Why do the Americans spell sulphur as sulfer but the British (and Europe) Spell it sulphur?

Question

I'm not having a dig at American Spelling, just wondering

thankyou

Answer 1

American English includes a great many "rationalized" spellings, and this was part of a deliberate attempt to get rid of some of the most egregious silliness in English spelling during the 19th Century.


Many of the differences were introduced into the United States by Noah Webster's dictionary; he was a strong proponent of spelling reform for a variety of reasons, both nationalistic and philosophical. There were many advocates of spelling reform in England as well, but the influences of those who preferred the Norman (or French) spellings of certain words proved decisive. Some of the changes in American spelling were largely phonemic, while others involved the restoration of "etymologically correct" Latin (or Greek) spellings, often to words which English had borrowed from French (or indirectly, Greek). At the time, spelling in English was not regular, and Webster was eager to distinguish American usage from British usage – and in some cases to create distinctions. Although many of Webster's spellings became standardized in the U.S., only a few spread to other English-speaking countries, which were more influenced by Samuel Johnson's dictionary.

Answer 2

In 1956, it was decided that sulphur could be spelt as sulfur, but as British are slow to catch up on things, there remains a difference. In the interests of elimanating un-needed letters, many words have been changed....humor/humour, color/colour...etc. English is an evolving language and if you read some of the old documents you will notice even letter changes...such as f...to an S. In grammar, syntax is different too, and there have been many changes during the last 20 years in spelling, grammar and even voice.

Answer 3

Shortly after the revolutionary war the US deiced to culturally separate from the UK by dropping the U in words like colour (color)
and changing the s to z in some words like organise (organize)

Answer 4

Its because Americans are too damn lazy to spell correctly. I get tried of spelling things correctly only to have Office/Yahoo mail/any other American programme (english spelling for you) telling me im wrong.

With the point of the silent letters are Americans going to start using lam instead of lamb, num instead of numb, dam instead damn, vacum instead of vacuum, colum instead of column and so on and so forth.

Answer 5

Who knows? Why do they spell centre center, theater theater, colour color etc. I've been a Brit living in the US 10 years and no one can explain it to me. I'm just not allowed to help with spelling homework anymore, because I still have a tendency to spell words my way and it lost y son a perfect score in second grade!

Answer 6

I know you're taking the piss...but that's okay.

Americans use "sulfur" and it has to do with the adoption of that spelling in 1990 by the International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry.

Check out the link here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur

Regards,

Mysstere

Answer 7

well actually, the most used is sulfur..
they've just changed it because of their system of pronouncing the words according to its spelling..
british spellings are sometimes complicated in how to pronounce them..like those silent letters they often use

Answer 8

Well, I will if you won't! We have been trying to teach the colonials the Queens' English for years, with no success!

Answer 9

Original English is just like this. Also neighbour, and colour, and harbour. Lorry, but not truck. Lift but not elevator etc. etc..
Americans changed it because they are too lazy.

Answer 10

so keep wondering, and now mind ur own business........about whether its sulphur or no sulpur at all