It doesn't bother me when the Americans spell it color, or labor, but when I spell it correctly colour and then someone tries to correct me on saying I am misspelling it, it just drives me NUTS. The rest of the world understands that when you get a cheque in the mail its not spelled check, or when you did a hard days labour it is not labor.

What other words are there that the rest of the English speaking world spells differently than the American English does.

Another P.S. is there any other country than the USA that does not use the Metric system?

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85GT Soon to be 87GT,93 Eldorado 4.9, 5spd Dual O2 Custom Chip, Custom Exhaust. MSD Everything Capt Fiero --- My Over View Cadero Pics Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front, Corner Carver.

You mean people do things different then us here?

quote Originally posted by User00013170: You mean people do things different then us here?

yea, its them there crazy people who started using it first, they think its right...

quote Originally posted by Capt Fiero: Another P.S. is there any other country than the USA that does not use the Metric system?

England still uses English units for distance (driving distance, speed, etc).

quote Originally posted by Capt Fiero: Another P.S. is there any other country than the USA that does not use the Metric system?

Yes; those international leaders/trendsetters Burma and Liberia do not use the metric system.

I've lived in the US and the UK. I spell the way I was instructed and I use the grammer I was taught in a British school. If Americans do not like the way I spell colour or any other word then bugger! Too bad.

I usually don't run into many problems though. Most people on this forum realise (ah, British spelling there ) this is an international forum and there are all kinds here from the barely literate to those educated in prep-schools.

Edit to add: Interesting site this: http://www3.telus.net/lingu...CanadianAmerican.htm

[This message has been edited by tutnkmn (edited 08-22-2010).]

I worked with a guy from the UK. It took me 5 minutes to figure out he was saying Aluminum the first time I heard him pronounce it.

So there are some words we pronounce the same but spell different and then there are words we spell the same and pronounce different.

I was using metric back in highschool but I do wish we would pick one or the other and stick with it. My Vette is a good example. I have found both metric and standard bolts on it, very frustrating I wish they would have color coded them. My moble tool box has 3 drawers, metric wrenches in one, standard wrenches in another and sockets in the third.

If I lived in Canada or the UK I would try to lean the correct spelling for where ever I lived.

quote Originally posted by Jake_Dragon: I was using metric back in highschool but I do wish we would pick one or the other and stick with it. My Vette is a good example. I have found both metric and standard bolts on it, very frustrating I wish they would have color coded them. My moble tool box has 3 drawers, metric wrenches in one, standard wrenches in another and sockets in the third. If I lived in Canada or the UK I would try to lean the correct spelling for where ever I lived.

GM has finally phased out the use of standard threads/fasteners in their cars... the 4.3's and SBC's were the last hold outs... they even had special studs that were standard on the ends threading into the block, but metric threads the rest of the length. My entire tool collection has a strong bais towards the metric side.

quote Originally posted by tutnkmn: I've lived in the US and the UK. I spell the way I was instructed and I use the grammer I was taught in a British school. If Americans do not like the way I spell colour or any other word then bugger! Too bad. I usually don't run into many problems though. Most people on this forum realise (ah, British spelling there ) this is an international forum and there are all kinds here from the barely literate to those educated in prep-schools. Edit to add: Interesting site this: http://www3.telus.net/lingu...CanadianAmerican.htm

You and Nick use that word and I never gave it much thought other than it was some English word I didn’t know so for the first time I actually looked it up.


bug·ger2

bug·ger [búggər]
n (plural bug·gers)
a taboo term for somebody who practices anal intercourse (taboo)


vti (past bug·gered, past participle bug·gered, present participle bug·ger·ing, 3rd person present singular bug·gers)
a taboo term meaning to practice anal intercourse (taboo)


[Mid-16th century. Via French bougre “heretic” from Latin Bulgarus , literally “Bulgarian,” from Western Christian association of heresy with anal intercourse.]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Now I know, you guys are weird.
And just a little kinky.

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

See this page and scroll down for spelling differences between the U.S and the U.K.....very interesting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...spelling_differences

Edit....This is similar to what George has in his post above.

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 08-22-2010).]

I don't see it as a matter of right or wrong, just a difference in dialect. As long as we understand each other, there should not be a problem. There is a lot more difference in Spanish regional dialects within Mexico and throughout central and south America. In Spain, there is an entire verb form; second person plural familiar; that is not used in most of the rest of the Spanish-speaking world.

I have difficulty understanding some of the internet abbreviations that are commonly used; I can read things like AFAIK or IMHO, but some just baffle me. In such cases, the writer is not effectively communicating. It is also difficult to understand someone who confuses words such as their and there, know and no or then and than.

