Spelling

[Malcolm Scanlan]

Not wanting to start another long tirade and hundreds of e-mail I have decided to use this rather that bomb the e-mails
The subject does concern MGs as well as all things British.
There is a discussion ongoing at the moment regarding the 30 mph indicator. And since the car is of UK origin surely it is a LIGHT not a LITE ? Similarly we have TYRES not TIRES ?? and its ALUMINIUM and the COLOUR of my car is etc etc.
Surely this must be nagging the purists?

Malcolm

[Steve Simmons]

I think "light" is correct for either continent although I do see "lite" used sometimes in brand names. I use tyres and colours sometimes when conversing directly with a Brit, but I refuse to put an extra I in ALUMINUM. Why make a 4-syllable word even more complicated?

Although I do admit "aluminium" sounds more impressive as a word.

[dirk w dondorp]

and where do the Dutchman stand in this spelling debate?? :-))

[Stan Teitge]

Do Brits still use petrol rather than gasoline or just gas?

[Malcolm Scanlan]

Dirk, as far as the Dutch are concerned I have never met anyone from that fine Kingdom that does not speak the Queens (UK) English perfectly! So one assumes they can also spell correctly.

Stan, last time I was over in England - earlier this year - they still put petrol n their tanks, and it was not cheap! Diesel is still pretty popular as well.

Malcolm

[dirk w dondorp]

worries, nothing but worries with these old English cars. Mechanical, Financial, and now Language added, how will I manage all that??
Still love them though........:-)

[dirk w dondorp]

Gentleman, including the OP, take your pick. Original name was given around 1896 en was called Petrol.
Petrol has also the following synonyms; gasoline, gas, mineral spirit, motor naphtha, motor spirit, benzoline, and motor essence, and in the army F-67. Any more suggestioins to make it somewhat complicated:-)??

[i.thomson]

Although I have no real objection to the different spellings of the English spoken on the two sides of the Atlantic, they are different languages after all, I feel it is important to spell any indicators on our cars in the original English. I am more interested in the spellings which are common to both languages and feel that people should learn the correct use of words like "loose" and "Lose" as well as the differences in meaning between the three homonyms: their, there and they're - to mention just two examples that, to my knowledge, Webster didn't change.
Regards
Ian Thomson
Notts. UK.

[frenchblatter]

I suspect some may not understand the different word used for technical items.

Like wrist pin, cotter pin (when meaning a split pin) and a few others I can't recall now. The body ones are, I think, well known now. Hood/bonnet, trunk/boot, fender/bumper (or is it wing?)

If you are English and have American friends round for dinner just don't explain you laid the table....

[i.thomson]

And another thing...has anyone else in UK noticed the tendency for journalists to use the American term "hood" when they mean "bonnet". They obviously spend too much time with international English instead of their own native tongue. And don't get me started on the general loss of native English words to the US versions in the general population - Oh My God!

[Malcolm Scanlan]

This has reminded me of an incident many years ago. It is a true story.
I was hosting a luncheon in Miami to a group of 'influential ladies' some of whom were teachers. The subject soon got round to our first days at school. I said that the days of slates and chalk were almost over and we were given a note book, pencil and a rubber. One of the ladies then said "A rubber?" to which I replied that was correct, we had to write our names on it and it was expected to last at least three years. I was then educated into the American meaning of 'rubber'. After that the conversation covered all sorts with much laughter, we had a great time.

One thing that does irk me is the way Americans pronounce the word HERB, in my language it starts with an H! just the same as Henry or Herbert!

Ok, getting down from my soap box now.

Malcolm

[i.thomson]

people not knowing the difference between "too" and"to" gets me!
Ian Thomson

[dirk w dondorp]

me tooo!

[frenchblatter]

Ah, dronk, that well known spilling mistake