, it was only spelt with one "i", so it is a rare example of the British form of the word being "corrupted".