These are my own personal problems and I don't fault anyone for having a different background, so please don't take this as a complaint. Personally I have difficulty with spelling and punctuation, so I am in no position to criticize others.

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[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 08-22-2010).]

WOW, I honestly did not expect this kind of response from this thread so quickly, its nice to see people are at least interested in the topic.

quote Originally posted by tutnkmn: I've lived in the US and the UK. I spell the way I was instructed and I use the grammer I was taught in a British school. If Americans do not like the way I spell colour or any other word then bugger! Too bad. I usually don't run into many problems though. Most people on this forum realize (ah, British spelling there ) this is an international forum and there are all kinds here from the barely literate to those educated in prep-schools. Edit to add: Interesting site this: http://www3.telus.net/lingu...CanadianAmerican.htm

Thank You, I never really looked up a site like that, but that is VERY COOL. Finally I know why the damn spell checker keeps saying I am spelling grey wrong. Gauge, ya, I am spelling it correctly. I am going to copy that entire page into word, then run a spell check on it and add all the Canadian / British spellings to the MS Word dictionary.

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: You and Nick use that word and I never gave it much thought other than it was some English word I didn't’t know so for the first time I actually looked it up. bug·ger2 bug·ger [búggər] n (plural bug·gers) a taboo term for somebody who practices anal intercourse (taboo) vti (past bug·gered, past participle bug·gered, present participle bug·ger·ing, 3rd person present singular bug·gers) a taboo term meaning to practice anal intercourse (taboo) [Mid-16th century. Via French bougre “heretic” from Latin Bulgarus , literally “Bulgarian,” from Western Christian association of heresy with anal intercourse.] Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Now I know, you guys are weird. And just a little kinky. Steve

LMAO, I have been using that word since I was 5 years old and heard it from my grandfather. LOL, I honestly never knew what it meant. That is so funny. I guess I do know a few silly buggers.

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85GT Soon to be 87GT,93 Eldorado 4.9, 5spd Dual O2 Custom Chip, Custom Exhaust. MSD Everything Capt Fiero --- My Over View Cadero Pics Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front, Corner Carver.

[This message has been edited by Capt Fiero (edited 08-22-2010).]

The English language has gone through a series of spelling updates over the years. "Labour", "cheque", "colour", and even "grey" have simply slipped through the cracks and need to be updated.
Third world countries (countries that embrace neither Democracy or Communism) like Canada. England, Australia, and New Zealand, continue to spell that way because they simply don't know any better or don't have the time--Canada especially because they are to busy learning French and bending over backward to resettle Tamil Tiger immigrants.
Americans avoid the English spelling and usages of words and phrases to avoid the slippery slope toward cultural oblivion. This includes the usage of words like "plinth", "gudgeon pin", "bloody, "crikey","mate", "sod", "sodder","sodding" and the expression, "sod off you bloody sodder that plinth is sodding perished".
It's a difficult task to keep the American cultural heritage alive with corrupting outside influences like The Geico Lizard, Eliza Dolittle, and The Antichrist--Marcos Ambrose.
But we try, eh?

Commonwealth Nations and the US--two philosphies separated by a common language. And even worse, I was once "romantically" involved with a woman from the coal mining region of Wales. Couldn't understand 1/2 of what she said. I now realize what happened to their language--the English stole all the vowels or traded consonants for them. What kind of language has 3-4 consonants in a row anyway?
These, are actually each , considered 1 letter in the Welsh language:
ch, dd, ff, ll, ng, ph, rh, th.
and their vowels include 'w' and 'y'. She would mix native Welsh, proper English, and American English when speaking AND writing.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 08-22-2010).]

quote Originally posted by Jefrysuko: I worked with a guy from the UK. It took me 5 minutes to figure out he was saying Aluminum the first time I heard him pronounce it. .

Al-u-min-e-um, right?

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: Al-u-min-e-um, right?

Al uu miin ee um

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Al uu miin ee um

Even better.

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: GM has finally phased out the use of standard threads/fasteners in their cars... the 4.3's and SBC's were the last hold outs... they even had special studs that were standard on the ends threading into the block, but metric threads the rest of the length. My entire tool collection has a strong bais towards the metric side.

Before metrification, American cars used two types of brake line nuts on 3/16" line. One was long and the other short.

Now there are seven different metric nuts that will fit 3/16" line.

Glad we've simplified things.

