British English vs. American English?

[Mythrana]

Hi all Lit,

Just a simple query. Which is more appropriate to use, british spelling or american spelling?

Thank you

Mythrana

 

[Evil Attorney]

Depends on location.

If you were in the USA, you say "Shove it up your ass"

If you were in the UK, you say "Shove it up your arse"

 

[cloudy]

Either one. Just choose and stay consistent. That's all that's necessary.

 

[minsue]

Hi all Lit,

Just a simple query. Which is more appropriate to use, british spelling or american spelling?

Thank you

Mythrana

To me, the only that that makes one more appropriate than another would be the setting. I must admit, it throws me when a story with an American protagonist uses British (and everywhere else in the world, I think ) spelling or vice versa, but even then it's only startling when it's in first person.

 

[Penelope Street]

Depends on the narrator or the setting of the story. Especially in the first person perspective, I think a western written in British English would only work as a joke. Same for an Elizabethan tale written in American English.

 

[amicus]

There is a small discrepancy when one is forced to choose between, color and colour and several other such words of that nature. Consistency is good advice, especially if you wish to publish outside your own country.

But perhaps the best advice is to use the language you are familiar with and let the reader notice the difference if they will.

amicus...

 

[TheEarl]

I always write using British spelling, because I am English and it is anathema to me to spell sulphur with an f. I'm writing in my native language and would no more say color than I would couleur.

If my character's American, then he/she would use American slang (so 'ass' instead of 'arse') but everything would still be spelt in English.

Nb. There is no such thing as British English. There is American English and there is English.

The Earl

 

[English Lady]

I always write using British spelling, because I am English and it is anathema to me to spell sulphur with an f. I'm writing in my native language and would no more say color than I would couleur.

If my character's American, then he/she would use American slang (so 'ass' instead of 'arse') but everything would still be spelt in English.

Nb. There is no such thing as British English. There is American English and there is English.

The Earl

Exactly what my good friend here says I'm English, so I write English, in fact I often write colloquial Northern English, it's just sooo enbeddened in me.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

The first great porn story written entirely in Pig Latin is still waiting to be written.

"Uckmefay! I'm Ummingkay!"

 

[Alex De Kok]

The first great porn story written entirely in Pig Latin is still waiting to be written.

"Uckmefay! I'm Ummingkay!"

I'd love to read the feedback!

Alex

 

[TheEarl]

I'd love to read the feedback!

Alex

Oyay ymay odgay. ouryay orystay ademay emay osay othay atthay Iyay ameca inyay ymay antspay!

Ethay Earlyay

 

[impressive]

The first great porn story written entirely in Pig Latin is still waiting to be written.

"Uckmefay! I'm Ummingkay!"

I'd love to read the feedback!

Alex

Feedback:

It's "Uckfay emay," erkjay! ouyay ucksay.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Ummmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiinnnnnnggggg-cay!!!!"

 

[sun_lover_61]

I always write using British spelling, because I am English and it is anathema to me to spell sulphur with an f. I'm writing in my native language and would no more say color than I would couleur.

If my character's American, then he/she would use American slang (so 'ass' instead of 'arse') but everything would still be spelt in English.

Nb. There is no such thing as British English. There is American English and there is English.

The Earl

I write in English also Earl, but on the matter of sulfur/sulphur, the American spelling has now been adopted by the powers that be in Chemistry.

But, an ass is still a horsey kind of the thing to me.

 

[sun_lover_61]

Not pig latin - but harder to decipher.

I just read a novel written in first person, in "scouse".

Come 'ead man - 'kinell! made me feel a right cunt it did.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

The only thing that trips me up in British vs American is the use of plural nouns and verbs.

The team is vs the team are.

 

[TheEarl]

I write in English also Earl, but on the matter of sulfur/sulphur, the American spelling has now been adopted by the powers that be in Chemistry.

But, an ass is still a horsey kind of the thing to me.

You're kidding me! I heard that they were considering it, but I didn't think it was going to happen.

Still will never use sulfur and I doubt it'll change in England. It's sulphuric acid, not sulfuric, dammit!

Fosfor anyone?

The Earl

 

[R. Richard]

OK some of you use "American English" and some of you use "English=British English."

Where I have lived, there are in constant use dozens of dialects. Ebonics is popular as is Spanglish. There are at least a half more dozen major dialects in use depending on the users age, race/national origin, etc. I can't imagine that England is much different and maybe even more diverse considering Ireland and Scotland.

So, exactly what is the point here?

 

[TheEarl]

OK some of you use "American English" and some of you use "English=British English."

Where I have lived, there are in constant use dozens of dialects. Ebonics is popular as is Spanglish. There are at least a half more dozen major dialects in use depending on the users age, race/national origin, etc. I can't imagine that England is much different and maybe even more diverse considering Ireland and Scotland.

So, exactly what is the point here?

I think Mythrana was just checking to see if there was any kind of a standard for spelling.

The Earl

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Hi all Lit,

Just a simple query. Which is more appropriate to use, british spelling or american spelling?

Thank you

Mythrana

Honestly, so long as everyone understands, isn't signifying one over the other pretty much just petty?

Q_C