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[Napoleonthechimp]

I'm European and while we were force fed British English at school I vastly prefer the US spelling.

Heathen.

 

[The Librarian]

The British spelling of "arse" annoys me.

 

[Jeff Albertson]

I'm English but don't have a problem with either

I often find totally different pronunciations of the same word funny thought like route

Uk route - root
US route - rowt

 

[Basileus777]

I use grey. I'll also throw in the occasional extra U in a word.

 

[Lo-Volt]

No, but after reading The Guardian, I can never hear the word 'labor' the same way.

 

[CrazyDude]

You can also say the Commonwealth's spellings as they also follow it.

But doesn't colour look more awesome than color? Omelette better than omelet? Arse, better than ass?

I actually prefer them although I'm American. I don't use them because I'd find it as disingenuous as speaking with a faux accent.

No, I don't find adding extra unnecessary letter to words better.

 

[Ikuu]

The British spelling of "arse" annoys me.

What other spelling is there?

 

[CrazyDude]

I'm English but don't have a problem with either

I often find totally different pronunciations of the same word funny thought like route

Uk route - root
US route - rowt

Actually you'll find people pronounce it both ways in the u.s.

 

[Thursday War]

Noupe.

:lol :lol :lol

I actually prefer colour over color.

 

[javac]

Whatever my spellcheck decides is right on that day I guess.

 

[Fugu]

I use the British spellings for some things but I am as American as apple pie vis a vis the ou vs. o thing. The English language is hard enough without extra pointless vowels.

I am Canadian, however, so perhaps this question isn't about me.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

The British spelling of "arse" annoys me.

"Arse" is correct, "ass" is a donkey.

 

[Deleted member 231381]

I'm English but don't have a problem with either

I often find totally different pronunciations of the same word funny thought like route

Uk route - root
US route - rowt

This one annoys me because there is already a "rowt" - to rout someone in battle.

 

[CrazyDude]

"Arse" is correct, "ass" is a donkey.

And these are arses.

This one annoys me because there is already a "rowt" - to rout someone in battle.

And there is already a root, like part of a plant.

 

[Chuckie]

I'm English but don't have a problem with either

I often find totally different pronunciations of the same word funny thought like route

Uk route - root
US route - rowt

Does this difference carry over to 'Router'? Because I am used to say 'Root' but we say Rowter in Holland, not Rooter.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

This one annoys me because there is already a "rowt" - to rout someone in battle.

Yeah, the UK wins that one. The American pronunciation of "herb" is also weird.

 

[CodonAUG]

American here. Prefer UK spelling for lots of words (ex: behaviour) but I prefer American pronunciation.

 

[Irminsul]

I prefer the way they say "croissant".

I only know the French pronunciation that's also used in German. Is that the British version, too? And what's the American one, then? Because I can't really figure out how you would pronounce that word otherwise. "Cross-ant"?

Spoiler

Please no.

On topic: Learnt the British spelling in school and I still prefer it.

 

[mclem]

The British spelling of "arse" annoys me.

Arse is a *lot* more fun to say.

Yeah, the UK wins that one. The American pronunciation of "herb" is also weird.

Not half as weird as conch.

 

[CrazyDude]

Yeah, the UK wins that one. The American pronunciation of "herb" is also weird.

How is it weird, you pronounce like you read h-er-b. How do you brits pronounce it?

Arse is a *lot* more fun to say.

It's a lot more annoying and rough to say. Ass it a lot smoother on the tongue.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

How is it weird, you pronounce like you read h-er-b. How do you brits pronounce it?

It may not be consistent across the states but I've heard people drop the "h" and end up saying "'erb". It really bugs me.

 

[Deleted member 13876]

Heathen.

I blame it on pedantic teachers deducting points for stuff I knew was right and confusing me in the process. Stuff like correcting "I'm sick" with no, that means to vomit! The correct word is ill. Ugh. Only had one teacher who was cool about the US/UK thing. If you wrote US English consistently she wouldn't correct you unless you slipped up somewhere.

 

[mclem]

Ass it a lot smoother on the tongue.

Even if it's hai...*cough*

Duly noted.



But more to the point: It's a rough, earthy word. It needs a rough, earthy sound.

 

[Kitsunebaby]

I prefer the british spelling for grey. I also use the british pronunciation of basil. Aside from those I pretty much prefer the American spellings and the pronunciations used in the mid-atlantic region of the US.

 

[CrunchyFrog]

Fuck the Brits, screwing up a perfectly good 1300 year old language. Tradition I say! Middle English is where it's at. Ænglisc, motherfucker, mælaen?

 

[mclem]

Fuck the Brits, screwing up a perfectly good 1300 year old language. Tradition I say! Middle English is where it's at. Ænglisc, motherfucker, mælaen?

You keep your lewd cuccus to yourself.

 

[leadbelly]

One step closer to full unification of the British Empire.

