I have often wondered if visitors form other lands will think I am having difficulties with my spelling. I actually think about it every time I post words like: behaviour, cheque, harbour etc. Bloggers reminds me constantly that I don't spell as an American. Even if I put the spell check for British English into text editors for Spell Check, it also, occasionally tells me that I am wrong. It seems that Canadian English is in fact mostly British, with a little bit of American and some specific Canadian. As this is the case when are manufactures of text editors going to wake up and smell the coffee? I usually will see a choice for American English, British English but rarely will I see a choice for Canadian! One I found, when set to Canadian English, told me I was wrong when I put in Canadian spelling. It insisted I spell it the British way. I didn't realize we were that low in population or so small a country that our consumers would make so little difference. It is possible that we just don't complain enough, but surely developers of text editors must realize how annoying it is to be constantly seeing that red underline on sooooo many words! I find it strange also that they all will let me type "eh" without a comment.
From Wikipedia:
Eh (pronounced /ˈeɪ/ or /ˈɛ/ in English) is a spoken interjection in Armenian, Japanese, English, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese meaning something along the lines of "Repeat that, please". It is also commonly used as a method for inciting an answer, as in "it's nice here, eh?" Lastly, it can also be used to express indifference. In North America, it is most commonly associated with Canada.
"
Although we do use the word "eh", it is not as frequently as some may assume, Eh?
I found this list on the web. It was such a long list that I cut it in half. Go to this site to see the rest. http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsissues/BritishCanadianAmerican.htm
So scroll through and take a look. I think you will find it interesting. I also find it hilarious that spell check is underlining most of the words in the list that are British and Canadian!
British | Canadian | American |
acknowledgement | acknowledgement*, acknowledgment | acknowledgment |
ageing, aging | aging*, ageing* | aging |
aeroplane | airplane | airplane |
aesthetics | aesthetics | aesthetics, esthetics |
aluminium | aluminum | aluminum |
| among, amongst | among*, amongst | among |
| amortise | amortize | amortize |
| anaemia | anemia | anemia |
anaesthesia | anaesthesia*, anesthesia | anesthesia |
| analogue | analogue | analogue, analog |
| analyse | analyze*, analyse | analyze |
| annex, annexe | annex | annex |
| apnoea | apnea | apnea |
apologise*, apologize | apologize | apologize |
archaeology | archaeology*, archeology | archaeology, archeology |
| armour | armour*, armor | armor |
| artefact | artifact | artifact |
| authorise*, authorize | authorize | authorize |
axe | axe | ax, axe |
| balk*, baulk | balk | balk |
| banister*, bannister | banister*, bannister | banister |
| behaviour | behaviour | behavior |
| behove | behoove | behoove |
| blonde (for female) | blonde*, blond* | blond, blonde |
| B.Sc. | B.Sc. | B.S. |
| burette | burette*, buret | buret, burette |
burnt, burned | burned*, burnt* | burned, burnt |
| bussed, bussing | bused, busing | bused, busing |
| Caesarean | Caesarian*, Cesarean, Cesarian | Cesarean, Caesarean |
| calibre | calibre | caliber |
cancelled | cancelled | canceled, cancelled |
| candour | candour | candor |
| capitalise | capitalize | capitalize |
| carburettor | carburetor*, carburettor | carburetor |
catalogue | catalogue | catalog(ue) |
| catalyse | catalyze*, catalyse | catalyze |
centre | centre | center |
cheque (noun, money) | cheque | check |
chequered | checkered | checkered |
| chilli*, chili | chili | chili |
| cigarette | cigarette | cigarette, cigaret |
| clamour | clamour | clamor |
| collectable *, collectible | collectible | collectible |
colour | colour*, color | color |
| connection*, connexion | connection | connection |
| convenor | convenor | convener |
cosy | cozy | cozy |
counsellor | counsellor*, counselor | counselor |
criticise*, criticize | criticize | criticize |
| curb (verb) | curb | curb |
| customize, customise | customize | customize |
| demeanour | demeanour | demeanor |
| dependant (a person who relies on another person, especially for financial support) | dependant | dependent |
defence | defence*, defense | defense |
| dialling, dialled | dialing, dialed; dialling, dialled | dialing, dialed |
dialogue | dialogue | dialog(ue) |
diarrhoea | diarrhea | diarrhea |
| dietician*, dietitian | dietitian*, dietician | dietitian*, dietician, |
| dispatch*, despatch | dispatch | dispatch |
doughnut | doughnut, donut | donut, doughnut |
Dr (A contracted form of a word, ending with the same letter as the full form, is not followed by a full stop). | Dr. | Dr. |
