Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Spelling: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 05:54, 27 March 2013

This guideline is a part of the English Wikipedia's Manual of Style.

It is a generally accepted standard that editors should attempt to follow, though occasional exceptions may apply. Any substantive edit to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on the talk page.

Shortcuts

This is the Manual of Style (spelling) guideline page, a handy reference for editors.

Please note: If you are not familiar with a spelling, please do some research before changing it – it may be your misunderstanding rather than a mistake, especially in the case of American and British English spelling differences and Long and short scales.

English spelling comparison chart

This table gives the accepted spellings (following government guidelines and major dictionaries). It is by no means exhaustive, but rather an overview. When two variants appear, the one listed first is more widely used. (For example, in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and Ireland, ageing is more common than aging; in Canada and the US, aging is more common.)

The spelling systems of unlisted Commonwealth countries, such as India, Pakistan and Singapore, are generally close to the British spelling system, with possibly a few local differences. Many non-Commonwealth English-speaking countries, such as the Philippines and Liberia, have spelling systems closer to American spelling.^{[citation needed]}

UK & Ireland^[1]	South Africa^[2]	New Zealand^[3]	Australia^[4]	Canada^[5]	United States^[6]^[7]
acknowledgement	acknowledgement	acknowledgement	acknowledgement, acknowledgment	acknowledgement, acknowledgment	acknowledgment
aeroplane	aeroplane	aeroplane	aeroplane	airplane	airplane
ageing, aging	ageing, aging	ageing, aging	ageing, aging	aging, ageing	aging, ageing
all right	all right	all right	alright, all right	alright, all right	alright, all right
aluminium	aluminium	aluminium	aluminium	aluminum	aluminum
analyse	analyse	analyse	analyse	analyze, analyse	analyze
cancelled	cancelled	cancelled	cancelled	cancelled	canceled
catalogue	catalogue	catalogue	catalogue	catalogue	catalog, catalogue
centre	centre	centre	centre	centre	center
colour	colour	colour	colour	colour	color
co-operation	co-operation	co-operation	cooperation	cooperation	cooperation
defence	defence	defence	defence	defence	defense
dialogue	dialogue	dialogue	dialogue	dialogue	dialogue (conversation), dialog (text)
diarrhoea	diarrhoea	diarrhoea	diarrhoea, diarrhea	diarrhea	diarrhea
encyclopaedia	encyclopaedia	encyclopaedia	encyclopedia	encyclopaedia, encyclopedia	encyclopedia
jail, gaol	gaol	gaol	jail	jail	jail
grey	grey	grey	grey	grey	gray, grey
fulfil	fulfil	fulfil	fulfil	fulfill, fulfil	fulfill
instalment	instalment	instalment	instalment	instalment, installment	installment
judgement, judgment	judgement, judgment	judgement, judgment	judgment, judgement	judgment, judgement	judgment
kerb	kerb	kerb	kerb	curb	curb
labour	labour	labour	labour^[8]	labour	labor
licence (n.), license (v.)	licence (n.), license (v.)	licence (n.), license (v.)	licence (n.), license (v.)	licence (n.), license (v.)	license (n.) and (v.)
manoeuvre	manoeuvre	manoeuvre	manoeuvre	manoeuvre	maneuver
on to	on to	on to	onto, on to	onto, on to	onto, on to
organisation, organization	organisation, organization	organisation, organization	organisation	organization, organisation	organization
practice (n.), practise (v.)	practice (n.), practise (v.)	practice (n.), practise (v.)	practice (n.), practise (v.)	practice (n.), practise (v.)	practice (n. and v.)
computer program, training programme	computer program, training programme	computer program, training programme	computer program, training program	computer program, training program(me)	computer program, training program
routeing, routing	routeing, routing	routeing, routing	routeing, routing	routing	routing
sceptic	sceptic	sceptic	sceptic	skeptic, sceptic	skeptic
theatre	theatre	theatre	theatre	theatre	theater, also theatre
travelling	travelling	travelling	travelling, traveling	travelling	traveling, travelling
tyre	tyre	tyre	tyre	tire	tire
vice (fault) vice (tool)	vice (fault) vice (tool)	vice (fault) vice (tool)	vice (fault) vice (tool)	vice (fault) vise (tool)	vice (fault) vise (tool)
yogurt, yoghurt, yoghourt	yoghurt, yogurt	yoghurt, yogurt	yoghurt, yogurt	yogourt, yogurt, yoghurt, yoghourt	yogurt, yoghurt
UK & Ireland	South Africa	New Zealand	Australia	Canada	United States

See Notes for explanations of the references above.

