UK Writers - Mom or Mum?

[theMILFpatrol]

Hi,

So, writers from Britain, in your stories, do you use an 'o' or a 'u' when spelling mum/mom? I'm interested in your thought process of why you chose to do that.

I, for example, use Mom, because of a comment I received, where a, presumably, American was rather angry with my use of the English language, rather than using an Americanized version. There were some comments afterwards that did defend me, however, I decided to use 'Mom' from there onwards for my other stories, because I rationalised that the majority of traffic was from America, and it would affect less people if I used 'Mom'. Also, I decided that most British readers were used to reading 'mom' (due to most writers on the site being American), and wouldn't be that bothered by it.

(Sorry if this thread has been done before, I'm kind of new around here)

 

[CeasarBoobage]

As an American, I am used to seeing it spelled 'mom', but I'm smart enough to realize that there is more than one style of writing and speaking the English language.

If the story has other terms/spellings that place the story in anywhere other than the USA, I think seeing 'mom' would clash and put a small stumbling block in the story. If there's a scene where 'tea time' is involved, and talking about the colour of the pub's floor while the barkeep is pouring a pint of bitter, then the honour of the Good Queen Mother, then spelling anything other than 'mum' would be jarring.

 

[SamScribble]

Generally, mum is the most common form - although in certain parts of the country mam runs a close second. I don't think I have ever heard a Brit using mom.

 

[Kaneda_Shinaro]

As Caeser said, keep it consistent. If you're going to spell it "mum", then the rest of the test should be British English. If you spell it " mom", then you should be calling taps "faucets" and trousers "pants".

 

[sr71plt]

You're not going to stop getting that criticism from provincial American readers who don't know there are any conventions other than the U.S. ones. So the best thing is to write it as you want and just ignore that criticism. It wasn't that long ago that when British books were released in the States, they were recast for the U.S. audience (and I once had as part of my job translating BBC English into American for government readers of BBC news). Most publishers don't bother now, so eventually most readers in the United States will be clued in.

 

[lovecraft68]

I use mom-being that's what I was raised with-but when I see mum it doesn't bother me. I assume they are from the UK and its no big deal.

I agree with keeping it one or the other because inconsistencies can take away from a story

 

[LastLostIdols]

As Caeser said, keep it consistent. If you're going to spell it "mum", then the rest of the test should be British English. If you spell it " mom", then you should be calling taps "faucets" and trousers "pants".

Actually we call em taps, unless you're a fancy snob.

Trousers, pants, kecks, whatever.

Mum, Ma, Mam.

Car Tires is spelled Tyres.

Center is centre.

And add a lot of U's everywhere; colour, Honour, etc.

 

[CharleneBarr]

OK I'm a Brit and have got four stories up here, all using the term 'mum' because that's the most natural term where I come from. If I were to change that I feel I'd have to change all the other anglicisms in my work, and since I'm not THAT familiar with American usage, I'm sure it would sound contrived.
And don't get me started on 'suspenders' haha.....

 

[sr71plt]

OK I'm a Brit and have got four stories up here, all using the term 'mum' because that's the most natural term where I come from. If I were to change that I feel I'd have to change all the other anglicisms in my work, and since I'm not THAT familiar with American usage, I'm sure it would sound contrived.
And don't get me started on 'suspenders' haha.....

But I would hope that you've getting the vibe from this thread that it's just fine to do that. Nothing discussed on the forum is going to stop readers from doing whatever they do. So just ignore criticism along that line.

 

[edwalu2]

Generally, mum is the most common form - although in certain parts of the country mam runs a close second. I don't think I have ever heard a Brit using mom.

It's mom in Birmingham and the Midlands, so it's actually very common to use that spelling in the UK.

 

[Handley_Page]

Hi,

So, writers from Britain, in your stories, do you use an 'o' or a 'u' when spelling mum/mom? I'm interested in your thought process of why you chose to do that.

I, for example, use Mom, because of a comment I received, where a, presumably, American was rather angry with my use of the English language, rather than using an Americanized version. There were some comments afterwards that did defend me, however, I decided to use 'Mom' from there onwards for my other stories, because I rationalised that the majority of traffic was from America, and it would affect less people if I used 'Mom'. Also, I decided that most British readers were used to reading 'mom' (due to most writers on the site being American), and wouldn't be that bothered by it.

(Sorry if this thread has been done before, I'm kind of new around here)

I suggest you ignore such ill-informed comments. There are readers in the colonies who fail to realise that there's anywhere else on the planet. It was MUM when I was a kid.
I put a disclaimer at the top of my latest attempts at writing. "This is in English english", etc..

Generally, mum is the most common form - although in certain parts of the country mam runs a close second. I don't think I have ever heard a Brit using mom.

It's increasingly common; mostly, I suspect due to creping Americanisms (cards, films, etc..).

It's mom in Birmingham and the Midlands, so it's actually very common to use that spelling in the UK.

I'm in the Midlands and I've never heard it or seen it Mom (unless a funeral flower arranger cannot spell).

 

[oggbashan]

It's usually Mum in the UK, not to be confused with Ma'am.

But if you are older and went to a public school, you would never say 'Mum'. You might say 'Mater' (and 'Pater' of course) or Mother and Father.

 

[Weird Harold]

It's usually Mum in the UK, not to be confused with Ma'am.

But if you are older and went to a public school, you would never say 'Mum'. You might say 'Mater' (and 'Pater' of course) or Mother and Father.

