what's the best spelling?

**Paul Henry** · 19th February 07, 04:41 AM

Of course spelling is very important, but we should remember that the spelling of many words in English can be different, and in the 18th Century there was no absolute "right" spelling of many words, and people like Johnson compiled his Dictionary which was very useful in trying to suggest coherent spelling.
To further complicate matters, words from foreign tongues are often represented in some form of phonetics, and they vary. We usually accept the most used form, as the standard.
And as a humourous(?) aside..... Noah Webster did do a lot of work of trying to sort out spelling in the US, not that we Brits think that succeeded!!

**Pour1Malt** · 19th February 07, 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by Mike1

P1M has hit the nail right on the thumb.

Although there are several spellings, only one is correct. If you are going to refer to the knife in the Gaelic, it is spelled sgian dubh.

The problem with relying on phonetic spelling is we are not properly teaching those that follow. What happens when we have an entire generation thinking that kat, dawg and pleeze are spelled correctly? It seems we already have a generation or two that think the words their, they're and there are completely and seamlessly interchangeable.

an micht ai ad...

"your, you're, & yore"

"to, too, & two"

"it's, its, and its'"

"advise & advice"

"definitely & defiantly"

"right & write"

**Pour1Malt** · 19th February 07, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by paulhenry

....... Noah Webster did do a lot of work of trying to sort out spelling in the US, not that we Brits think that succeeded!!

aye... here it is viewed maire that he wuz attemptin' tae destroy English....

**Kid Cossack** · 19th February 07, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by Pour1Malt

an micht ai ad...

"your, you're, & yore"

"to, too, & two"

"it's, its, and its'"

"advise & advice"

"definitely & defiantly"

"right & write"

capital/capitol

affect/effect

principle/principal

I realize that standardized spelling is a recent "meme" but it's one I like; I enjoy proper word usage, even if I don't always manage to carry it off myself.