Other spelling differences

Throughout this section, the variants here regarded as "British" are also used in Australia (in most cases), as well as in other Commonwealth countries and in Ireland. Canadian spelling combines British and American.

Preferred variants

In both British English and American English, many words have variant spellings, but most of the time one variant is preferred over the other. In dictionaries, the preferred spelling is listed first among the headwords of an entry. Examples follow:

acknowledgement vs acknowledgment: acknowledgement is preferred in British English,^[9] acknowledgment in American English.
judgement vs judgment: judgement is preferred in British English (except in the sense of a judge's decision, in which case judgment is preferred), judgment in American English.
per cent vs percent: per cent is preferred in British English, percent in American English.
dialogue vs dialog: In a non-technical context, the spelling dialogue is preferred in American English. In Webster's dictionary, dialogue is given first, and Chambers also indicates dialog is less used in North America.^[10]
catalogue vs catalog: Webster's treats this case differently, as does Chambers^[11]—catalog is the preferred spelling in American English.
glamour vs glamor: The spelling glamour is preferred in both British and American English. (Glamourous is sometimes found in American English, but is usually considered incorrect in British English, where glamorous is the only accepted form.)
foetus vs fetus: In American English, foetus is never used. In British English, usage is divided. In academic literature, fetus is preferred.
aluminium vs aluminum: aluminum is the prevalent spelling throughout North America, however in scientific literature aluminium should be used, as recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. (The two spellings also have different pronunciations.)
sulfur vs sulphur: sulphur is the prevalent spelling outside North America, however in scientific literature sulfur should be used, as recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. (see Sulphur#Spelling_and_etymology)
gramme vs gram: gram is the more common spelling; gramme is also possible in British usage.^[12]^[13]

Archaic spelling

Older sources use many archaic variants (such as shew for show), which are not to be used outside quotations except in special circumstances (for example, quire may be used instead of choir in architectural contexts).

When archaic spelling is used in the title of a work, modernize the spelling in the text of the article but retain the original spelling in the references. For example, the text of an article might read "Thomas Ady attacked the Demonology of King James..." while the citation should read Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogie, Diuided into three Bookes. By James Rx, 1597....". Adding a  may help prevent well-meaning editors from correcting the spelling "mistakes".

As per WP:MOSQUOTE, archaic glyphs should be modernized, including within quotations and titles (e.g., æ→ae, œ→oe, ſ→s, and y^e→the).

Different spellings, different meanings

Several words change their meaning when spelt differently.

cheque – check: to check is to ensure; outside the US, a bill of exchange drawn on a bank payable on demand is a "cheque".
kerb – curb: In British English, 'kerb' is the edge of the road or pavement (UK) where "kerbstones" can be found. In the US, it is spelled "curb", and may be attatched to a sidewalk. "To curb" is to limit or control in either dialect.
disc – disk: Outside of computing, in British English the usual spelling is disc (meaning a thin flat circular object); in American English disk and disc are normally interchangeable. However, in computing (in both British & American English), disk usually refers to magnetic disks, as in hard disk drives, dating back to the first magnetic disks used by US-developed mainframe computers. Disc usually refers to optical discs, beginning with the Compact Disc (developed outside the US) and continuing with DVD (the last "D" of the acronym usually meaning "disc" regardless of its uncertain etymology), Blu-ray Disc, and even defunct formats such as HD DVD.
draught – draft: In the UK, draft is a preliminary version of a document; draught is a drink or a current of air.
enquiry – inquiry: for most British writers, an enquiry is a request for information, but an inquiry is a formal investigation.
ensure – insure: To ensure is to make sure. In British English, to insure is to take out an insurance policy. In American English, to insure is sometimes used instead of to ensure.^[14]^[15]
judgement – judgment: In Australian and British Law, a Judge's decision in a case is always spelt Judgment. On the other hand, the forming of opinion or conclusion by an ordinary person is usually spelt judgement.
metre – meter: in most countries other than the US, metre is the metric unit of length, and meter is a measuring device.
programme – program: In British English, the spelling program can be used for computer program. In all other cases, programme is invariably used. In Australia, program is widespread in all contexts.
storey – story: a story is a tale; outside of the US, upper floors of buildings are spelt "storey".^[16]
theatre – theater/Theatre^[17] : There is no true standard spelling,^[18] although the "British" variation is frequently used.^[19] The term 'theater' can refer to the structure (a theatre) while 'theatre' may be used to refer to the art (theatre arts).^[20] ^[18]
tyre – tire: In American and Canadian English, tire is used to refer to 'to fatigue' and the inflated rim of a wheel. In British and other forms of English, tire means 'to fatigue' and tyre is the inflated rim of a wheel.

