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Message |
Luke
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:03 am
Post subject: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/cheque |
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If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits, Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
If I use the American "check", many Brits who are not aware of the
American spelling of "cheque" may think I'm ignorant. Others may
misunderstand the sentence containing the word. (since "check" has
many meanings).
I'm not sure what most Americans would think if they saw the spelling
"cheque". The ones who are aware of the British spelling will probably
think "Ah, the writer is a Brit". I'm not sure what the rest would
think.
So which spelling should I use? It's important that I maintain good
credibility as a professional, among both my British and my American
readers. On occasion, I have written "cheque (check)" or check
(cheque) or even check/cheque, but it seems unweildy.
Any suggestions? Thanks...
Luke (England) |
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Tony Cooper
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:50 pm
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 06:25:21 GMT, LukeOnder@RioESP.net (Luke ) wrote:
| Quote: |
If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits,
|
Direct your piece to the decisive Brits. They'll know what to do.
| Quote: | Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
If I use the American "check", many Brits who are not aware of the
American spelling of "cheque" may think I'm ignorant. Others may
misunderstand the sentence containing the word. (since "check" has
many meanings).
|
You should spell the word the way *you* spell the word. If you're
American, spell it "check". You'll be amazed how many Brits are
clever enough to figure out that an American writer uses American
spelling conventions.
Why would you think that there are many Brits that are not aware that
we spell the word "check"? They have newspapers there and everything.
They really have come a long way.
The Australians might need footnotes, though.
| Quote: | So which spelling should I use? It's important that I maintain good
credibility as a professional, among both my British and my American
readers. On occasion, I have written "cheque (check)" or check
(cheque) or even check/cheque, but it seems unweildy.
Writing both forms is patronizing. Haven't you seen the Brits roll |
their eyes at Areff's posts?
How are you going to handle the color/colour of money?
--
Tony Cooper
Orlando FL |
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Luke
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:24 pm
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 07:50:21 GMT, Tony Cooper
<tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
| Quote: | On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 06:25:21 GMT, LukeOnder@RioESP.net (Luke ) wrote:
If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits,
Direct your piece to the decisive Brits. They'll know what to do.
Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
If I use the American "check", many Brits who are not aware of the
American spelling of "cheque" may think I'm ignorant. Others may
misunderstand the sentence containing the word. (since "check" has
many meanings).
You should spell the word the way *you* spell the word. If you're
American, spell it "check". You'll be amazed how many Brits are
clever enough to figure out that an American writer uses American
spelling conventions.
Why would you think that there are many Brits that are not aware that
we spell the word "check"? They have newspapers there and everything.
They really have come a long way.
|
We have, indeed. We've even got televisions and electric blankets and
things these days! ;-)
| Quote: | The Australians might need footnotes, though.
|
You crack me up, man! I hope there's none reading this. :-)
| Quote: | So which spelling should I use? It's important that I maintain good
credibility as a professional, among both my British and my American
readers. On occasion, I have written "cheque (check)" or check
(cheque) or even check/cheque, but it seems unweildy.
Writing both forms is patronizing. Haven't you seen the Brits roll
their eyes at Areff's posts?
How are you going to handle the color/colour of money?
|
I usually write "colour". I think it's less likely to be interpreted
as an ignorant spelling mistake than "color". That's my fuzzy logic,
anyway...
Luke |
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Michael DeBusk
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:27 pm
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 08:24:23 GMT, Luke <LukeOnder@RioESP.net> wrote:
| Quote: | I usually write "colour".
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You misspelled "color".
| Quote: | I think it's less likely to be interpreted as an ignorant
spelling mistake than "color".
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I think you may have misspelled "culler" too.
;)
--
Michael DeBusk, Co-Conspirator to Make the World a Better Place
Did he update http://home.earthlink.net/~debu4335/ yet? |
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Alan Jones
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:32 pm
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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"Luke " <LukeOnder@RioESP.net> wrote in message
news:42391f4a.2034839@news.individual.net...
| Quote: |
If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits, Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
If I use the American "check", many Brits who are not aware of the
American spelling of "cheque" may think I'm ignorant. Others may
misunderstand the sentence containing the word. (since "check" has
many meanings).
I'm not sure what most Americans would think if they saw the spelling
"cheque". The ones who are aware of the British spelling will probably
think "Ah, the writer is a Brit". I'm not sure what the rest would
think.
So which spelling should I use? It's important that I maintain good
credibility as a professional, among both my British and my American
readers. On occasion, I have written "cheque (check)" or check
(cheque) or even check/cheque, but it seems unweildy.
