However, I wish the English language was “better” designed like, say, Spanish (from Spain), in which the sound that a letter makes (or do not make) is always (or almost always?) the same. This would allow a “logical” mind to spell more correctly, even when hearing a word for the first time.

As for “US English” it seems to me that some words are spelt (or spelled) with “logic” and “simplicity” in mind, like spelling “colour” as (simply) “color”. As a “logical” person, I tend to agree with the apparent “logic” and “simplicity”.

However, spelling “cheque” (a bank/money “order”) as “check”, might have been due to “dumbness” rather than “logic/simplicity”, and especially so because the word “check” already exists for something else.

Finally, the list is a very good effort (thanks!). If all (obvious) errors/mistakes are already removed from the list, it is also a very good reference.

“Crueller” and “cruelest” are diferrent words, each with its own meaning.

In my 63 years in Canada, I have never seen “meter” spelled “metre.”

Still, your list is a good reference.

Merve

First, it wasn’t Webster that pulled Yankese away from Canehjen; the fact is, Canadian English was rapidly becoming American in the early 19th century, thanks to massive immigration into Canada from the States. (This is also why Canadians say “store” instead of “shop” and “vacation” instead of “holiday”.) Prominent Canadian cultural authorities intentionally re-established some British norms as standard, most notably -our and -re words, partly for patriotic reasons, and partly because Americanisms are almost always normalised errors, and therefore represented a “dumbing-down” of Canadian discourse.

However, given the saturation of Canada by American culture, Canadian English has become increasingly Americanised. The matter is greatly exacerbated by the fact that there are no national standards for these things in Canada; no Canadian equivalent of the MLA, for example, and few Canadian dictionaries available for software. (Example: I have to run the Australian dictionary in Word.)

When I first immigrated to Canada from the States as a professional writer, this lack of standards drove me nuts. After receiving a dozen shoulder-shrugs to my requests for reliable Canadian authority, I said “screw it” and went full-on British. (As you can see from this comment.) It irks some Canadians (Yank-wannabes, mostly) and all Americans, and so is well worth any inconvenience.

Thoughtful post!

Robin

Rusty Ring: Reflections of an Old-Timey Hermit

and queuing or queueing aside, we dont Queu. Americans “Wait In Line”. Semper Fi.

I checked into your site to determine an appropriate spelling for litre in Canada. Of course, I took the opportunity to check the other words in your list. I was disappointed to see “analyse” noted as the Canadian spelling. As a native born Canadian (47 years old) – I have to tell you that I had never seen this spelling use in Canada – anywhere. That is, untill spell check. I can only assume that someone (perhaps British) decided that “analyze” was not the Canadian spelling. A competing site recognizes that while “analyse” and the like are not unknown in Canada – “analyze” and the like are more common. Perhaps peoples’ relicance on spell check will change this fact – as it seems to have done in some newspapers. In general, I find it sad that spell check will have the consequence of creating static in the evolution of our landguage.

Best to you

Dean

Honestly, someone tell me if there is an U.S./ Canadian thing happening with the spelling of all words that end up said counsellor because that one BAFFLES me(spell check underlined it, had to google to be sure. frig it’s tiring!)! Perhaps I just don’t know how to spell at all, but I need someone to iron it all out for me!

Nooo! British English is the original, and so it is the most proper. I am neither British nor Canadian or American, and yeah as a foreigner I struggled to learn the spelling of many words, but seriously the standard should be British spelling not American. It´s like the differences in the Spanish spoken in Latin America and that of Spain…. it doesnt matter which country has the most inhabitants the original will always be more proper.

I learned British English in the Netherlands. Living in Canada now you’d expect me to stay the course but in many cases I lean towards the US spelling for two reasons. One, software often speaks US English:) Two, although we’re writing for a Canadian audience here we have a ton of US readers too — and audience size & keyword matches matter.

Thanks for taking the time to comment, Jose.