If I were to go to University or something in the USA, would my marks fall on my essays because I refused to use American English and chose to use either Australian or British English.
Or would I have to spell colour as color???
2007-05-28 09:30:03 · 8 answers · asked by joeyfarlz 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Bottom line is...every professor has their own set of standards by which they'll grade you. You just have to be good at figuring out what each professor expects. That's part of the university experience. Usually if you talk to them up front, explain your situation, ask what their expectations are, MOST of them are nice enough to let you know. Once in a while you get a.... well you know. But again that's part of the university experience.
2007-05-28 09:41:46 · answer #1 · answered by dreamed1 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
At college level, I doubt that writing an essay using British English as opposed to American English would affect your grades. After all, we do read books by British and Australian authors without the need to "translate". Of course, I am not a professor so I can't say for sure but it just seems highly unlikely that this would be an issue.
Hey, if it's good enough for the Queen...
2007-05-28 09:39:48 · answer #2 · answered by Debra P 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wow, I really don't know. Could you ask the college you were applying to? I think I would go ahead and use the American spelling because you are applying to an American school. I just don't know if they would mark you for doing British. And you don't sound stupid. You did have a good question that you didn't know the answer to. I would want to know something Like that if I was English and applying to an American school.
2007-05-28 09:34:29 · answer #3 · answered by punch 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Variations in spelling often is negligible. But since there is a difference in grammar as well as terminology between American,British and Australian, I will think you may come across a lot of problems.
Take for instance the phrase, "knock up". In British English, it is like to call on someone, but in American English it is to get someone pregnant.
"I will be knocking this person up come eight in the evening." How do you think your American professors will rate you for that?
2007-05-28 09:59:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
From my experience, when you study in the U.S. you're expected to use American English. I doubt, however, that if you spell grey as gray you would be given a B instead of A. Most of the faculty, especially those who teach English, are aware of the differences, hence will accept either spelling.
2007-05-28 09:35:33 · answer #5 · answered by Darya C 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You'd have to learn to use American spellings (not too hard if you use American Microsoft Word spellchecker). My family is Canadian, living in America, and my little brother was telling me last night he got points off on a spelling test for spelling "grey" as "gray." (Apparently "gray" is the British spelling and "grey" is American.)
2007-05-28 10:59:51 · answer #6 · answered by cg17 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That is an interresting question, hardly stupid .I look forward to answers from people who have informed opinions.
2007-05-28 09:39:54 · answer #7 · answered by hog b 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There should'nt be any problems with that. Did you know that the head of "Oxford's dictionary" is American?
2007-05-28 09:39:01 · answer #8 · answered by mindtelepathy 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