Any suggestions? Thanks...
|
If you are British, you should use British English. It's not just a matter
of spelling, and if you attempt to write AmE you will almost certainly get
some things wrong. US readers will cope, just as you and I do when reading
AmE material.
Alan Jones |
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Daniel James
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 7:14 pm
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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In article news:<42391f4a.2034839@news.individual.net>, Luke wrote:
| Quote: | If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits, Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
|
I think most of us Brits are aware that Americans can't spell [1] <grin>
However ...
The American usage of "check" for a restaurant bill, for example, is
unknown in the UK. That is: we recognize the word as an Americanism and
understand its meaning, but we don't use it that way ourselves.
The American use of the word "check" for what the NSOED describes as a
"mark made against an item in an account or list indicating that it has
been verified or noted" will strike many Brits as strange -- we always call
that a "tick".
I think semantic differences of that sort are more likely to cause problems
for your readers than differences in spelling.
[1] Although I meant that as a joke and as a friendly dig at our cousins
across the water it occurs to me, on reflection, that it is rather unfair.
American spelling is different from British spelling but in my experience
American people are generally rather better at spelling (albeit to their
own national standard) than British people (participants in this group
excepted).
Cheers,
Daniel. |
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Don Phillipson
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:19 pm
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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"Luke " <LukeOnder@RioESP.net> wrote in message
news:42391f4a.2034839@news.individual.net...
| Quote: | If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits, Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
|
No problem: this is an editorial style decision for
whoever publishes your article. (Your speculations
about readers' responses to spelling may be on
the money: but you can do nothing about them.)
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada) |
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John Dean
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:51 pm
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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Tony Cooper wrote:
| Quote: | On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 06:25:21 GMT, LukeOnder@RioESP.net (Luke ) wrote:
If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits,
Direct your piece to the decisive Brits. They'll know what to do.
Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
If I use the American "check", many Brits who are not aware of the
American spelling of "cheque" may think I'm ignorant. Others may
misunderstand the sentence containing the word. (since "check" has
many meanings).
You should spell the word the way *you* spell the word. If you're
American, spell it "check". You'll be amazed how many Brits are
clever enough to figure out that an American writer uses American
spelling conventions.
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Oh, *that's* what they're doing ...
--
John Dean
Oxford |
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Tony Cooper
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:57 pm
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 14:51:12 -0000, "John Dean"
<john-dean@frag.lineone.net> wrote:
| Quote: | Tony Cooper wrote:
On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 06:25:21 GMT, LukeOnder@RioESP.net (Luke ) wrote:
If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits,
Direct your piece to the decisive Brits. They'll know what to do.
Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
If I use the American "check", many Brits who are not aware of the
American spelling of "cheque" may think I'm ignorant. Others may
misunderstand the sentence containing the word. (since "check" has
many meanings).
You should spell the word the way *you* spell the word. If you're
American, spell it "check". You'll be amazed how many Brits are
clever enough to figure out that an American writer uses American
spelling conventions.
Oh, *that's* what they're doing ...
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And all this time you thought that American keyboards didn't come with
a "u" key.
--
Tony Cooper
Orlando FL |
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JPG
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:27 pm
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 08:19:11 -0500, "Don Phillipson"
<d.phillipson@ttrryytteell.com> wrote:
| Quote: | "Luke " <LukeOnder@RioESP.net> wrote in message
news:42391f4a.2034839@news.individual.net...
If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits, Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
No problem: this is an editorial style decision for
whoever publishes your article. (Your speculations
about readers' responses to spelling may be on
the money: but you can do nothing about them.)
|
Don't publishers "translate" books from the US into BrE and vice versa.
Eg, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone"?
JPG |
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meirman
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:38 am
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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In alt.english.usage on Thu, 17 Mar 2005 06:25:21 GMT
LukeOnder@RioESP.net (Luke ) posted:
| Quote: |
If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits, Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
If I use the American "check", many Brits who are not aware of the
American spelling of "cheque" may think I'm ignorant. Others may
misunderstand the sentence containing the word. (since "check" has
many meanings).
|
This set of spellings everyone might know. I don't know that but some
here seem to think so.
But whenever there is a word that some might not recognize, the first
time you use it, you explain the two spellings**, and optionally, give
some reason, no matter how small, that you have picked the one you
pick.
No one will expect you to use both spellings thoughout the article.
**An explanation need not be long. "One important part of the
monetary system is personal and corporate cheques (American spelling:
checks)"
| Quote: | I'm not sure what most Americans would think if they saw the spelling
|
You're not obliged to be sure. You're obliged to be clear.
| Quote: | "cheque". The ones who are aware of the British spelling will probably
think "Ah, the writer is a Brit". I'm not sure what the rest would
think.