 

[BGBW]

canadian english is the best of both worlds.

Eh?

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

As a Canadian I agree that pure British spelling is better but I use Canadian spelling anyway. Organise and realise just look so much 'cleaner' though.

 

[Irminsul]

Fuck the Brits, screwing up a perfectly good 1300 year old language. Tradition I say! Middle English is where it's at. Ænglisc, motherfucker, mælaen?

Didn't even know that's one of Ye Olde Swearwords.

Spoiler

Whoever thinks it's funny to use old English words and pronounces "ye" with a "y" deserves to be shot.

 

[Natetan]

Before I moved to the uk I thought British everything was better.

Then you go to the country and realize it's all just a pastiche and that many us things are better, including spelling.

British spelling is stupid.

It's eych not hainch for the letter 'h'

And z'is pronounced 'z' not 'zed'

 

[CrocMother]

I only know the French pronunciation that's also used in German. Is that the British version, too? And what's the American one, then? Because I can't really figure out how you would pronounce that word otherwise. "Cross-ant"?

Spoiler

Please no.

On topic: Learnt the British spelling in school and I still prefer it.

Like "Cruh-saunt"

 

[depths20XX]

Arse is a shit word. At least with ass it can sound sexy.

"Damn, she has a nice ass" good

"Damn, she has a nice arse" sounds gross, like some sailor or some shit

 

[TasTokyo]

I prefer British English partly as I'm British but also because my American friends always simply justify American English with what is essentially "It is easier". I have never heard an argument beyond that. Well I don't want to use a simplified form. I don't feel the goal of a language should necessarily be to make it easier.

It is made worse when they have a go at how things are said different to the spelling, yet then refuse to acknowledge words like herb being said as erb as weird.

 

[Kajigger]

Noupe.

 

[Natetan]

I prefer British English partly as I'm British but also because my American friends always simply justify American English with what is essentially "It is easier". I have never heard an argument beyond that. Well I don't want to use a simplified form. I don't feel the goal of a language should necessarily be to make it easier.

It is made worse when they have a go at how things are said different to the spelling, yet then refuse to acknowledge words like herb being said as erb as weird.

Then consider it de-normanized. It's not French so why spell it like them. They don't rule you anymore.

 

[CrazyDude]

I prefer British English partly as I'm British but also because my American friends always simply justify American English with what is essentially "It is easier". I have never heard an argument beyond that. Well I don't want to use a simplified form. I don't feel the goal of a language should necessarily be to make it easier.

It is made worse when they have a go at how things are said different to the spelling, yet then refuse to acknowledge words like herb being said as erb as weird.

I don't get why the goal would be to make it harder. I also don't know a single person who say "erb" everyone here says herb.

 

[Hilbert]

Yeah, the UK wins that one. The American pronunciation of "herb" is also weird.

Americans say Herb without the H because that is how the British said it long ago. Making sure to say the H is a fairly recent development in Britan.

 

[PJV3]

The American spellings were just a temper tantrum, one never gives in to naughty children.

 

[Winterfang]

The American version is more streamlined and superior to me.

 

[MrChom]

The American spellings were just a temper tantrum, one never gives in to naughty children.

We should probably send them to bed with no supper, frankly, I've never had to deal with such an obstinate upstart.

 

[TheDanger]

I'm from Austria (Europe, no kangaroos) and we had to use British English in school , if you spelled something the American way it would be counted as a mistake. I myself prefer the American spelling, centre ain't makes no fucking sense.

 

[Angry Fork]

I prefer colour, labour, theatre, and grey to American spellings. I hate arse though. But if I were to write an essay for school I'd use American just because some dickhead may give me bad marks over not being patriotic enough to use 'mericuh spelling.

 

[Aiustis]

Not exactly I do use gray and grey interchangeably I also use realise.

 

[CrazyDude]

I prefer colour, labour, theatre, and grey to American spellings. I hate arse though.

I don't get why people like grey instead of gray. You hear an a when saying it, not an e.

 

[triplestation]

No they are lame

Fuck colour

 

[Darth Sonik]

British spelling reflects the nature of the language, the fact its made up of words from around the world.

The one thing I hate about American English is when they fuck with Latin or Greek terms in science, medicine or technical fields.

 

[Miles X]

english or bastardised english

a hard choice indeed

This. Lets not beat around the bush.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

No, and if you're an American and you use it, its a ridiculous affectation.

Or you are a monarchist and shouldn't be trusted.

This. Lets not beat around the bush.

"Let's" which is short for "let us." Lets would require a third person subject.

Also, English is a bastardized language. 2/3 of the words aren't Germanic in origin.

 

[TasTokyo]

I don't get why the goal would be to make it harder. I also don't know a single person who say "erb" everyone here says herb.

It wasn't making it harder. It just was. Whereas American English seemed to be an active attempt to make it easier.

I always hear Americans say erb and drop the H. In fact just google American pronunciation herb.