International organizations

There are three major English spelling standards used by international organizations and publishers:

British English with "-ise"

Shortcut

WP:ISE

Spellings: centre, programme, labour, defence, organisation, recognise, analyse
Language tag (a code identifying the language used): en-GB.

Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: European Union (EU), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Commonwealth Secretariat (Commonwealth of Nations), African Union (AU), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), International Olympic Committee (IOC), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Transparency International, Greenpeace. The UK government does not seem to have an official position on spelling, though it often uses this variant in communications.

Major publications: The Economist, The Times, Financial Times, New Scientist, The Lancet, BBC, The Guardian.

British English with "-ize" (Oxford spelling)

Shortcut

WP:IZE

Spellings: centre, programme, labour, defence, organization, recognize, but: analyse, advise, devise
Language tag: en-GB-oed

Oxford spelling is based on the Oxford English Dictionary,^[21] and followed by Collins^[22] and Cassell's^[23] dictionaries, whereas Chambers lists both ‑ize and ‑ise for British English.^[24] The Concise Oxford English Dictionary notes that "the form ize has been in use in English since the 16th century. The alternative spelling ise (reflecting a French influence) is in common use, especially in British English".^[25]

Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: United Nations organizations (UN, WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, etc.), World Trade Organization (WTO), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UK Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Amnesty International, World Economic Forum, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Major publications: Nature, The Times Literary Supplement, Encyclopædia Britannica

American English

Spellings: center, program, labor, defense, organization, recognize, analyze
Language tag: en-US

Examples of organizations adhering to this standard: the US government, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Organization of American States, NAFTA Secretariat.

Major publications: International Herald Tribune, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, Science, Scientific American

Tools

User:Ohconfucius/EngvarB – Script to convert the entire contents of a page from American spelling to British spelling

Notes

^ Chambers 2003; There are two British English spelling standards, with different requirements for -ise and -ize suffixes; see International organizations above.
^ South African Concise Oxford Dictionary. Cape Town: Oxford University Press Southern Africa. 2002. ISBN 0195718046.
^ The New Zealand Oxford Paperback Dictionary. Auckland, N.Z: Oxford University Press. 1998. ISBN 0195584104.
^ Yallop, C., ed. (2005). Macquarie Dictionary (4th ed.). North Ryde, N.S.W: Macquarie University. ISBN 1-876429-14-3.
^ Barber, Katherine, ed. (2004). Canadian Oxford Dictionary (2nd ed.). Don Mills, Ont: Oxford University Press. p. xiii. ISBN 0-19-541816-6. The main headword represents the most common form in Canadian usage.
^ Chambers 1998, p. xx.
^ Merriam–Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.). Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster, Inc. 2003. ISBN 0-87779-809-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ Except in the name Australian Labor Party.
^ Chambers 1998, p. 13; Oxford Advanced 1974, p. 8; while Collins 1997, p. 898 lists 'acknowledgement' as the only entry.
^ Chambers 1998, p. 445.
^ Chambers 1998, p. 255.
^ "Definition of gram (Brit. also gramme)". OxfordDictionaries.com. Oxford University Press. 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^ "gram or gramme". Chambers 21st Century Dictionary. Chambers Publishers Ltd. 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
^ Learning English | BBC World Service
^ Peters, p. 285: "But in North American English insure covers both meanings, and ensure is simply a variant spelling." (Emphasis as original.)
^ Peters, Pam (2004). "storey or story". The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 517. ISBN 0-521-62181-X.
^ Wilson, Kenneth G. (1993). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Columbia University Press. p. 406. ISBN 978-0231069892.
^ ^a ^b Zieglowsky, Laura Jo Thudium (2008). The show must go on: A descriptive single-site case study of dignity in the workplace among academic theatre collaborators. The University of Iowa. p. 1. ISBN 9780549950776.
^ Davies, Christopher (2007). Divided by a Common Language: A Guide to British and American English. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 90. ISBN 13: 9780618911622. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
^ Hischak, Thomas S. (2005). Theatre as Human Action: An Introduction to Theatre Arts. Scarecrow Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0810856868.
^ Oxford Advanced 1974, pp. viii, 29, 228, 477, 602, 678, 715; and Oxford Illustrated 1976.
^ Collins 1997.
^ Cassell 1985.
^ Chambers 1998, p. xx.
^ Allen, Robert, ed. (1990). "Definition of -ize". [[Concise Oxford English Dictionary|The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English]] (8th ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-861243-5. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)