So which spelling should I use? It's important that I maintain good
credibility as a professional, among both my British and my American
readers. On occasion, I have written "cheque (check)" or check
(cheque) or even check/cheque, but it seems unweildy.
Any suggestions? Thanks...
Luke (England)
|
s/ meirman If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis, 7 years
Chicago, 6 years
Brooklyn NY 12 years
now in Baltimore 20 years |
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Luke
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:57 am
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:14:10 GMT, Daniel James
<wastebasket@nospam.aaisp.org> wrote:
| Quote: | In article news:<42391f4a.2034839@news.individual.net>, Luke wrote:
If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits, Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
I think most of us Brits are aware that Americans can't spell [1] <grin
However ...
The American usage of "check" for a restaurant bill, for example, is
unknown in the UK. That is: we recognize the word as an Americanism and
understand its meaning, but we don't use it that way ourselves.
The American use of the word "check" for what the NSOED describes as a
"mark made against an item in an account or list indicating that it has
been verified or noted" will strike many Brits as strange -- we always call
that a "tick".
I think semantic differences of that sort are more likely to cause problems
for your readers than differences in spelling.
|
As I said, check has many meanings. I get very confused when I go into
a restaurant in America and at the end of the meal, my other half
askes me to "Check the check and write out a check" The mind boogles -
especially if you've had a spot too much wine... <g>
Luke |
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Luke
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:59 am
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 16:27:19 +0000, JPG <me@privacy.net> wrote:
| Quote: | Don't publishers "translate" books from the US into BrE and vice versa.
Eg, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone"?
|
No doubt, but the article in question is a self-published thing that I
avail to my clients via the web and in hard-copy form.
Luke |
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Luke
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:10 am
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:38:08 -0500, meirman <meirman@invalid.com>
wrote:
| Quote: | In alt.english.usage on Thu, 17 Mar 2005 06:25:21 GMT
LukeOnder@RioESP.net (Luke ) posted:
If I am writing an article about paper money, to a world-wide
readership, including an uncertain number of Brits, Americans and
Australians. Which spelling should I use: "cheque" or "check"?
If I use the American "check", many Brits who are not aware of the
American spelling of "cheque" may think I'm ignorant. Others may
misunderstand the sentence containing the word. (since "check" has
many meanings).
This set of spellings everyone might know. I don't know that but some
here seem to think so.
But whenever there is a word that some might not recognize, the first
time you use it, you explain the two spellings**, and optionally, give
some reason, no matter how small, that you have picked the one you
pick.
|
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the text, some reader ae likely to
not start at the beginning.
| Quote: |
No one will expect you to use both spellings thoughout the article.
**An explanation need not be long. "One important part of the
monetary system is personal and corporate cheques (American spelling:
checks)"
I'm not sure what most Americans would think if they saw the spelling
You're not obliged to be sure. You're obliged to be clear.
|
I agree - that's the most important thing. Due to the nature of the
material, I'd ideally like the Brits to think it was written by a Brit
for the benefit of Brits and the Americans to think it was written by
an American for the benefit of Americans, but of course, achivieving
both ideals at once is not possible - so I have to strike the best
compromise that is as elegant, efficient and clear, and hopefully
leaves the Brits and Americans not sure whether it was written by a
Brit or an American. Why do I care about that? Because I am trying to
solicit the business of Americans from a British base. Many Americans
are wary of buying a product from overseas. And vice-versa in the case
of the Brits.
Thanks for the input so far.
Luke |
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Tony Cooper
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:51 am
Post subject: Re: Should I use the British or American spelling? (check/ch |
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On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 18:10:18 GMT, LukeOnder@RioESP.net (Luke ) wrote:
| Quote: | Many Americans are wary of buying a product from overseas.
|
Damn straight we are. Every time we purchase things from abroad we
get bit in the ass. Take Louisiana, for example. Ever since we
bought that place from the French we've regretted it. Place is full
of swamps, alligators, mosquitos, and people who talk like they've got
a mouth full of mush. They eat water bugs down there.
Alaska was another bum deal. The Russians saw us coming on that one.
Sure, there's oil there, but the place is knee-deep in caribou and you
can't drive a drilling rig a mile without hitting six or eight of
them. You have to harness up a couple of Alaskan mosquitos to pull a
wrecked rig out of there.
We should know better. If we want more land we should just load off a
bunch of trinkets to our native population and steal the rest from the
Mexicans.
The English are the worst. You do a deal with them and they send the
wrong bridge and don't include the river.
--
Tony Cooper
Orlando FL |
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