Being rejected for non-American spelling

[Crew Cut]

Two of my stories have been rejected for spelling reasons. In the latest there was a single typo (didlo instead of dildo) which I have corrected. Unfortunately it wasn't picked up in an initial spellcheck.

However, the issue of bigger concerns are that when first rejected there is no indication of what the troublesome words were. With the first story I replied that everything was spelt correctly in standard Australian English.

The second time I have been told, after inquiring, that certain words were spelt "incorrectly". However, both are perfectly correct in both English-English and Australian-English (ie counsellor / counselling with a double l, I was told should be counselor and counseling).

I can't spell in American English, and can't see why an international site, used by people from many different cultures should have to conform to one form of "correct" English!

 

[Crew Cut]

sorry ... "issue of bigger concern is..."

 

[angelbaby791]

Good evening Crew Cut,

I quite understand your dilemma; being from the UK and using 'British English,' I have often had the same trouble myself.

> I can't spell in American English, and can't see why an international site, used by people from many different cultures should have to conform to one form of "correct" English!

Please don't let the above deter you, but in the world of IT, it seems to be the standard form.

Happy writing, my friend.

Angelbaby791

 

[hiddenself]

IF you were given a list of words allegedly spelled wrong and...
IF you've checked your dictionary and the spelling is indeed correct and...
IF you are reasonably confident about your spelling throughout the story...

THEN...
PM (not email) Laurel and briefly state your case as you did here. She is overworked and this may be a case of too much reliance on US spelling habits. She will recognize an unfair rejection when one is pointed out (and I suspect yours may be that rare case indeed).


PS The online Webster's does not recognize "spelt" by the way. Do use a standard dictionary (Webster's, Oxford) to see if the spelling is acceptable.

 

[angelbaby791]

> PS The online Webster's does not recognize "spelt" by the way. Do use a standard dictionary (Webster's, Oxford) to see if the spelling is acceptable.


I apologize for 'butting in' here, but 'spelt' is perfetly known to be gramatically correct. Do you know that a few year ago, the 'Websters ' dictionary was proven to be so incorrect in its 'usage' of English Grammar as it is known??

I don't want to seem to be 'obnoxious' here, but I feel that you shoud get your facts straight before recomending something that I feel that you have not researched upon previously. It is one of the reasons that the 'Websters' is declared 'undesirable' in Japan.

Kindest regards,

Angelbaby791.

P.S. I take it that you are from America? Please DO correct me if Iam wrong. If that is the case, i understand your explanation of 'spelt.'

 

[angelbaby791]

P.S. I take it that you are from America? Please DO correct me if Iam wrong. If that is the case, i understand your explanation of 'spelt.'

I profusely apoloize. I made a 'horrendous mistake!!' *If that is the case, I can understand your explnation of 'spelt.'

Goodnight my dear.

Angelbaby791

 

[KillerMuffin]

What it most likely is would be that counsellor is not in American dictionaries. The editor, being in America, would not find Austrailian dictionaries for sale in any reasonable location she might shop at.

Rather than PM her, which would be a waste of time, resubmit your story with an explanation that in Austrailia, you spell the word "counsellor".

 

[hiddenself]

What it most likely is would be that counsellor is not in American dictionaries. The editor, being in America, would not find Austrailian dictionaries for sale in any reasonable location she might shop at.

Rather than PM her, which would be a waste of time, resubmit your story with an explanation that in Austrailia, you spell the word "counsellor".

That's not right as far as "counsellor" goes -- Webster's has it. In fact, Webster's has many of the common British-English spelling variations (I don't know how different Australian spelling might be). In any case, that's why I advised use of a "standard" dictionary to check if the spellling is "acceptable" (note that I didn't say "correct").

 

[KillerMuffin]

That's not right as far as "counsellor" goes -- Webster's has it. In fact, Webster's has many of the common British-English spelling variations (I don't know how different Australian spelling might be). In any case, that's why I advised use of a "standard" dictionary to check if the spellling is "acceptable" (note that I didn't say "correct").

You would be correct, of course. Use a standard dictionary of any sort. The most likely problem is that counsellor is not one of those words that people automatically associate with different spellings internationally, unlike colour and honour.

 

[wildsweetone]

KillerMuffin, Do you know if this means that any stories written in non-American english are going to be rejected?

 

[snooper]

KillerMuffin, Do you know if this means that any stories written in non-American english are going to be rejected?