References

The Chambers Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers. 2000 [1998]. ISBN 0-550-14000-X.
The Chambers Dictionary (9th ed.). Edinburgh: Chambers. 2003. ISBN 0-550-10013-X.
Hornby, Albert S.; Cowie, Anthony P.; Lewis, Jack W., eds. (1974). Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-431102-3.
Rébora, Piero; Guercio, Francis M.; Hayward, Arthur L., eds. (1985) [1967]. Cassell's Italian-English, English-Italian Dictionary: Dizionario Italiano-Inglese, Inglese-Italiano (7th ed.). London: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-52253-8.
The Oxford Illustrated Dictionary. Great Britain: Oxford University Press. 1976 [1975].
Terrell, Peter (1997). Collins German-English, English-German Dictionary (3rd ed.). Glasgow: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-470580-7.

External links

"British Spelling standards". Ars Semantica. 12 August 2006.
"Dave VE7CNV's Truly Canadian Dictionary of Canadian Spelling". Dave VE7CNV. 2007.

[1] Chambers 2003; There are two British English spelling standards, with different requirements for -ise and -ize suffixes; see International organizations above.

[2] South African Concise Oxford Dictionary. Cape Town: Oxford University Press Southern Africa. 2002. ISBN 0195718046.

[3] The New Zealand Oxford Paperback Dictionary. Auckland, N.Z: Oxford University Press. 1998. ISBN 0195584104.

[4] Yallop, C., ed. (2005). Macquarie Dictionary (4th ed.). North Ryde, N.S.W: Macquarie University. ISBN 1-876429-14-3.

[5] Barber, Katherine, ed. (2004). Canadian Oxford Dictionary (2nd ed.). Don Mills, Ont: Oxford University Press. p. xiii. ISBN 0-19-541816-6. The main headword represents the most common form in Canadian usage.

[6] Chambers 1998, p. xx.

[7] Merriam–Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.). Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster, Inc. 2003. ISBN 0-87779-809-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[8] Except in the name Australian Labor Party.

[9] Chambers 1998, p. 13; Oxford Advanced 1974, p. 8; while Collins 1997, p. 898 lists 'acknowledgement' as the only entry.

[10] Chambers 1998, p. 445.

[11] Chambers 1998, p. 255.

[12] "Definition of gram (Brit. also gramme)". OxfordDictionaries.com. Oxford University Press. 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.

[13] "gram or gramme". Chambers 21st Century Dictionary. Chambers Publishers Ltd. 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.

[14] Learning English | BBC World Service

[15] Peters, p. 285: "But in North American English insure covers both meanings, and ensure is simply a variant spelling." (Emphasis as original.)

[16] Peters, Pam (2004). "storey or story". The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 517. ISBN 0-521-62181-X.

[17] Wilson, Kenneth G. (1993). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Columbia University Press. p. 406. ISBN 978-0231069892.

[Thudium-18] Zieglowsky, Laura Jo Thudium (2008). The show must go on: A descriptive single-site case study of dignity in the workplace among academic theatre collaborators. The University of Iowa. p. 1. ISBN 9780549950776.

[19] Davies, Christopher (2007). Divided by a Common Language: A Guide to British and American English. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 90. ISBN 13: 9780618911622. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)

[20] Hischak, Thomas S. (2005). Theatre as Human Action: An Introduction to Theatre Arts. Scarecrow Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0810856868.

