American English versus British English: Spelling
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- mratdegraff91
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Re: American English versus British English: Spelling
- Jonathan Trapman
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The subject and action is very much around a British journalist in New York with a plot line that involves a very American story and thus action there as well as Europe and elsewhere.
As a writer I have had huge challenges over my 50 year professional life struggling to come to terms, or at least a certain peaceful co-existence, with US English. Being faced with whether to write in British English or US I felt it was about time I took the bull by the horns and faced my self created demons.
I therefore wrote it in US English. It was a hugely therapeutic choice and has been a profoundly 'healing' experience on this conundrum.
No doubt many who are more used to UK English find the obsessive prevalence of US Spellcheck Command a challenge if not sometimes downright annoying. Yet once I had settled these 'ghosts' in my cupboard (closet) it became a mere game of choice, without a sting. It not only added enjoyment to writing but also allowed my reading to be far less interrupted by US English.
I have to also come clean here, in as much as before I encountered this choice of use of English, say 15 years ago, my reading never really picked up on different authors using it. Was this my shallow perception or was the use of US English less prevalent then? Hmm. Thoughts?
Another useful and creative factor that arises from this seemingly constant debate/discussion and battle is using English use for English characters and US English for US characters. It would be interesting to hear of any of you who have seen this creativity used noticeably by authors.
One personal example for me was when an English character talked about his trousers and I felt it would have been very awkward to have him refer to his 'pants'. He! He! Do you see what fun one can have with the written word?
So thanks for this thread a very live and fascinating issue for me and it seems for many.
- MrsCatInTheHat
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Batesblogger wrote:
Obviously your location and where you learned spelling and grammar will have a huge impact on this. Have you ever changed the way you personally spell things to suit your audience better? Have you ever received a bad review because the reviewer did not agree with the version of English spelling you chose?
I've been dinged on reviews because I used the British form. The British form was used in the book but we can't contest reviews............ I've also been dinged for using British terminology because the reviewer didn't realize the terminology was correct. One example is that the author used London's ton to review to their high society. This was actually pretty common usage in the 19th century but clearly the reviewer didn't know that. Both of these happened in the same review and ended up causing me to have my only rejection for a submitted review.
- Wasif Ahmed
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Here is my (mostly gibberish) interpretation of how to write like an Australian:
"I donned by guersey before checking my tyres. Then I drove to the footy on the quay by the gaol. Smashed it. Stopped for some snags and chooks for the barbie. Realised something. No worries."
*bows*
- Ashley 1820
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- MrsCatInTheHat
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CatInTheHat wrote: I've been dinged on reviews because I used the British form. The British form was used in the book but we can't contest reviews............ I've also been dinged for using British terminology because the reviewer didn't realize the terminology was correct. One example is that the author used London's ton to review to their high society. This was actually pretty common usage in the 19th century but clearly the reviewer didn't know that. Both of these happened in the same review and ended up causing me to have my only rejection for a submitted review.
Oops....... my error in my post.... Should have said "One example is that the author used London's ton to REFER to their high society."
- Heidi M Simone
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It´s a very complicated area. I tend to review for consistency and whether or not it´s realistic. If a British author is writing dialogue for an American character then they should really use American English and I would take that into account in my review.
- harold
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So you must give them what they need/want
The text must be clear and easy to understand, without ambiguities.
Some words have different meanings in the two languages - such as lift, rubber, braces.
So you need to choose and know your market.
- Empathry
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Writing is reflective of the author's world. To write powerfully, the author has to be authentic. Including grammar and spelling. Of course, grammar and spelling should be accurate, whichever dictionary you follow. Basically it can't be your own language!
That's what makes if possible for great writers such as JK Rowling to have international appeal. Create new characters and vocabulary, while keeping grammar syntax and spelling pristine.
- abhishek7081
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