I really can't get worked up on subtle spelling differences between cultures.. at least it has not degenerated into web-shorthand and dude-speak.

el - oh - el.

quote Originally posted by tutnkmn: I've lived in the US and the UK. I spell the way I was instructed and I use the grammer I was taught in a British school. If Americans do not like the way I spell colour or any other word then bugger! Too bad. I usually don't run into many problems though. Most people on this forum realise (ah, British spelling there ) this is an international forum and there are all kinds here from the barely literate to those educated in prep-schools. Edit to add: Interesting site this: http://www3.telus.net/lingu...CanadianAmerican.htm

I've got a buddy who has never lived outside of OH but he spells everything like you, with lots of y's and u's. Everyone I've ever known to do this, has also been a Democrat (must be part of that love affair with Europe). I correct him every time and will continue to do so for two reasons.

1. He's never lived where those are common accepted spellings (you have, he hasn't)
2. He's in the US, not England, write/spell as is locally accepted.

If we were hanging out, I'd understand where you're coming from, but I'd be pestering you to spell it "our way" when in the USA.

[This message has been edited by Rainman (edited 08-22-2010).]

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: GM has finally phased out the use of standard threads/fasteners in their cars... the 4.3's and SBC's were the last hold outs... they even had special studs that were standard on the ends threading into the block, but metric threads the rest of the length. My entire tool collection has a strong bais towards the metric side.

Same here, for the most part everything is metric and my 'SAE' stuff stays in the box.

quote Originally posted by Rainman: I've got a buddy who has never lived outside of OH but he spells everything like you, with lots of y's and u's. I correct him everytime and will continue to do so for two reasons. 1. He's never lived where those are common accepted spellings (you have, he hasn't) 2. He's in the US, not the England, write/spell as is locally accepted. If we were hanging out, I'd understand where you're coming from, but I'd be pestering you to spell it "our way" when in the USA, and spell it "their way" when in the UK.

That's much like some American "celebrities" who, in recent years, even tho they were born, raised, educated, and lived their entire lives here, have intentionally adopted a cutesy but unspecified Aussie/British/New Zealand accent.

quote Originally posted by tbone42: I really can't get worked up on subtle spelling differences between cultures..

this

I work with a lot of wordsmiths. They insist on rewording everything, correcting every minute error. I have to point out to them that we are on a tight project schedule and that as long as the correct message is conveyed, then it doesn't matter if there is a comma before "and" or not.

I sometimes think that some of my coworkers should have worked in the publishing industry instead of in information systems. They are more concerned with the form of a document rather than the function of it. I would rather put out ugly understandable instructions on time, than a "perfect" document a month or two late. I can't count how many times we have put out a "perfect" document only to find out later that the substance was incorrect because our analysts were too busy correcting spelling, punctuation, grammar and wordsmithing.

Frankly, I don't care if it is spell color or colour; aluminum or aluminium. There are literally hundreds of ways to say aluminum with all the languages on the planet. If you learned every single pronunciation for aluminum, does that mean you know what aluminum is? Not at all. Knowing the word for aluminum does not mean you know anything about aluminum. Ask the average person walking down the street if a magnet will stick to aluminum. Half of them or more will say yes but they will all know the word.

Only one thing matters in regards to that element.
Which works best? An aluminum foil hat or an aluminium foil hat??

LOL, wow this thread has gotten a lot of traffic quickly, I just wanted to say this again, as it seems the original message has gotten lost in translation.

I honestly don't care how anyone chooses to spell or even speak a word. I just hate it when I get told that I am misspelling a word, by someone that knows nothing about the world outside of the USA. I have a unique insight to the American Education system that many of my Canadian and other foreign friends don't have. My parents moved to Oregon when I was 2 and I grew up in the USA, I moved back to Canada when I was 20. The school system back in the 80's/90's I believe had 1 chapter in one year of school that dealt with Canada. It wasn't till high school that after some oddball test they put me in advanced British Literature courses, where I got my first real taste of reading things that were not,.... converted for use in the American school system.

So like I said, spell it how you like, speak it how you like, hell spell it rong as long as I can get the idea of what you are saying, I am happy. Just please don't correct my spelling until you know for sure that it is incorrect.

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85GT Soon to be 87GT,93 Eldorado 4.9, 5spd Dual O2 Custom Chip, Custom Exhaust. MSD Everything Capt Fiero --- My Over View Cadero Pics Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front, Corner Carver.

Realistically it should be "aluminium" as the British discovered it and named it. Funny though I just can't bring myself to call it that. It sounds funny

~Tyler

quote Originally posted by Rainman: I've got a buddy who has never lived outside of OH but he spells everything like you, with lots of y's and u's. Everyone I've ever known to do this, has also been a Democrat (must be part of that love affair with Europe). I correct him every time and will continue to do so for two reasons. 1. He's never lived where those are common accepted spellings (you have, he hasn't) 2. He's in the US, not England, write/spell as is locally accepted. If we were hanging out, I'd understand where you're coming from, but I'd be pestering you to spell it "our way" when in the USA.