That's really the key as to which endearment should be used:

"What would the character use?"

As illustrated by the replies to this thread, there is no correct answer. Even where "Mum" is the predominant usage, there are exceptions where "Mom," "Mam," "Mater" or something else is used.

 

[SamScribble]

"What would the character use?"

This, of course is the important question. But the original question was what do British writers [tend] to use? And the answer to that is 'mum' or 'mam', sometimes 'ma'. Personally, I generally addressed my mother (when she was alive) as 'Mother' - or occasionally by one of her nicknames. As Ogg pointed out, you can probably attribute this to my age and my school.

 

[Weird Harold]

"What would the character use?"

This, of course is the important question. But the original question was what do British writers [tend] to use?

British writers would naturally (tend to) write about "British Characters" and thus tend towards using British usage and slang. They would be wrong to do so when writing a non-British character, no matter what they would use themselves in casual conversation.

The question also delves into the realm of dialogue, as I can see few cases where "Mum" or "Mom" would be used in narrative or exposition. That brings the origins and upbringing of the speaker into the decision.

 

[slyc_willie]

Hi,

So, writers from Britain, in your stories, do you use an 'o' or a 'u' when spelling mum/mom? I'm interested in your thought process of why you chose to do that.

I, for example, use Mom, because of a comment I received, where a, presumably, American was rather angry with my use of the English language, rather than using an Americanized version. There were some comments afterwards that did defend me, however, I decided to use 'Mom' from there onwards for my other stories, because I rationalised that the majority of traffic was from America, and it would affect less people if I used 'Mom'. Also, I decided that most British readers were used to reading 'mom' (due to most writers on the site being American), and wouldn't be that bothered by it.

(Sorry if this thread has been done before, I'm kind of new around here)

Don't change your spelling, and therefore, potentially, your writing 'voice,' just because of some self-righteous troll. Write the way you want to.

As an American who grew up in Germany and later lived in the UK (Chelsea, London), I've observed a lot of different titles for the mother figure. In Germany it was either 'Mater' or 'Muti.' Note the capitalization. When I was in London, my first wife's mother was 'mum' and her grandmother was "grandmum.' Now and then, 'mummy' was used, but primarily as a term of endearment between my wife and her mother. 'Mum' was, more or less, the official title.

 

[Handley_Page]

Don't change your spelling, and therefore, potentially, your writing 'voice,' just because of some self-righteous troll. Write the way you want to.

As an American who grew up in Germany and later lived in the UK (Chelsea, London), I've observed a lot of different titles for the mother figure. In Germany it was either 'Mater' or 'Muti.' Note the capitalization. When I was in London, my first wife's mother was 'mum' and her grandmother was "grandmum.' Now and then, 'mummy' was used, but primarily as a term of endearment between my wife and her mother. 'Mum' was, more or less, the official title.

"Mummy" is what we teach our kids when they are small.

PS. Unless the young lady speaker is in parts of Very Expensive London.

 

[edwalu2]

I'm in the Midlands and I've never heard it or seen it Mom (unless a funeral flower arranger cannot spell).

Then you really should get out more. As I said, it's a common spelling in both Birmingham and the Midlands.

For your edification, refer to 'West Midlands English: Birmingham and the Black Country' by Urszula Clark and Esther Asprey.

 

[CharleneBarr]

Then you really should get out more. As I said, it's a common spelling in both Birmingham and the Midlands.

For your edification, refer to 'West Midlands English: Birmingham and the Black Country' by Urszula Clark and Esther Asprey.

I side with HP on this - I have friends around Birmingham and Coventry and have never once heard them refer to 'mom'.

 

[sr71plt]

British writers would naturally (tend to) write about "British Characters" and thus tend towards using British usage and slang. They would be wrong to do so when writing a non-British character, no matter what they would use themselves in casual conversation.

The question also delves into the realm of dialogue, as I can see few cases where "Mum" or "Mom" would be used in narrative or exposition. That brings the origins and upbringing of the speaker into the decision.

I think the advice to be consistent with the character's origin is a good point; I don't see why mum/mom wouldn't be used as extensively in narrative as it is in dialogue, though--in which case it should adhere to the origin of the narrator.

 

[Weird Harold]

... I don't see why mum/mom wouldn't be used as extensively in narrative as it is in dialogue, though--in which case it should adhere to the origin of the narrator.

Yes, narration referring to a character's maternal parent might use "His Mum," "Her Mom," or "Their Mother," but I don't see that happening with a great frequency compared to characters' addressing their mother or referencing another mother in familiar/slang terms.

 

[edwalu2]

I side with HP on this - I have friends around Birmingham and Coventry and have never once heard them refer to 'mom'.

All this illustrates is that you haven't paid as much attention as you think you have. Sorry!

I'm from Birmingham by the way, so I believe I speak with some authority on the subject.

 

[oggbashan]

Whether 'Mom' is used in parts of the UK or not, it does not carry the same connotations that it would in the USA.

 

[49greg]

I'm and American, and brought up using Mom, but have no problem reading Mum. It's like ass and arse, color and colour, aluminum and aluminium. Just different versions. Don't worry about dickheads that display their ignorance, Laugh at them.

 

[edwalu2]

Whether 'Mom' is used in parts of the UK or not, it does not carry the same connotations that it would in the USA.

Really? What connotations do you think that it carries in the USA with people who use it that it doesn't carry with people in the UK who use it? I'm not at all sure what you mean.