[21] Oxford Advanced 1974, pp. viii, 29, 228, 477, 602, 678, 715; and Oxford Illustrated 1976.

[22] Collins 1997.

[23] Cassell 1985.

[24] Chambers 1998, p. xx.

[25] Allen, Robert, ed. (1990). "Definition of -ize". [[Concise Oxford English Dictionary|The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English]] (8th ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-861243-5. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

@@ Line 318: / Line 318: @@
 *programme – program: In British English, the spelling ''program'' can be used for ''computer program''. In all other cases, ''programme'' is invariably used. In Australia, ''program'' is widespread in all contexts.
 *[[storey]] – story: a story is a tale; outside of the US, upper floors of buildings are spelt "storey".<ref>{{cite book |last=Peters |first=Pam |authorlink=Pam Peters |title=[[The Cambridge Guide to English Usage]] |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |date=2004 |page=517 |chapter=storey or story |isbn=0-521-62181-X}}</ref>
+*theatre – theater/Theatre<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Kenneth G.|title=The Columbia Guide to Standard American English|year=1993|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0231069892|page=406|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=L2ChiO2yEZ0C&pg=PA406&dq=Standard+American+English+theatre&hl=en&sa=X&ei=s1U4UZ39IoOsyAGEk4DIBg&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Standard%20American%20English%20theatre&f=false}}</ref> : There is no true standard spelling,<ref name="Thudium">{{cite book|last=Zieglowsky|first=Laura Jo Thudium|title=The show must go on: A descriptive single-site case study of dignity in the workplace among academic theatre collaborators|year=2008|publisher=The University of Iowa|isbn=9780549950776|page=1|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lzWyMDfNOlsC&pg=PA1&dq=Theater+professionals+spell+it+theatre&hl=en&sa=X&ei=aGE4UYnLG4K8yAGa1IDYBw&ved=0CEEQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Theater%20professionals%20spell%20it%20theatre&f=false}}</ref> although the "British" variation is frequently used.<ref>{{cite book|last=Davies|first=Christopher|title=Divided by a Common Language: A Guide to British and American English|year=2007|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|isbn=13: 9780618911622|page=90|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=m1Iq294l_5gC&pg=PA90&dq=how+do+americans+spell+theatre&hl=en&sa=X&ei=72o4UeLNJ8L4yQGKsID4Bg&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=how%20do%20americans%20spell%20theatre&f=false}}</ref>  The term 'theater' can refer to the structure (a theatre) while 'theatre' may be used to refer to the art (theatre arts).<ref>{{cite book|last=Hischak|first=Thomas S.|title=Theatre as Human Action: An Introduction to Theatre Arts|year=2005|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0810856868|page=5}}</ref> <ref name="Thudium" />
-*theatre – theater: Many uses of either spelling can be found in American English. Both ''theater'' and ''theatre'' are commonly used among theatre professionals. The spelling ''theatre'' can be seen in names like the [[Kodak Theatre]] and [[AMC Theatres]]. However, the spelling ''theater'' is used for the various venues at the [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]], and all major American newspapers, such as ''[[The New York Times]]'s'' theater section<ref>{{cite web|title=Theater section|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/pages/theater/index.html|work=The New York Times|accessdate=10 December 2010}}</ref> to refer to both the dramatic arts as well as to the buildings where performances take place. ''The Columbia University Guide to Standard American English'' states that "theater" is used except in proper names.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=L2ChiO2yEZ0C&pg=PA435&lpg=PA435&dq=Theater+Theatre+spelling+%22American+English%22&source=web&ots=hxul2afFc7&sig=0cnp4POWBND-JuD9wI7COMjo-qg&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#v=onepage&q=Theater%20Theatre%20spelling%20%22American%20English%22&f=false |title=The Columbia Guide to Standard American English |author= Wilson, Kenneth G. |authorlink=Kenneth G. Wilson (author) |year=1993 |chapter=theater, theatre |page=435 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York}}</ref>
 *tyre – tire: In American and Canadian English, ''tire'' is used to refer to 'to fatigue' and the inflated rim of a wheel. In British and other forms of English, ''tire'' means 'to fatigue' and ''tyre'' is the inflated rim of a wheel.