US/UK spellings - yup, that hoary old chestnut again...
So I'm working through the beta for my fic (praise be to the ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
betagoddess) and I don't know what to do about the (cue organ chord, wolf howl) spelling...
It's a TS story; the characters are, as we know, Americans; that means no un-American word usage and phraseology - fine, I get that - but spelling? Do two Americans have to be spelled American?
I've done this both ways in the past, but mostly used my own Brit spelling because it's easier and I don't honestly believe we spell as we speak. But then, I get fb that tells me 'the spelling really took me out of the story' -
And I'm thinking; 'why'? Because I read American spelling in say, Doctor Who fic and all that makes me think is - the author's American. So long as British characters aren't keeping bodies in the trunk, it doesn't matter that that spare that's in the way is spelled tire and, in all honesty, my first reaction is to tell the Americans to suck it up because by far the largest chunk of the English-speaking world spells British anyway and we don't care so why should everyone else have to change to make life easier for you? - or that's to say, the few who bother to send fb complaining about it. (o:
But then, I'm getting that fb and sometimes, I cave. I used US spelling for Wind Whispering - even though it looked weird and wrong and took forever to change.
So, I'm asking an honest question of you all - does it matter, really? And if it does, why (I thought about making this a poll, but I shan't because I need more than yes or no answers; I need explanations, dammit. (o) If it really, truly, honest-to-god makes a real difference, I shall use your blasted spelling (*G* - even though it looks... really strange and will take me all day) but if it does, I'd really love to know, and why.
ETA: And messing with this all afternoon means I've done NO work - none at all - on the actual story (which was the whole point, wasn't it?) *g*
betagoddess) and I don't know what to do about the (cue organ chord, wolf howl) spelling... It's a TS story; the characters are, as we know, Americans; that means no un-American word usage and phraseology - fine, I get that - but spelling? Do two Americans have to be spelled American?
I've done this both ways in the past, but mostly used my own Brit spelling because it's easier and I don't honestly believe we spell as we speak. But then, I get fb that tells me 'the spelling really took me out of the story' -
And I'm thinking; 'why'? Because I read American spelling in say, Doctor Who fic and all that makes me think is - the author's American. So long as British characters aren't keeping bodies in the trunk, it doesn't matter that that spare that's in the way is spelled tire and, in all honesty, my first reaction is to tell the Americans to suck it up because by far the largest chunk of the English-speaking world spells British anyway and we don't care so why should everyone else have to change to make life easier for you? - or that's to say, the few who bother to send fb complaining about it. (o:
But then, I'm getting that fb and sometimes, I cave. I used US spelling for Wind Whispering - even though it looked weird and wrong and took forever to change.
So, I'm asking an honest question of you all - does it matter, really? And if it does, why (I thought about making this a poll, but I shan't because I need more than yes or no answers; I need explanations, dammit. (o) If it really, truly, honest-to-god makes a real difference, I shall use your blasted spelling (*G* - even though it looks... really strange and will take me all day) but if it does, I'd really love to know, and why.
ETA: And messing with this all afternoon means I've done NO work - none at all - on the actual story (which was the whole point, wasn't it?) *g*
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honour/honor and color/colour will sometimes get me, but it usually depends on context.
otoh, i flow right over the z/s thing - realize/realise, recognize/recognise... i'm actually at the point where i don't know which of those is 'correct' american spelling anymore.
then there are the weird small things. i love Gil Hale, and she does an excellent job americanizing her fic, but it totally drives me crazy when she has someone 'ring up' some one else. in america, they *call* you... the weirdest thing about this is that i didn't catch until i was re-reading her stuff, which tells you how good she is!
any, back to the point. it depends on context, and exactly which spellings it is. i'm more likely to be picky about a fic set in modern-day times. that may, in fact, be the whole of my reaction to 'tyre' - it may look extremely old-fashioned to me. but by the same token, if the piece is set more than 100yrs ago, british spellings don't bother me as much, and i tend to think of them as adding to the atmosphere of the piece. even if it's an american piece.
i don't know if that makes sense, but i hope it helps.
-bs
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And I see where you're coming from because 'tire' looks awful to me, like someone can't spell (and I know it's correct for American English but it still looks bad to my eye - like all those 'ize's).