More to the point, if UK English is to be barred, will the abominably spelled US English stories also be stopped? I ran a US spell checker on one recently and found 93 errors including such obvious ones as "mikl" for "milk". I could put up with having to translate my occasional offerings into US English spelling if all stories were all required to be put through a spell-checker before submission.

 

[Alex De Kok]

More to the point, if UK English is to be barred, will the abominably spelled US English stories also be stopped? I ran a US spell checker on one recently and found 93 errors including such obvious ones as "mikl" for "milk". I could put up with having to translate my occasional offerings into US English spelling if all stories were all required to be put through a spell-checker before submission.

Unfortunately, the mere use of a spell chequer will knot find awl of the mistakes that ewe might make, if those words are correctly spelled, but wrong!

Alex

 

[snooper]

Unfortunately, the mere use of a spell chequer will knot find awl of the mistakes that ewe might make, if those words are correctly spelled, but wrong!

Alex

Yes, we have all read the lovely little paper "Sew much four spell chequers" but the example I cited is not in that class. I quoted "mikl" for "milk" and similar errors which are not simple faux amis.

If un-American spelling is becoming a criterion for rejection, then those of us who will have to translate our work are, I hope, entitled to demand some effort towards correct spelling by the mother-tongue American authors?

Afterthought
Is an alternative to submit UK English in the non-English category, since it is apparently to be rejected in all others?

 

[Alex De Kok]

If un-American spelling is becoming a criterion for rejection, then those of us who will have to translate our work are, I hope, entitled to demand some effort towards correct spelling by the mother-tongue American authors?

I'm with you on that one, having tried to read some works here and given up on them, but I have one on here which is not only in English English, but in Geordie dialect, too, so merely using non-American spellings hasn't stopped me in the past. Whether it will in the future...

Alex

 

[FlyontheWall99]

That's not right as far as "counsellor" goes -- Webster's has it. In fact, Webster's has many of the common British-English spelling variations (I don't know how different Australian spelling might be). In any case, that's why I advised use of a "standard" dictionary to check if the spellling is "acceptable" (note that I didn't say "correct").

From someone with experience in Australia, England, Canada and the USA, I can say that Australian-English, besides unique slang terms, is exactly the same as Canada, and is so similar to England the differences are negligible ....

Back to writing ....

Fly ....

 

[angelbaby791]

The Two Websters (abstracted from film, The Chiefton,
Lawrence County, Missouri- May 31, 1876)

When Mr Webster visited England after he had
attained fame enough to precede him, an English
gentleman took him one day to see Lord Brougham.
The eminent Briton received Daniel with such
coolness that he was glad to get away and back to his rooms.

The friend who had taken him, at once returned to Lord
Bougham in haste and anger.

�gMy lord, how could you behave with such unseemingly
rudeness and discourtesy to so great a lawyer and statesman?
It was insulting to him and filled me with mortification.�h

�gWhy, what on earth have I done, and whom have I been rude to?�h

�gTo Daniel Webster of the senate of the United States.�h

�gGreat Jupiter, what a blunder! I thought it was that fellow
Webster who made a dictionary and �enearly ruined the English language.�h

Then the great chancellor quickly hunted up the American senator,
and having other tastes in common besides law and politics, they made a royal night of it.-- [Harper�fs Magazine.]

Angelbaby791

 

[thickfinger]

What it most likely is would be that counsellor is not in American dictionaries. The editor, being in America, would not find Austrailian dictionaries for sale in any reasonable location she might shop at.

Rather than PM her, which would be a waste of time, resubmit your story with an explanation that in Austrailia, you spell the word "counsellor".

That is solid advice Killermuffin.

It seems that this disscusion has lasped into a battle of the dictionaries and the larger issue is being lost.

It is my feeling that the web masters at Literotica are an incredibly hard working lot. The sheer volume of submissions that pour into them each week must be overwhelming. I do agree Crew Cut this does seem to be 'splitting hairs'. (pardon the pun)

I would guess that this was an oversite rather than any American snobbery regarding the 'Kings English'. Work with the web master/ mistress at Lit. they are good people.

As writers we must all remember that our focus is the quality of our work. The web masters at Lit. have a different motivation, the quality of their site. The two occasionally don't align perfectly, and adjustments are required. When submitting a story to them it is their patience that is being tested not our own.

I have in the past, read some stories with atrocious grammatical and spelling errors in American English written by American writers. I have done it myself and cringe when my mistakes DO get posted for the world to read. Perhaps its not quite such an advantage to have my American English stories scream through their American English error checking.

