Learning new spellings.... Checks, not cheques OK?

[hudons 0]

OK, I have embraced American culture. I pronounce most of my Ts as Ds. I have adapted my accent to such that I can be understood on the phone. I have stopped saying 'Hiya' and genuinely wanting to know how people are when I ask "How are you?"

The main problem I have experienced, working in an office and frequently communicating via e-mail, is spelling.

It's so difficult to remember which words drop Us. 'Favourite' does, 'various' doesn't. Which words change S to Z: 'organisation' does, 'advertise' doesn't.

I'm 23 and I normally pride myself on my spelling. Now I feel like I didn't pay attention in school.

HELP!

I just need some empathy here. Surely I'm not the only one...

p.s - I really love America though. Everything but the spelling.

[Christi and Ian 24]

OK, I have embraced American culture. I pronounce most of my Ts as Ds. I have adapted my accent to such that I can be understood on the phone. I have stopped saying 'Hiya' and genuinely wanting to know how people are when I ask "How are you?"

The main problem I have experienced, working in an office and frequently communicating via e-mail, is spelling.

It's so difficult to remember which words drop Us. 'Favourite' does, 'various' doesn't. Which words change S to Z: 'organisation' does, 'advertise' doesn't.

I'm 23 and I normally pride myself on my spelling. Now I feel like I didn't pay attention in school.

HELP!

I just need some empathy here. Surely I'm not the only one...

p.s - I really love America though. Everything but the spelling.

Ha ha - love your post - and you most definitely have my empathy. I don't think you should feel like you didn't pay attention in school - my hubby embraces his extra u's & actually pronouncing T's - well, except for when he says the word "fourteen" - then he doesn't pronounce the T at all.

It's not technically incorrect, and in fact, it's endearing and makes you unique to your office - embrace it!!

[Christi and Ian 24]

Oh - and after coming to the States for the last 5 years, Hubby still makes me order for us when we go through the drive-thru

[Lisa and Ian 7]

OK, I have embraced American culture. I pronounce most of my Ts as Ds. I have adapted my accent to such that I can be understood on the phone. I have stopped saying 'Hiya' and genuinely wanting to know how people are when I ask "How are you?"

The main problem I have experienced, working in an office and frequently communicating via e-mail, is spelling.

It's so difficult to remember which words drop Us. 'Favourite' does, 'various' doesn't. Which words change S to Z: 'organisation' does, 'advertise' doesn't.

I'm 23 and I normally pride myself on my spelling. Now I feel like I didn't pay attention in school.

HELP!

I just need some empathy here. Surely I'm not the only one...

p.s - I really love America though. Everything but the spelling.

I don't think you should worry too much about the spelling. Most people would look at "favourite" and think, "Ah, must be English" instead of "Hmmm... typo".

Put your dictionary in Word or wherever to American English and catch these things that way if you feel the need to.

I'm glad you love America!

[Gemmie 142]

Yeah, I've generally learned how things go, but still slip up sometimes. I try to embrace it though.

On my resume, my MIL corrected some words that actually had more of a French spelling (adding E's on the end of words) that I forgot about.

[TBoneTX 43,195]

Whilst you... uh, forget it, eh, si man.

Actually (seriously): Google "spelling rules s versus z" and look at the more serious results to see if they might help you.

I consider anyone to be Americanised... er, uh... if they can correctly spell "Canandaigua," si man.

Edited October 12, 2009 by TBoneTX

[ashenflowers 5]

lol... being Canadian, I anticipate the same sort of problems.

[hudons 0]

Ha ha ha. Thanks everyone!

WHILST.... That's another one. The guys in my office see me write it sometimes and they have no idea.

There is a joke going round that a Whilst is an animal that lives in England, and sometimes in Canada!

Silly boys.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Even in the US whilst is okay to use. I have long forgotten how to spell having sold my soul to the spell checker - just make sure Lord Microsoft is set to American English and let that mind of yours turn to mush!

Edited October 13, 2009 by Sousuke

[Leenie 15]

I have stopped saying 'Hiya' and genuinely wanting to know how people are when I ask "How are you?"

Oh man! This an interesting point that people from other countries/cultures always seem to notice about Americans. I don't know why we do this! Whenever people ask me how I am (and I am the USC), I always respond so formally - "Fine, thanks! How about you?" - and I mean it. It's a burn to get no response

Oh - and after coming to the States for the last 5 years, Hubby still makes me order for us when we go through the drive-thru

Haha! I am generally the order giver whenever my fiance comes to visit. He has a really thick Brum accent that almost always elicits a "HUH?" from the waiter, etc. I sort of worry it will lower his self-esteem! Poor thing!

[TBoneTX 43,195]

"Whilstebeest" is the full, formal name of that Englanadian animal, verily, eh, wot, si man.

I am generally the order giver whenever my fiance comes to visit. He has a really thick Brum accent that almost always elicits a "HUH?" from the waiter, etc. I sort of worry it will lower his self-esteem! Poor thing!

Britannia rules the waves even on this side of the Pond, si man, and we natives shall always remain mere Colonists, wot, verily, eh, si man.

[jjbandero 39]

Oh, good to know I'm not the only one, my boss still makes fun of me when I use 'whilst' and 'learnt', usually he raises an eyebrow and says 'Queen's English?'

It's quite confusing really, I call Sprite/7 Up lemonade, imagine my surprise at the restaurants; it's a 'line' when people are waiting for something, but it's a 'queue' when you're printing something... When asked how often I do something, 'fortnightly' received a look of utter confusion, the list goes on...

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I used to think it was confusing when people said "you all right?" I always thought "do I look upset or sick?"

But then I learned in was the UK equivalent of "how are you?"

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Yeah I'm sure I made a fool of myself a few times because of that. The first week of work people would ask me that and I'd respond with a kinda of inquisitive "Yeah? why wouldn't I be"

[hudons 0]

HA fortnightly yes.

As for lowering self-esteem being constantly asked to repeat oneself in restaurants, I have learnT, as I'm sure many fellow Brits have, to adapt my accent. I can put in quite a convincing restaurant order in American.

I do find that in my current workplace, the language barrier is a source of entertainment. I'm slightly worried that it my next one it might not be the same.

Another good thing is, there's always something to talk about with strangers. I have found that most Americans have been to or have family from the UK.