IDK why, but even being raised in MO, I spell "theater" theatre and "center" centre (when talking about a place, not the center of an object). I always thought donut was just a short way to spell doughnut, not a correct word. I spell "licorice" liquorice but I didn't even know there were different spellings. That's just how I spell it when I sound it out.

There are also a plethora of words on the Wikipedia link above that I didn't know were spelled that way in America. I read all kinds of literature so maybe that's it... But I don't do it on purpose, I do it because that's what pops in my head.

quote Originally posted by Capt Fiero: . . spell it rong

You spelled it correctly, but rong is wrong.

Byte me!

Jim

We are just making up for the stupidity of

1) having one country with two official languages
2) Calling a Chip a Crisp
3) Calling a Cookie and Bisquit
4) Calling a Bisquit a Muffin
5) And worst of all, calling a trunk a boot!

quote Originally posted by Toddster: 5) And worst of all, calling a trunk a boot!

...And then there's Canada. "What you talkin' aboot?"

quote Originally posted by maryjane: That's much like some American "celebrities" who, in recent years, even tho they were born, raised, educated, and lived their entire lives here, have intentionally adopted a cutesy but unspecified Aussie/British/New Zealand accent.

I love that! Madona has the WORST British accent I have ever heard. What is worst of all is that she insists on using it in the UK. What a laughing stock!

It seems the British are much better at American accents than Americans are at British accents. Hugh Laurie is a perfect example. How many of you thought Dr. House was an American? No! Born and raised in the UK. Jamie Bamber (Apollo from the new Battlestar Galactica) is also a bloke.

I can do a perfectly acceptable American accent but then again I often speak with "a righ propa Yorksha accent luv!"

Like Jaime Bambier I had the advantage of growing up across the pond but having the American accent in the home as well. One of the few Americans that are capable of a good British accent is Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy creator and the voice of Stewie and others).

So other countries complain when we try to standardize our common language, but want us to adopt the standardized metric system?

Which is better, everybody does the same, or we all can follow local customs?

Stewie has a "Boarding school" Accent and doesn't represent a typical Englander, near as I can tell.
About 10-15 years ago we had a bit of a population of British contract engineers where I work.
They were from Liverpool, Manchester and Preston, etc. as I recall. Another one was from the London area.
The one from London sounded like Stewie but with a deeper voice.
The ones from Liverpool, etc. were almost unintelligible. It wasn't cockney, it was something else.
Took everybody about 2 weeks to figure them out. Nice guys, but couldn't understand them.
I asked Andy (from London) if he understood them. He said "a bit, but most Americans speak better English than the English do".
True story.
Eeeeeewwwww giv may a liitto kiss then guv'na.

quote Originally posted by Zeb: So other countries complain when we try to standardize our common language, but want us to adopt the standardized metric system? Which is better, everybody does the same, or we all can follow local customs?

I agree, we need to refudiate sameness.

refudiate

[This message has been edited by spark1 (edited 08-23-2010).]

quote Originally posted by Zeb: So other countries complain when we try to standardize our common language, but want us to adopt the standardized metric system? Which is better, everybody does the same, or we all can follow local customs?

How are you trying to standardize the common english language? I could see if there were 15 different ways to spell words like colour/color or a need as there were in terms of measurements years ago.

Not that it bothers me one way or another how people spell certain words as long as the meaning is clear and they at least try.

UK - centre
US - center

When I was in Germany in 1986-89 I noticed that plumbing supplies (pipes, fitings, threaded fixtures, etc) were in inches.

We have Webster to thank for our spelling. After the Revolution he decided that our english needed to be different from England. That is why spellings that end in 'our' and 're' became 'or' and 'er' along with all the other differences. They don't teach this in school anymore, if they did then people would know that people from outside the US aren't misspelling the words any more than we are.

We've forgoton that we here in the US speak American English and not The Queens English

Something else to think about, English evolved from Old German.

Nick

quote Originally posted by Black Lotus: Stewie has a "Boarding school" Accent and doesn't represent a typical Englander, near as I can tell.

Stewie's voice is based on Rex Harrison.

quote Eeeeeewwwww giv may a liitto kiss then guv'na.

This is a cockney slang accent and whenever I hear it I imagine someone with really bad teeth.

(Sorry for the poor quality of this clip)