That is why I sought an editor 'where else but at Literotica' and luckily found a British English speaking editor. We still have to find compromises on certain subtleties of the language.

The people at Literotica allow us all the oportunity to indulge ourselves in the fantasy that we may be great writers. Aside from being American they are also human and make mistakes. They deserve our thanks and not our rancor.

Considering the alternative, would we even be discussing this thorny issue if not for their good graces?


Just my humble opinion.

 

[KillerMuffin]

thickfinger, I do believe you have hit the nail perfectly on the head.

No one can be expected to know all spelling, punctuation, and grammar conventions for all places that speak English. Explaining the situation with good grace is going to leave you feeling better about the whole thing than by going off on a bender. Take it from one who chooses the bender route more often than she ought.

 

[thickfinger]

Thank you Killermuffin (love the name)


Now listen up people this woman is talking sense!


I had to temper my enthusiasm after reading your reply. We are after all two Americans agreeing with each other, it doesn't happen all that often.



When someone of your 'near legendary' status in the Literotica community has something constructive to say we would all do well to listen.

My best to you and yours..........

 

[Jan_Comenius]

Just a note to all the non-AmEng speakers posting here protesting the imposition of American spelling standards on you here (and perhaps elsewhere).

I am an American speaker of English and you have a legitimate point.

For a very long time now, there has been something of a silent conspiracy in the USA regarding the occasionally pronounced differences between British and American spelling standards (and yes, all the other Englishes). In reaction to the continued British strategy of scoffing and sneering at our ridiculous use of English and always offering a tellurian right to the language as Oxbridge English's only justification for occasionally idiosyncratic usages, American publishing houses, in many cases, have calmly ignored British conventions and imposed American spellings on many important works out of hand. If the British are to condemn us anyway, the reasoning has gone, why bother at all? Bear in mind, I am talking about places like McGraw-Hill and HBJ, NOT Literotica.com. I sincerely doubt that the webmistress enforces a conscious policy of censorship based on spelling.

The problems were especially prevalent early in the twentieth century, after the explosion of the American printing industry hooked up with a blase attitude toward international copyright laws. I remember my honest shock at coming across "blent" in Vanity Fair when reading it for the second time in a Wordsworth edition and then comparing it to my old American critical edition and finding "blended."

All right, that's an unusual usage, perhaps as outdated now as the Middle English word "yclept," but the lesson is valid. Many Americans, especially those not involved in the issue on an international level, simply don't know how different the two forms of English can be. Another great example: I remember memorizing all of Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" and thinking that the author's last name was as outdated as hyphenating the name of Shakespeare.

The bottom line is, quite a few books in the States have been censored without our knowledge or consent. Something of the same thing has happened in the UK and its own markets. Tom Clancy, for instance, never wrote books entitled Armoured Cavalry or Debt of Honour, despite the fact that those titles can be found in practically any bookshop in Britain under HarperCollins imprint. However, since New York is more or less the center of the publishing world, the problem is much more advanced in the US than it is elsewhere. It could be argued that the Big Apple is what it is in publishing because of the relaxed copyright laws mentioned earlier, and that would also be a legitimate point regarding the general illegitimacy of cultural imperialism.

In the final analysis, it is my hope that this information might lead to a greater understanding on your part as non-American speakers of the language. The stubborn ignorance regarding English that you may perceive to be part and parcel of being American has been imposed upon those of us brought up in the States due to geographical isolation and a tradition of teaching a system of spelling standardization dating back to the days when Webster's Spelling Book, which used many of the reformed spellings of his originally wacky scheme, had almost as many copies in circulation in the USA as the Bible. I would therefore counsel your further objecting to the current order of things. But I join the other Americans on this thread in asking for a touch of clemency. The truth has in many ways been hidden from those of us without long-term international experience.

It's 5:44 a.m., I'm beat, and I have class in six hours. Some of these posts are so damned interesting they're like heroin. How is it that issues that get debated in abstract senses by grad students in genteel poverty end up on what might be perceived as a simple smutboard? Please don't scream at me for my many typos, mes amis. Sexy, this means you!

 

[snooper]

A strong rumour

There is a strong rumour on the street that policy has not changed and that UK/Canadian/Australian spellings are acceptable to the "powers that be" here.

A note with the submission will clearly distinguish us foreigners from native Americans (and, of course, from Native Americans also).