Is it fair to criticise the way I spell criticise just because I spell it the English way?

Question

I learnt to write English in England..Why should I write like an American?? Aren't they correct??

Scroll down to answer number two..Why does she feel the need to correct my spelling. There are no mistakes..
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtrL1vKBeatl7hV13N5CVI8gBgx.?qid=20060716192056AAvq59D

Answer 1

I hate it when people criticise peoples' spellings.

I mean how immature is that! They are just trying to point out people's shortcomings; it is an ego thing, it makes them feel important (pompous).

I don't mind and don't see any difference between using a z or an s. Who cares, as long as you know what it is. I use the english spellings because I'm english. I'd expect an american would use the american spelling. If i don't understand I can ask, no need to belittle. Words are about communication not about getting every last letter, dot & cross perfect. I think it is really silly that people bang on about this in an GLOBAL forum, and regardless as said, who cares how you spell as long as it's understood.

You can altucaly selpl wdors how you wnat, poelpe uesdnrtnad.

Answer 2

Wow, yeah, there was no reason for that. Both British and American spellings are generally accepted.

Don't let it get to you. When people can't form an argument, they try to attack you to redirect the question. But don't worry, you can be comforted in knowing that when people read that, they realize she's way off...unless they've never read anything written by anyone who writes with British English spelling--in which case, they've got bigger problems. And some people actually do go around insulting answerers on here just for the points. I guess some consider that fun, for whatever reason.

Also, I'm not sure if it works this way on Yahoo! UK (and I'm not sure if you posted it on Yahoo! UK or not, but the link you gave is a Yahoo! UK link, so I would think so), but if you post on the Yahoo! Spain Answers, your question appears on the US Yahoo! en español Answers as well. So, maybe if you post on Yahoo! UK Answers it appears on the American Yahoo! Answers. I wonder how many more exclamation points I can write in the middle of sentences without going crazy...sorry, off topic...

(PS--you did misspell "Israeli" but it looks like a typo to me, nothing that makes your question incoherent or unreadable.)

Answer 3

You are right to remind our colonial brothers and sisters that the English language is from England and that any other corrupted version is not true English, at worst you could tell them to read Chaucer’s Canterbury tales or original un-translated works of Shakespeare written in olde English. That would keep them quite for a bit, now that’s proper English for ya I bet they still spelt criticise like this though lol, and if i hear yahoo is american 1 more time im gonna scream just remember the first woking computer was made in England and without it yahoo wouldnt have ever been thought of.

Answer 4

Unfortunately the Americans do not understand the proper usage of the English language, they changed it so it is easier for them to understand because they are lazy and cannot be bothered to do things the proper English way, and what's with the accents and saying things wrog! For all you Americans out there, here is a few correct versions for you to start learning, colour, honour, mum, biscuits, football, pavement, mobile phone these must not be confused with color, honor, mom, crackers, soccer, sidewalk or cell phone as these are WRONG! English is from England therefore should be spoken and spelt how it is found in England1

Answer 5

Really, it depends on the context. If you're in America and are applying for a job or writing a business letter to an American customer, then it might be better to not insist on British usage.

Languages are meant for communication. If there is any "right" and "wrong", it is how well the language you use communicates what you want it to communicate.

If you want to communicate, "I'm proud I'm from England and I don't care what anyone thinks! God Save the Queen!" then British spellings are great.

Answer 6

Who told you it is the English way? I was born and bred in the UK and I would spell it criticising!!! or criticise!! I believe it is a derivative from Latin, not English, and persay the American language was derived from a lot of ´´foreign´´ languages, such as Greek, Roman. Irish and many others too numerous to mention. The Americans think they own, rule and invented the world!!!! Guess they have a lot to learn if only 95% of them could get off their butts and travel outside the US!!!!

Answer 7

I was taught English by Irish and British instructors as a child, now I live in Canada, so according to both English and Canadian way of spelling it is "criticise", I won't spell it the American way, it does not sound right to me. By the way I am also sceptical that the word sceptical should ever be written as "skeptical"!!

Answer 8

I saw the BBC recently refer to some strange thing called 'organized labour' (sic.) I thought that was bizarre... Not 'organised labour' and not 'organized labor' but something in between...

It's all Noah Webster's fault, you know...

I've been fighting this again and again. I guess it shows that the vast majority of Americans have never read a book that was published outside of the USA. Have you ever seen lists of the things that are changed in Harry Potter books to make them more 'approachable' to Americans (in addition to changing the name of the first book)? They're absolutely hysterical... Note the link: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/books/ps/differences-ps.html

Oddly enough, the Canadian publishers presume that their young are able to surmise what, for example, 'car park' or 'mummy' might mean...

It's spoonfeeding, unfortunately, and the result is that Americans miss out on the vibrancy that the English language's 'international' status gives it. Pity, really.

Answer 9

Sorry to be pedantic but in the question you referred to, you misspelled Israeli. Could that be what the author of your second reply was commenting on?

"Can you criticise Isreali policy without being an Anti-Semite?"

I think you may owe Lunita an apology, though given the standard of spelling on Answers in general, Lunita must be very busy and will probably not have time to read your apology, Just as she did not have time to answer your question.

Answer 10

No it is not fair. There is British english an there's American english.
British says criticise
american says criticize

There are lots of words like these. People just have to realise that they're both correct.