So I still don't know - I guess what I feel is I still don't see why the majority have to adapt because a minority can't?
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I still don't see why the majority have to adapt because a minority can't?
And that's it exactly. As an American, I get soooo tired of Americans who expect the entire rest of the world to bend to doing things "our" way... from the president right on down. It demonstrates an attitude of inflexibility and entitlement.
I get fb that tells me 'the spelling really took me out of the story'.
My gut response to them would be, "Sucks to be you, doesn't it, ducky?" Not that I would ever say it... *g*
Look at it this way. You've written the best Jim and Blair characterization you know how. Now, your beta might say, "I'm not sure Jim would really xxx; you might want to rethink that. It might be better if yyy." So you do rethink, and consider, and you decide that your interpretation is valid, and necessary for the story, and you don't change it.
That's your prerogative as a writer and, once you've made the decision, you don't stew over it. Spelling is your decision, too, and it's your prerogative to stick with the UK version.
You might head off stupid nit-picking by addressing it in the header information. "Warning: Brit spelling ahead. If it upsets you, kindly use the back button instead of complaining." But regardless, my advice is to stick to your guns; you're a Brit and you're allowed to use Brit spelling, ffs!
Um... can you tell I feel very passionately about (some) people shoving other people around? As in, readers who expect every little detail to go their way. Not 'no', but 'HELL, no!'
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Hmmm. yeah, I suppose that's how I see it, but it's not just Americans who do this; I know people have been *shredded* in HP for using the occasional Americanism or American spelling. So far as I know, I've never had fb from George W so I can't comment on that. (o:
You know, in the light of what you say, I really do think I'm sticking with my original spelling because I'm just too damn lazy to bother changing it all.
Thanks for the comment (and the cheap, naughty thrill). ::giggle::
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You think you're lazy, just as I was too lazy to keep on marking them in the fic.
It sure doesn't bother me, because I LIKE my "u"s, as I said. And what a pain in the neck to take them all out!!!
And as YOU'VE said, we "u" adders are in the vast majority of English speakers in the world.
As someone else said above, it's the "ring up" and that type of thing that really bother me. And I didn't notice a single one of those in your fic. =>}
Good luck. Heh heh!
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Gosh; you are so forceful
More in talk than in action... but we *are* talking. *g*
::feels like Blair, pinned to the wall. Is quite turned on:: Is that wrong?
Feelings aren't wrong (although some shouldn't be acted on). So, enjoy your cheap, naughty thrill; happy to oblige. ::giggles with you::
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"Sucks to be you, doesn't it, ducky?"
heh heh heh!!! Didn't know Americans said 'ducky - to me that's a very old-fashioned British thing, the sort of things you'd see about plucky working class types in the war (WW2 ie - man, now I'm uber-conscious of everything that might be idiomatic and therefore misunderstood)
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Didn't know Americans said 'ducky
Oh, they absolutely don't. But I figure if someone was complaining about Brit spelling, they deserve to have their nose rubbed in Brit slang.
I know and/or recognize quite a bit of Brit slang. (And am learning more with the help of my flist; I love 'kerfuffle'.) But, not living in the community, I don't know what's dated, what's current, and what's no longer used. OTOH, a complainer about Brit spelling won't, either. *g*
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Y'know, I drew a blank, so I checked out the thesaurus. Depending on context, I might use argument, row, ruckus, debate, flap, squabble, wrangle, controversy, beef... I want to say 'contretemps', but that's French, even though used by Americans. The thing is, none of those quite have the flavor of 'kerfuffle' in mind -- a wide-ranging spat that, ultimately, isn't very important but is blown out of proportion -- which is probably why I've latched onto it; it says what I need to express. Of course, the English language has a history of appropriating words from other languages, so I'm just following the trend. *g*
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i've read a ton of fantasy and sci-fi, and not every british author is subjected to being americanized when they cross the ocean. i might still trip over words like 'tyre' enough to mention it in passing - well, giggle over it in passing, more like - but i'm far more likely to complain about jim tossing the torch in the boot of his car on the way to the lift. i've seen people do *that* and it makes me want to spork my eyes out. or theirs.
so my advice: concentrate on the idioms, and don't let the spelling thing put you 'in hospital'.
-bs