lirazel: An outdoor scene from the film Picnic at Hanging Rock ([s] high-functioning sociopath)
lirazel ([personal profile] lirazel) wrote2011-02-17 01:03 pm

Words whose British spellings I like better

I say British here because the books I read where I picked up these spellings were British, not because I’m ignoring the existence of other countries who spell things that way.


Not too crazy about all those extra “u”s, and I like the letter z, so we’ll keep that one around in things like “realize.”

But!

Judgement. LOOKS WRONG WITHOUT AN E. QUIT YELLING AT ME WITH YOUR SILLY RED LINE, SPELLCHECK!

Grey. I usually use “grey” to talk about a pretty or natural shade of grey—mist or the sea or clouds or something. On the other hand, I use “gray” when I’m talking about something more metallic or ugly—concrete or an ugly building or something.

I’m sure there are others, but those are the ones that leap to mind. Got any of your own? And if you are from not-America, is there any American spelling you actually like better? English as a second language speakers, which did you learn when you were taught the language? American or British spelling and pronunciation? I AM INTERESTED.

Also, Oxford commas forever and ever and ever.

[identity profile] mollivanders.livejournal.com 2011-02-17 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
You are amazing. I was going to post about this yesterday but thought nobody would care. SILLY ME. Livejournal is exactly the place for this.

I can't remember the word that sparked an hour long debate in our office last time but trust me, I was on the British side. And grey is definitely how it's spelled :)