draught (current of air) | draft | draft |
dreamt, dreamed | dreamt*, dreamed* | dreamed, dreamt |
emphasise | emphasize | emphasize |
| encyclopedia*, encyclopædia | encyclopedia | encyclopedia |
| endeavour | endeavour | endeavor |
enquiry*, inquiry | inquiry*, enquiry | inquiry |
enrol | enrol | enroll |
favour | favour | favor |
| favourite | favourite | favorite |
fibre | fibre | fiber |
| fibre optics | fiber optics, fibre optics (used by the Canadian government only) | fiber optics |
| finalize, finalise | finalize | finalize |
flautist | flutist*, flautist | flutist |
flavour | flavour | flavor |
| focused, focusing or focussed, focussing | focused, focusing or focussed, focussing | focused, focusing |
| foetus*, fetus | fetus | fetus |
| forever*, for ever | forever | forever |
| fuelling | fuelling | fueling |
fulfil | fulfil | fulfill, fulfil |
| galvanise | galvanize | galvanize |
| gaol (old fashioned), jail* | jail | jail |
| gauge | gauge | gauge, gage |
| gemmology | gemmology | gemology |
| generalise | generalize | generalize |
glamour | glamour | glamour, glamor |
| gonorrhoea | gonorrhea | gonorrhea |
grey | grey | gray |
| gynaecology | gynecology*, gynaecology | gynecology |
haemorrhage | hemorrhage | hemorrhage |
harbour | harbour | harbor |
| harmonise*, harmonize | harmonize | harmonize |
haulier | hauler | hauler |
| homeopathy*, homoeopathy | homeopathy | homeopathy |
honour | honour | honor |
| humour | humour | humor |
Oh my gosh..I sooooo do not follow guides I spell this way for a reason..LOL and I ignore spell check to that reminds me. I have to drive a point home sometimes by the spelling..Hilarious post!
darsden - Thanks! I thought so too!
Good points.
I made sure that my book, has Canadian spelling. I had a marvellous editor.
I see it as a badge of courage. With 1/10th the population of the US, I am proud to be different and to educate others.
My other pet peeve are Canadian publications or shows citing America data. It doesn't always apply; especially in education or health care.
P.S. I am having trouble with the 10th photo! I love the idea- but can't figure out which photo album.
I'm between a rock and a hard place! :-)
Thanks for the shout out!
Jenn - I agree! I don't want to loose our Canadian English. Thus the idea of text editors supporting Canadian English.
Hi there,
Great post, and I too am very particular to use the Canadian spelling and/or British ...it IS a point of pride (at least for me)that sets us apart on this great big continent we share!
Good to hear! Does any one know of a language setting in Blogger?
Moving from the US to very-Britishy NZ, I know what you are talking about! I find it quite fascinating, when it's not totally confusing!
Betty - That would be a huge difference! Must have been difficult at first.
I have so many friends on the other side of the pond that I'm not really bothered. But I must admit to a slight bother when using my English spelling, so I'm not that unbothered about my contribution after all. Egocentric as ever :-) There is a real concern, though, I have a couple of people who might just publish my books in Canada and the States, and there is a difference in the language of school children - i.e. in my next book. I'd better stay with historical novels, less of a problem! :-)
Carol Anne - For you to publish "across the pond" may be an issue but I would love to see your books over here!
Dear Lorac,
How very kind. My dear friend in Atlanta is trying to get my books into the Atlanta library, David Ward - Professor at Willamette University Oregon who found my book when on holiday on Lindisfaren - is profiling my book with education students and on children's literature courses.
I work hard and feel that apart from local independent bookshops, and of course Bamburgh Castle which is the book's natural home, there is little recognition. However, recently I have had an American publisher begin to show interest, so you never know. :-)
Thanks so much for your encouragement.
Ooops...wrong spelling and nothing to do with the great divide :-) Should have been Lindisfarne!
Carole Anne - Keep me posted!
Of course I shall....
Hi Lorac,
Nice post! That was very educational I too, mispell some words, we were thought standard English in school, so words are spelled in a formal way. There are also some words that gives me a hard time writing it, like silhouette, commission, quail hahaha. Btw, I appreciate your comments on my blog thank you so much.
AL
Interesting! I haven't spent long enough in Canada to notice the spelling differences - a total of 8 weeks over 30 years. But I am proud of being able to pick out a Canadian accent from an American one.
Bravo, seems to me, is an excellent phrase
You obviously were mistaken
It agree, very much the helpful information
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